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    Is Castrol 5w40 a Group III oil?

    I understand that the Castrol 5w40 is usually from Belgium. Is this a Group III oil? What about the US-sourced stuff, is that even available? I need a good rinse oil for the AutoRX cycle in my Saab 9-5, and this one meets the ACEA A3/B3 spec. I am using Kendall 5w40 right now for the cleaning...
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    Specialty Formulations ATF, Saab 9-5, 15k miles

    This is a followup to a past UOA: 60k ATF UOA The car is a 2001 Saab 9-5 with an Aisin-Warner 4-speed automatic transmission. The owner's manual calls for a single drain/fill at 60k miles. As the UOA shows, the ATF was pretty shot by then, so I did 3 drain/fills with the Specialty Formulations...
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    Where to buy Kendall or Rotella 5w40?

    I just had my '01 Saab 9-5's engine fixed with Saab's latest and greatest PCV system update. The original PCV tubing was getting pretty gummed up, so I'm thinking of doing an Auto-RX run for good measure. Auto-RX recommends dino oil, and I'd like to stay with the ACEA A3/B3 oils to maintain my...
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    Honda ATF Z1 replacement

    Since Specialty Formulations is on hiatus, my plan on using their Autoglide Z1 for my '03 Honda Odyssey is up in smoke. Due to the demands of this tranny on the Honda Z1 ATF, I'd like to use something full-synthetic. What other full-synth options are there? From what I gather, I have a few...
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    Anyone try the Nokian i3?

    I am planning on installing a set of Nokian i3's on my '03 Honda Odyssey this weekend. I've had stellar experience with Nokian WR and RSI snow tires, and the i3 is meant to be the minivan's 3-season tire. I plan on the H-rated version. Anyone try these tires? My main concern is traction and...
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    no GC at autozone...

    This is an autozone west of Boston, MA. I needed about a third of a quart to top off my Saab 9-5...but no GC was there. There were no slots on the shelf for it either. I grabbed a quart of Castrol 5w-40 and used that (the car requires an ACEA A3/B3 oil). Is this a trend or just a quirk of this...
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    Does it really matter what I put in our Honda V6?

    Our '03 Honda Odyssey is due for its first oil change under our ownership, when it's in to get snow tires (toyo garit kx, incidentally) fitted. From browsing the UOA, it looks like this engine is pretty happy on whatever it runs on. I am inclined towards a synthetic or semisynthetic since it...
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    Castrol 0w-30, 3797 miles, '01 Saab 9-5

    Analysis done by Blackstone Labs. My commute is 12 miles each way, 90% highway at 65-70 mph. I have settled on a 2x/year oil change, when I switch from summer to winter tires and vice versa. Due to the known sludge issues with this engine (2.3L LPT), I'm not going to pursue long OCI's. The Saab...
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    Why does the Saturn Vue have a Honda engine?

    Does anyone know the story behind this matchup? Thanks.
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    ACEA A3/B3 oil for Saab turbo?

    Ok, I'm coming up on my biannual oil change on my 2001 Saab 9-5 (low pressure turbo 2.3L 4-cyl). This will be roughly 4k miles - due to sludge issues I don't want to push the OCI. I am running GC 0w-30 right now and will get an oil analysis when it's drained. I have been eyeballing the crop of...
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    Motorcraft seems like a great bargain

    While at AZ last night getting some superglue, I eyeballed the selection of 5w20 oils since we pick up our new used Honda Odyssey soon. Motorcraft was $2.39, Havoline dino $2.79, Castrol GTX I can't remember, Castrol synth blend $3.89, M1 $5.50 or so. So it seems like for the least money I...
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    Crude prices are climbing, should I stock up on oil?

    Oil hit $74/barrel, and now experts are predicting the possibility of $100/barrel by year's end (and $5/gal gas) due to troubles not only with Iran but with other oil-producing nations. Since this is BITOG and not a politics site, an oil question: should I stock up on some oil now, or just...
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    I have taken the GC plunge

    My Saab 9-5's turbo 4-cyl is getting filled with GC right now by the shop up the street. It's the M06 gold stuff. So long, M1 0w-40.
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    '98 Subaru Legacy, Havoline 5w30, 2500 miles, Auto-RX rinse

    Al 3 Cr 1 Fe 6 Cu 5 Pb 16 Sn 1 Mo 265 Ni 0 Mn 0 Ag 0 Ti 0 K 0 B 28 Si 3 Na 1 Ca 1297 Mg 36 P 499 Zn 570 Ba 0 SUS Vis.@210°F 54.5 FP 380 Fuel A/F 0.0 Water 0.0 Insols 0.4 Notes: Blackstone says this is typical of an oil with 4100 miles. Is this o.k. for an Auto-RX rinse? The oil viscosity was...
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    No choice but Duralast

    I picked up oil & filter for my '98 Subaru at Autozone yesterday. As others have observed, Duralast has replaced most of the filters. There were some Bosch and M1 filters...but...the only part # lookup books available were for the Duralast filters! Ditto for the air filters. So much for customer...
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    Possible Odyssey purchase - 5 speed AT good or bad?

    My wife and I are considering a used 2002ish Honda Odyssey purchase to accomodate our new soon-to-arrive baby. We frequently travel with my mother & sister in law, and our Saab wagon won't seat 6! We'd sell my Subaru wagon to finance the Honda. I've seen mixed things about the Honda 5-speed...
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    Fluorescent dye gas leak?

    Hi all, I am going to get back to troubleshooting my Subaru's poor mileage. I came across this product: http://www.autobarn.net/fluorleakdet1.html For $6 it's a fluorescent dye that's added to the gas, then you look with a blacklight for the leaks (if any). What do you think? Worth a shot?
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    Rinse phase has started...

    With 1512 miles on the odometer since I added my auto-rx to my '98 Subaru Legacy (113k miles, 2.2L) it was time for an oil change, so I had it done while it was getting the state inspection. The new oil is Havoline 5w30 dino, with a PureOne filter. I will change in 2500 miles and do a second...
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    Redline PS fluid weeping from reservoir...

    I changed the PS fluid in my '98 Subaru from the original factory Dexron III ATF (car has 113k miles) to the Redline PS fluid using the turkey baster method. Steering has improved: less resistance, no noise when the steering is locked to left or right. But, there appears to be PS fluid leaking...
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    '01 Saab 9-5 automatic, Texaco ATF, 60k miles

    This report is from my 2001 Saab 9-5 wagon, with the low pressure turbo 4 and an Aisin-Warner 4 speed auto. It uses Dexron III ATF. The 60k service calls for a single drain & fill. I did this using a Mityvac (removing 3L out of 7 or so) and topped off with Specialty Formulations Autoglide. I ran...
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