87 Buick 3.8 V6 with 181,000 miles. It's always been serviced with dino multigrade. My college student son will be the primary driver. He drives mosty city short trip miles, with the occational 25 mile trip home. The car uses about a quart in 3000 miles(my best guesstimate) He is an apartment dweller with no garage so it will be parked outside in mid/north Indiana, meaning sometimes sub-zero in the winter, and up to 100 degress F in the summer. I sent this question to Amsoil, but I would like your opinions also. I use TSO in the 92 Lumina, HDD in the 2000 Grand Caravan, and ACD in my 96 Jeep Cherokee. I'm wondering if the ASL 5W-30 would be the best choice for the Buick?
Best Amsoil for high milage Buick 3.8 V6?
- Thread starter 96 Cherokee
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Well im sure youve been here long enough to know that if youve been using dino for its entire life that a flush would be needed. I would use what ever you have been using.
Anyone with this kind of milage I usually like to see them run a can of flush then use the XL line of oil's first time.
If the old girl doesn't use oil and is mechanically sound then you can go to either the ASL 5W30 or ATM 10W30.
If the old girl doesn't use oil and is mechanically sound then you can go to either the ASL 5W30 or ATM 10W30.
What's the reasoning behind using the XL first? Because it costs less than ASL and therefore if the car doesn't take to it, you won't be out as much?
I just recently aquired the car from my late mother's estate.
The Amsoil XL line is group 3+ synthetic vs. a PAO/Ester mix in the more expensive Amsoils and yes it costs less also.
Personally I'd go with a good AutoRx clean 2X, then a short run with conventional oil and inexpensive filter and then an Amsoil flush and a good long drain to allow every drip out. Fill it with Amsoil 10W-30: Amsoil ATM 10W-30 This is a good low NOACK oil, and will be great for annual changes.
The thorough cleaning will be great for cutting down on consumption. Still - Just have him watch the fill level very closely at first.
The thorough cleaning will be great for cutting down on consumption. Still - Just have him watch the fill level very closely at first.
I would not bother with Amsoil in that car with that milage. If it has been maintained it should make it to 300,000 with just a few repairs here and there! Since it use's some oil every 3000 miles I would leave the Amsoil alone. I think that I would go with 5W30 or 10W30 Tropartic Synthetic blend. Last I checked it was about $1.68 as quart at wall mart. GM is not known for great seal and gasket integrity(sp)!!! I think that a flush or going to a synthetic with this cars combination of milage and age is asking for seal issues. If you do not mind and or have the money to replace the front/rear main seals and the oil pan gasket go for it!
Wow, there are 2 opposing opinions!
I am addressing a situation that seems to need extended drains. Not sure JB is addressing this. Considering that I have converted and driven cars on synthetic from 150K to 300K+ miles on Amsoil - there is my opinion. I do agree with JB on one thing - if the car is currently puking oil from bad seals, all bets are off. Best get them fixed....and then is this even worth it on a beat GM?
I forgot to add in my original post - ACD 10W-30 would work as well - it would say some money and still give you nice extended drains.
I forgot to add in my original post - ACD 10W-30 would work as well - it would say some money and still give you nice extended drains.
Amsoil makes a great product, but honestly I don't see the value in this situation.
If he's gotten this far, how much longer is he seriously going to go in a car like this.
You are talking about a 20 year old car, rolling up on 200k miles.
Dumping high dollar motor oil into it wouldn't be high on my list.
I would tell the kid to use any API SM 10w30 motor oil, and change it every 5k.
The car is going to fall apart before that 3.8 motor bites the dust, no matter WHAT oil you put in it.
Spending the money on autoRX and amsoil is great, but not what I would do with a vehicle like this.
Any API SM oil is going to be space age compared to the oil this thing rolled out of the factory with.
The kid does not need extended drains, if he's in college he knows where the local walmart is, home of the sub 20 dollar oil change.
