best synthetic oil

[Trvlr500]

I've always been a "thick guy" and 20-50 was what I used for decades in every car I ever owned. But for the first 28 years of my life I lived in California and 20 of that is southern Californis.

Also, I have never owned a new car. My current car is a '73 Cadillac Coupe DeVille and everything else I ever owned was older than that.

Being an OTR truck driver I don't need a new car because I don't drive every day as everyone else does even if the Caddy is the most reliable car I have ever owned. It's never left me stranded in 13 years and I have driven it ALL over the country.

I use 15-50 Mobile1 with ZDDPlus additive year round all though now that I live in Utah I have been switching to 10-30 Mobil1 in the winter. I have just gone back to 15-50 year round.You don't need the zinc additive.

You have a newer vehicle with tighter tolerences and YOU LIVE IN MINNESOTA! Follow everyones advice and use the 5-30. I wouldn't use anything thicker than 10-30 or 10-40 even in the summer up there and I love the thicker oils. For ancient vehicles that is.

Just my two cents.

 

[harley145000]

put driveway sealer in the motor

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: harley145000
put driveway sealer in the motor

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: Doug Hillary
Hi,
Pablo - You should know I an not a "thick" man - you may think so however! I only question statements that may be unable to be supported in fact - and you sell lubricants - I don't!

The data on here (and on my database) does NOT show excessive wear with 20W-50 lubricants (mineral or otherwise) - in fact in some engines it shows less wear when measured via UOAs (which of course are inconclusive)

This is the case with many Porsche (and other) engines using a variety of lubricants - both mineral, semi-synthetic and fully synthetic


Never said you were a "thick" man. I really don't think that much about you or the oils you choose, other than you say a lot, and ask others/me for data.....yet we rarely/never see your data. I never said in All cases 20W-50 increases wear. In fact you wrote "....show excessive wear with 20W-50 lubricants..." When the [censored] did I say that Doug?? When???

I select my words carefully...so again let's see what I wrote:

"Please don't use 20W-50 in your rig. Your wear will actually go up, so I'm not sure where you learned "better than that"."

In response to a fellow, in Minnesota, in early winter: "I only want the best so i was thinking of using fully synthetic supertech oil but i can not seem to find it in 20w50. the manual says to use 5w30 but i know better than that."

Even some recent compiled data here shows some tendency of the less viscous oils within brands to show less wear. And my database certainly shows the same in cold country areas during winter. You can believe and think what you want, and you can continue with your "You sell oil....." spiel as if I'm hiding that fact or something.

The bottom line here Doug? I'm correct. If you want data, find the thread. If you think 20W-50 won't increase wear in this application, then say so, and show your data.


It's application specific.

Doug is technically correct (which you alluded to) in a warmer ambient location.

Look at BuickGN's car. He's had his lowest wear numbers with 20w50.

BUT, it's a high-horsepower turbocharged app..... Much like the scenarios Doug alluded to with Porsche.

Application seems to play a key role.

 

[sprintman]

What an absolute load of [censored]! North Americans seem to have this idea that going from say 30W to 40W means going from olive oil to bhoney. This is absolute cr#p. I ran 25W70 for over 5 years in the coldest part of Australia. I could go and run 40W70 without a problem in an engine North Americans run 5W70, and still no problems. You guys have serious viscosity phobia, get over it.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: endeavor to persevere
Originally Posted By: otrdriver725
when i was at walmart today i was looking at oil filters and a guy that was buying some oil told me to use the fram oil filters so i bought 6 of them. should i take them back? what is wrong with fram. he told me they are the best you can buy.


At the Wal-mart in my town, They have the AC Delco PF-46 that is what GM calls for your truck for $3.66. Why would you buy Fram over AC Delco?

And its a new truck with a warranty, use the oil GM specs and its NOT 20W50.

Don


Too many other posts to read through. Not sure if someone caught this or not? The PF46 is the wrong filter for the OP's truck.

Starting in 2007, with both the Classic and New Body style V8 Silverado's/Sierra's, GM went to a new oil filter = PF48. On 06 and earlier models( back to a certain point - I don't mean forever )the filter called for was the PF46.

So to the OP if you want to run an AC filter get a PF48. Take the Fram's back as they are complete JUNK! Also, stick with a 5W-30.

 

[vxcalais]

Pablo, in agreement with Doug, 20W50 is a very common grade here in Australia, with cars lasting a very very long time. I do believe however newer oils with better qualities will allow for thinner grades for fuel economy benefits etc. Is a 10W30 SM oil going to wear better than a SM rated 20W50 at standard ambient temps ? In the U.S i realize the extremities that can be found where the thinner oils are necessary for cold starts etc.

For example with Holden Commodore VX (my vehicle), 10W30 was manufacturer recommendation, possibly GM's recommendation from the U.S, but was recommended against by Holden workshops and Auto parts using a 10W40 as minimum. Manual also recommended a 20W50 is 10W30 wasn't available and to use a 15W40 in Snow conditions..... this is common with many cars here in Australia.

 

[demarpaint]

The 20W50 would be fine in the summer months, but not in a MN winter, and I think that's the point people are trying to make.

