Motor Oil What you use and why?

[SlivermistGT]

I'm curious as to what everyone runs and why? I want to get an idea of what a general concencus is with weight, brand, syn or no?

[RobertISaar]

whatever is cheap and of the proper grade.

 

oil that meets the SN rating is good oil... conventionals today are where synthetics were only a couple of years ago.

 

that being said, i do have preferences. Mobil 5000 seems to be a good cheap option. Pennzoil of any variety.

[3800_LTZ]

I have used Valvoline or Castrol GTX conventional when they are on sale (about $12-13 for 5qt at Walmart). If they aren't on sale, I usually use Mobil 5000. I do plan on using Mobil 1 synthetic once I have completed my top swap. I've never liked Quaker state or Pennzoil... In between oil changes to top off, I use a cheap brand (Walmart super-tech or whatever.)

Edited May 21, 2013 by 3800_LTZ

[Addicted To Boost]

I use Walmart's SuperTech full synthetic in my Grand Prixs. I think it's like $17 for a 5 quart jug. Inexpensive and seems to do a good job.

I run Amsoil full synthetic in my Ranger- about $22 for a gallon of it. Because I've had great luck with it and it does a great job. A bit on the expensive side, but for something I plan to keep for life, it is worth it.

[Schurkey]

Bought first Lumina Euro 3.4 in November, '92, ran Castrol Syntec until I read about how it can't be sold as "Synthetic" in Europe.

 

Have been using Mobil 1 5W-30 for years and years, and am using it in second Lumina, another Euro 3.4, but this one is a '93. Changing at about 6K (which turns out to be a waste, multiple oil analysis shows it's still usable at 6K, and can be run longer.)

 

Currently running Amsoil 5W-30 in the Trailblazer, took an oil sample for analysis, changed the filter and added two quarts at 13,000 miles. Oil analysis from multiple samples taken at about 13K show Mobil 1 still fit for service, the sample I took when I changed the filter shows the Amsoil is still fit for service at 13K. I'm going to run it to 26K, resample and change oil/filter.

 

Overall plan is to switch the fleet to Amsoil, and extend drain intervals on the Luminas as well.

Edited May 21, 2013 by Schurkey

[Night Fury]

Walmart brand synthetic SynTech in every car I own/have owned for years.

[Euro]

Usually Pennzoil 10w30 and a Napa gold filter. Might step up to 10w40 though, see if it helps quiet down my noisy valvetrain.

[WhatTheFehl]

Outback gets PartsMaster Synthetic 5w30 because it is cheap, and a Wix filter.

 

GTP currently has some PartsMaster conventional 10w30 in it as this was the first oil in the engine after the swap, will get PartsMaster synthetic next oil change. After that I plan on going to just Amsoil.

[White93z34]

Walmart synthetic (or whatever is next cheapest synthetic if they are out) Cheap, and effective. Full synthetic oil change for $20 including filter.

[pshojo]

I actually have wondered about "high mileage" oil. Not sure on the differences. Anyone run different oil as the car goes into higher mileage? would it be bad to switch to synthetic?

[WhatTheFehl]

I actually have wondered about "high mileage" oil. Not sure on the differences. Anyone run different oil as the car goes into higher mileage? would it be bad to switch to synthetic?

 

My dad has been known to go up at least one weight when a car gets over 100K miles. But I think that is pretty old fashioned thinking. Most of the time the best oil for the car is whatever it is supposed to have from the factory. YMMV.

[RobertISaar]

high mileage oil usually has 2 differences compared to it's normal counterparts:

 

it's almost always on the noticably thicker end of the viscosity rating. i.e.: a xW-30 that is ALMOST a xW-40.

 

and the additive package in it usually has some "seal conditioners" in it to attempt to get gaskets to swell to slow down oil consumption.