Also have get familiar with the local pennysaver, there are always coupons for 20 dollar oil changes.
If he's gotten this far, how much longer is he seriously going to go in a car like this.
You are talking about a 20 year old car, rolling up on 200k miles.
Dumping high dollar motor oil into it wouldn't be high on my list.
I would tell the kid to use any API SM 10w30 motor oil, and change it every 5k.
The car is going to fall apart before that 3.8 motor bites the dust, no matter WHAT oil you put in it.
Spending the money on autoRX and amsoil is great, but not what I would do with a vehicle like this.
Any API SM oil is going to be space age compared to the oil this thing rolled out of the factory with.
The kid does not need extended drains, if he's in college he knows where the local walmart is, home of the sub 20 dollar oil change.
Also have get familiar with the local pennysaver, there are always coupons for 20 dollar oil changes.
I'll be doing the routine maintainance on this car. This car is not a beater and has been well maintained and garaged since it was new. I'm a believer in the advantages of top quality sythetic, although I understand the difference between dino and synthetic has narrowed considerably in the last few years. If it was a beater that was near the end of it's life, I would use the cheapest dino I could find. That is not the case here.
One more point, although minor: I would not let any Wal-Mart employee or any quickie oil change place, touch any of my vehicles, now matter how cheap they are. Been around the block a few times and have seen what happens when minimum wage "mechanics" bungle jobs. No offence to any Wal-Mart employees, but facts are facts.
96 Cherokee - how many miles per year? To me, if the son drives less than or equal to 15K miles per year - you can use Amsoil and change the oil and filter once per year. Not only will it fit the situation - it will SAVE money!
Pablo,
He's been driving my Chev Lumina and averaging about 11,000 miles per year. I have been doing a once a year change with S2000 0W-30 on this vehicle, but it's a low milage vehicle. Had 53,000 on it when I bought it 2.5 years ago. But which oil is best for the high milage Buick? I read you comment about ACD, but this vehicle will sit out all night in the winter and he will be doing cold starts at 10 to 20 below zero. I sure like the idea of the 0W-30 for the cold starts. On the other hand, that does not sound like the best oil for a short trip high milage 20 year old engine. Tough decision for me. Everything is a compromise.
-10 to -20°F - that's pretty brisk - Indiana? Yikes.
Maybe ASL will be your best choice.
Maybe ASL will be your best choice.
Pablo,
Yea, the temp here varies widely from winter to summer. I think it was early in February, (just 6 weeks ago?) I was driving down the road one morning and the outside air temp was -13F. several years ago I went out to start my old carburated V-8 Pontiac one February morning and it was -22F. The car would not start. That was before we had a garage. Would be no problem now. So here in Indiana oil is required to work between -20F and +100F. I think that's asking a lot of any oil. In the old days when we changed oil several times a year, we could change viscosity to suit the weather. Now with extended OCIs, one oil must be a compromise. Thanks much to everyone your replies.
Yea, the temp here varies widely from winter to summer. I think it was early in February, (just 6 weeks ago?) I was driving down the road one morning and the outside air temp was -13F. several years ago I went out to start my old carburated V-8 Pontiac one February morning and it was -22F. The car would not start. That was before we had a garage. Would be no problem now. So here in Indiana oil is required to work between -20F and +100F. I think that's asking a lot of any oil. In the old days when we changed oil several times a year, we could change viscosity to suit the weather. Now with extended OCIs, one oil must be a compromise. Thanks much to everyone your replies.
The reason I suggest the XL line for high milage cars is because when AMSOIL came out with this oil they were the ones that told me this. It was not as harsh in cleaning additives....Esters? So it was a better fit for older cars.
I would run ACD in all of em!
Don,
Thanks for the explanation.
LargeCarManX2,
Please explain the reasoning behind your suggestion.
Thanks,
Neal
Thanks for the explanation.
LargeCarManX2,
Please explain the reasoning behind your suggestion.
Thanks,
Neal
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