Oil.. something, I forget what its called.

[warwgn3]

Ok, as I've said before... I plan on Towing my pop-up tent camper on a 600 mile road trip to Hell, MI from Ottawa, ON in 2.5 months with my Animul Euro 3.4. I was thinking of changing the oil before the trip, and putting in 15w40 or 20w50 synthetic to help with lubrication and heat protection from the extra load, as opposed to 5w30 regular or 10w30 synth.

 

Whats your take on this?

 

Just so you know, All our cars get Mobil 1 10w30 synth , because of either high mileage engines, or hard working engines from performace and heavy load hauling. Only my FireFlea get the cheap 5w30 stuff.

 

Vehicles that got10w30:

1989 Buick Electra Estate Wagon, 307 Olds V-8,

1985 Pontiac Parisienne Safari, 355 Chevy V-8,

1991 GMC Safari XT-SLT, 4.3L Chevy V-6,

1988 Chrysler Daytona Shelby Z, 2.2L turbo-intercooled I-4,

1989 Plymouth Voyager SE, 2.5L turbo I-4,

1988 Chrysler Daytona C/S, 2.2L turbo I-4

 

[Robby1870]

I dont think anything more than 10w30 is necessary. How much, approximately, does your camper weigh?

[warwgn3]

I dont think anything more than 10w30 is necessary. How much, approximately, does your camper weigh?

Its a rather small trailer. I'm not sure about the exact weight, but I know that it is definatly LESS than 1,000 pounds.

 

My Dad has a 7.5' wide by 16' long(rear bumper to hitch coupler) pop-up 6 person camper that weighs approx 2,200 pounds, and I don't think I'd want the Lumina to pull it. A trailer that size would need a full-size RWD to pull it like my Dads Astro van, or my old Caprice wagon.

 

My 2 person camper trailer is like 1/4 - 1/3 the size of Dad's trailer, and is about the same size or smaller(length-wise) than the firefly. (12' long)

[Robby1870]

Yeah, I wouldnt change oil types at all. When I drive my buddies somewhere, there is usually ober 800lbs of person in the car. Granted its not long distance driving, but the car still does just fine. The only hard times on the engine would be taking off from stop lights and in town driving. Seems to me like most of your trip is going to be highway/interstate, so I'd say you're fine with your normal oil type

[19Cutlass94]

Youll be fine with the 10w-30

[DaveFromColorado]

I'd HIGHLY recomend changing the trans fluid before you leave, and when you return home - those long road trips with extra weight can tear up the clutches somethin' fierce!

 

You will expirence a heavier load on the engine durring the entire trip, not just take off's and in town - after all, with that bitch we call gravity on this damn planet of ours inertia alone won't get you there - it will always be trying to slow you down, and with a greater mass, it will take more force to keep said mass moving - also, with a greater surface area, you've also got wind resistance to calculate into that ... if I were making the drive, I would probably go with the Mobil 1 5w40 turbo-diesel formula (same thing I run in my Turbo-Stang) - the "diesel" oils will run just fine in a gasoline engine, in fact, they will most often run better because of the better usage of degergents, and particulate suspension additives.

 

--Dave.

 

**edit**

 

P.S. the word you're lookin' for is "Viscosity"

[pitzel]

If you're from Canada (it appears you are), you can pick up Esso XD-3 Extra 0W-30/0W-40 motor oil for a little over $4/quart in bulk (a case of 16L costs around $65) at any Esso bulk dealer.

 

Far cheaper than the Mobil products, and manufactured by the same company -- ExxonMobil aka Esso Imperial Oil in Canada. Plus if you go by much of the evidence at http://www.bobistheoilguy.com , the Canadian Esso products are higher quality than [Exxon]Mobil's offerings in Canada/USA.

[1990lumina]

As davefromcolorado has said, be more worried about the tranny.....i'd recommend an aftermarket tranny oil cooler, which will help keep the tranny temps down some...

[warwgn3]

As davefromcolorado has said, be more worried about the tranny.....i'd recommend an aftermarket tranny oil cooler, which will help keep the tranny temps down some...

As I've said before... The Lumina already has a large trannny oil cooler on it. And a tranny fluid change is already in the plan, so you need not worry.

 

I'm more worried about having towing miirrors on the car to see behind the trailer while driving, but thats a topic to post in another section.

[DaveFromColorado]

well, with the larger trans cooler, and the fluid change already in the plan, I'd say go with Pitzel's recomendation of the 0w40 oil, it's a little thicker and should endure the extra heat a bit better.

 

As for the mirrors - don't really know what to say 'bout those so I won't say anything.

 

--Dave.

[Crazy K]

Do the trans fluid flush and filter change!

I got used Factory OEM trans coolers from the 91-93 3.4 powered W bodies (also seen on some early 3.8 powered W's) and added them to my cars. direct bolt on, can't beat that!!!

[SigEpCutlass]

Do the trans fluid flush and filter change!

I got used Factory OEM trans coolers from the 91-93 3.4 powered W bodies (also seen on some early 3.8 powered W's) and added them to my cars. direct bolt on, can't beat that!!!

 

w3rd x10000000000000000000000

 

I think that it is absolutely essential that you flush the tranny and change the fluid. Make sure you do that. I think the weight of oil you have running in your car should be fine.