which motor oil you use? does it matter?

[andylawcc]

let's say for a non-performance orientated passenger car (Toyota Celica 96) with 100k plus miles on it,
would you guys recommend using any name brand, or just those no name ones, or Toyota's own factory oil?

 

[Chaotic42]

I'm in no way certified to say anything about cars, but I use Valvoline Max Life 5w30. My car is 11 years old and has 183,000 miles on it.

Edit: I've also put XR-1 in it.

 

[Insane3D]

Only Mobil 1 in the 'stang!

 

[Colt45]

Kill the dinosaurs.


err.. I don't believe in synthetic. Just use any decent known brand, not Wal-Mart's house brand

 

[ZeroBurn]

mobil 1 synthetic

 

[The Stigenator]

I put in whatever is available in the lube shop.. the last one was at toyota so whatever the dealer put in.

Normally penzoil.. though I prefer castrol GTX.

On the bike I use 10W40 Castrol GTX or Amsol.. only the best.

 

[StattlichPassat]

You're darn right it matters- my GTI has seen nothing but Mobil1 synthetic since day one, back in late 1985.

 

[SeaSerpent]

mobil 1 synthetic

Thats all Ive ever used in my 3000GT

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
I put in whatever is available in the lube shop.. the last one was at toyota so whatever the dealer put in.

Normally penzoil.. though I prefer castrol GTX.

On the bike I use 10W40 Castrol GTX or Amsol.. only the best.

Jesus, PLEASE tell me you dont use Penzoil. A while back (LONG time ago) Penzoil kinda got itself in a little trouble. Seems the oil in the bottle didnt match the markings on the outside. Long story short, engines started to fail due to bad oil. I never actually read anything on it, but my dad told me about it, and as a mechanic, I take his word on it. If anyone really wnats, I'll grill him for the info, but, in something as important as oil, I better get what I need and what I pay for. So, that story left a bad taste in my mouth, so, no Penzoil, not now, not ever.

 

[xirtam]

I use whatever's the cheapest.

Shoot, I probably need to change my oil. Coming up on 10k miles since I changed it last, I think.

 

[JEDI]

i goto walmart for my oil changes. CHEAP! walmart brand 20w50- $11 including oil,filter, labor

'93 sentra w/200k miles. I get an oil change every 7500 miles

of course the sentra is leaking + eating oil (1quart/1k miles). so i'm putting in new quart every 1k miles

 

[The Stigenator]

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
I put in whatever is available in the lube shop.. the last one was at toyota so whatever the dealer put in.

Normally penzoil.. though I prefer castrol GTX.

On the bike I use 10W40 Castrol GTX or Amsol.. only the best.

Jesus, PLEASE tell me you dont use Penzoil. A while back (LONG time ago) Penzoil kinda got itself in a little trouble. Seems the oil in the bottle didnt match the markings on the outside. Long story short, engines started to fail due to bad oil. I never actually read anything on it, but my dad told me about it, and as a mechanic, I take his word on it. If anyone really wnats, I'll grill him for the info, but, in something as important as oil, I better get what I need and what I pay for. So, that story left a bad taste in my mouth, so, no Penzoil, not now, not ever.

well that's what jiffy lube puts in unless you ask for quaker state. The dealer puts in Castrol GTX I think.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
I put in whatever is available in the lube shop.. the last one was at toyota so whatever the dealer put in.

Normally penzoil.. though I prefer castrol GTX.

On the bike I use 10W40 Castrol GTX or Amsol.. only the best.

Jesus, PLEASE tell me you dont use Penzoil. A while back (LONG time ago) Penzoil kinda got itself in a little trouble. Seems the oil in the bottle didnt match the markings on the outside. Long story short, engines started to fail due to bad oil. I never actually read anything on it, but my dad told me about it, and as a mechanic, I take his word on it. If anyone really wnats, I'll grill him for the info, but, in something as important as oil, I better get what I need and what I pay for. So, that story left a bad taste in my mouth, so, no Penzoil, not now, not ever.

well that's what jiffy lube puts in unless you ask for quaker state. The dealer puts in Castrol GTX I think.

I know, I asked. I told them NO Penzoil, but I had a feeling they didnt care, so i went elsewhere. I think its Midas, I really cant remember the name of it right off, but they use Valvoline I believe

 

[tcsenter]

I use whatever major branded oil is on sale by the case, preferrably with rebate: Valvoline, Havoline, Pennzoil, Kendall, etc.

I never actually read anything on it, but my dad told me about it, and as a mechanic, I take his word on it. If anyone really wnats, I'll grill him for the info, but, in something as important as oil, I better get what I need and what I pay for. So, that story left a bad taste in my mouth, so, no Penzoil, not now, not ever.

You've never read anything about it, because its probably not true. Pennzoil has a bad reputation among many mechanics and backyard grease monkies, I've heard some whoppers from numerous mechanics, due likely to this 'rumor' that began at least 20 years ago about Pennzoil containing paraffin wax.

The origins of such a rumor are easily imagined: back when high school career counselors were steering the most dim-witted students into automechanics, many mechanics learned through some means that Pennzoil was a "paraffinic" based oil. Being too ignorant to know better, they associated the word 'paraffinic' with 'paraffin wax', and imagined that this must be the stuff that Pennzoil is based on - wax.

We all can imagine what harm wax would do to your oil gallies, pumps, and other internals if it were poured into an engine, clogging it all up, and so that must be what Pennzoil does to your engine, too. I've even heard it told that Pennzoil was "in cahoots" with all the engine remanufacturers and parts makers to cause your engine to wear-out sooner so you'd have to have it rebuilt or replaced. Wow.

Its a great theory and all, except for one teensy little fact: every single conventional motor oil on the market is based on the same paraffinic base stocks that Pennzoil is. Valvoline: paraffinic. Castrol: paraffinic. Quaker State: paraffinic. You get the idea...

 

[geno]

Mobil one is what my car came with from the factory, and that's all it's seen since it's left Shelby's factory

 

[Vette73]

Being a mechanic that has broken down many motors I can tell you most oils are the same TODAY.

The only oil I tell people NOT to use it Castrol. Just about everymotor I have taken down that used castrol for a long time was caked up. The polymers they use thicken up to fast and the oil breaks down to sludge.

Also it is best to not use 5W30 or 10w40. Only use 5w30 in really cold climits and theres not need for 10w40. 10w30 year round is good unless you birn or leak real bad then use 20w50 if it does not get to cold.

But the oils I tell people to use are...

1. Mobil
2. Vavoline
3. Havoline

But as long as it is not castrol and it is the weight you need for your car and climiate you should be ok, that and change it every 3K or 3months

 

[HellRaiserandBeerDrinker]

A good quality motor oil is probably the best investment you can make
in your vehicle
Using a toyota rebrand version however is a waste of money

 

[Brutuskend]

Castrol GTX 20/50

 

[Thegonagle]

Castrol GTX, but don't bother with 20w/50 unless you're going through a lot of oil. At 100,000 miles, you're probably losing very little between oil changes.

Mobil (regular) is my second choice, everything else (except Pennzoil) after that. With almost any engine running 200,000 miles or more on regular oil with regular changes, I don't see the need for synthetic. Extended oil change intervals is not a benefit for me, since I would never run more than 5,000 miles on the same oil. I don't care what they claim.

EDIT: Interesting about the Castrol, Marlin. Do you have any idea why?

 

[Tominator]

There is no difference in non synthetic motor oil quality according to Consumer Reports.

No matter who makes it the oil must meet government manditate specs. Buying name brand is a waste of money.

In a new motor I use Castrol Syntec. It is a blend of synthetics and conventional oils. I still change at 3000 miles regardless of the type of oil used. I would use Walmart part synthetic but their store shelves are often emty of the 15w50 I want. Castrol is available nearly everywhere at a competitive price.

Having said that my family cars are taken to the local shop for an oil change. They use Pennzoil. For $18.95 they change the oil and filter [NAPA branded btw] grease all zerk fittings. top off all fluids and check the air pressure in the tires. I don't have to worry about the mess or oil disposal.

Imho a pure synthetic , Mobil 1 for instance, is a total waste of money. You MUST follow oil change recommendations of the car manfacturer or risk voiding your warranty. The ONLY advantage to pure synthetic is it's longevity so following the oil change interval to keep your warranty negates any advantage.

In fact pure synthetics are known for their excessive carbon buildup on pistons.

I work for a trucking firm. With 10,000 semi tractors on the road and motors that are run closer to their design limitations than any car motor this side of a race track, oil and it's effects are a huge expense!
They ran a Series 60 Detroit Diesel for 1 million miles without an oil change using part synthetic. Filters were monitored and changed when they showed a decrease in their ability to filter. The motor was torn down and showed very minimul wear. In fact it was rebuilt and returned to service without grinding the crank!

The current oil change interval and that depends on the motor are 46,000 to 55,000 between changes with one filter change midway through and this is with the blessings of the manfacturers of the motors!

This test was done side by side with conventional oil, changed after analysis, and a full synthetic. Cost was the greatest determining factor and the synthetic blend won hands down.

Finally, there are more 'old wife's tales' circulated by mechanics than the equavilent number of old wives!

 

[alphatarget1]

is changing oil every 3000 miles necessary?

 

[Tominator]

Although I change at 3000 you could argue this interval is overkill.

For all highway driving you might stretch it to 7000 or even 8000. For city driving, very cold or dusty conditions 3000 might not be often enough. The only way to really tell is through oil analysis by a chemist. It is cheaper to change the oil.....

 

[hoihtah]

5w30

 

[alphatarget1]

i change my oil around 3000-4000 miles regardless. I use Castrol 5w30 for the accord v6 and 10w30 for the altima.

 

[bunker]

Valvoline 5w20