JMO,
Frank D

 

[vxcalais]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: Doug Hillary
Hi,
Pablo - You should know I an not a "thick" man - you may think so however! I only question statements that may be unable to be supported in fact - and you sell lubricants - I don't!

The data on here (and on my database) does NOT show excessive wear with 20W-50 lubricants (mineral or otherwise) - in fact in some engines it shows less wear when measured via UOAs (which of course are inconclusive)

This is the case with many Porsche (and other) engines using a variety of lubricants - both mineral, semi-synthetic and fully synthetic


Never said you were a "thick" man. I really don't think that much about you or the oils you choose, other than you say a lot, and ask others/me for data.....yet we rarely/never see your data. I never said in All cases 20W-50 increases wear. In fact you wrote "....show excessive wear with 20W-50 lubricants..." When the [censored] did I say that Doug?? When???

I select my words carefully...so again let's see what I wrote:

"Please don't use 20W-50 in your rig. Your wear will actually go up, so I'm not sure where you learned "better than that"."

In response to a fellow, in Minnesota, in early winter: "I only want the best so i was thinking of using fully synthetic supertech oil but i can not seem to find it in 20w50. the manual says to use 5w30 but i know better than that."

Even some recent compiled data here shows some tendency of the less viscous oils within brands to show less wear. And my database certainly shows the same in cold country areas during winter. You can believe and think what you want, and you can continue with your "You sell oil....." spiel as if I'm hiding that fact or something.

The bottom line here Doug? I'm correct. If you want data, find the thread. If you think 20W-50 won't increase wear in this application, then say so, and show your data.


It's application specific.

Doug is technically correct (which you alluded to) in a warmer ambient location.

Look at BuickGN's car. He's had his lowest wear numbers with 20w50.

BUT, it's a high-horsepower turbocharged app..... Much like the scenarios Doug alluded to with Porsche.

Application seems to play a key role.


Subaru WRX here in Australia have 10W50 as their best recommendation (factory oil ELF etc), but manual calls for 5W30, still coming in with the Japan 'Snow on Mount Fuji' specs. Then it goes to say if that is not if not available use 15W04 or a 20w50 ! I am certain that these thin oils are only speced thin to pass emission controls for Australian imports and even locally manufactured. U.S emissions controls must be higher than Australia, which is probably why thinner oils are more common. In the past i always preferred thicker oils, cause the 10W30's just burn up, thin out too quickly here.

 

[demarpaint]

Does it get to -25*F or colder anywhere in Australia? I realize the summer heat must be brutal and could see where the 20W50 would have its place. Its the cold winter temps in MN that I'm questioning.

Frank D

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
The 20W50 would be fine in the summer months, but not in a MN winter, and I think that's the point people are trying to make.

JMO,
Frank D


Indeed. Some people obviously have difficulty reading and much more difficulty putting things in context. 25W-70 conventional oil in winter, in Minnesota, in a quite new vehicle, will allow more wear. I don't care what side of the globe you live on!

 

[buster]

Quote:
20W-70 conventional oil in winter, in Minnesota, in a quite new vehicle, will allow more wear. I don't care what side of the globe you live on!


I would never run that grade in MN during winter. There is a reason why lower viscosity oils exist.

 

[Pablo]

I've seen conventional 20W-50 at 5°F or so. It won't flow, so why would it pump?

Now 25W-70 at -30°F? I'm sorry, but it would be a solid. It just doesn't get that cold in Australia. And certainly not where folks in live in abundance.

http://wmo.asu.edu/australia-lowest-temperature

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Trvlr500
My current car is a '73 Cadillac Coupe DeVille


AWESOME car!!!!!!!!

How many miles and what engine?

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Pablo - Well now a geography lesson too - my Oh my

Do you know that Australia has a greater area covered by snow than Switzerland? Our Ski fields are extensive!

And, that much of Australia's huge inland land mass is below (some a long way below) 0C overnight for much of the winter

Some parts of Australia have minimum temperatures that are not
much different from much on the US

I live in the Tropics of North Queensland and it is -3C or below on many winter mornings! Further into the upper parts of the Tropics (Atherton Tablelands) they have snow in the Winter

Near where my other property is, the incidence of snow and -15C is quite high (Stanthorpe) - it is near what we consider "hot" Australia

And as for NZ where I was born - well that's another and much colder matter!

The BMC Mini "A" series engines survived on 20W-50 for much of its 20 odd years production life - many lived in Scandinavia where I lived! Many lived in the hottest and the coldest climates. The 20W-50 viscosity was especially formulated by Duckhams for these engines - in 1958!
Mineral 20W-50 lubricants were once at or near the top of the most used and recommended list! According to the prevailing ambient temepratures of course!!

IMO it is always important to use the viscosity that the engine manufacturer recommends for the prevailing ambient temperature range!

 

[DragRace]

Originally Posted By: otrdriver725
hello everyone. just before christmas i went out and bought myself a new pickup truck! It is a 2007 GMC Sierra classic 1500. my last truck had the 3.8 liter v6. This time i went all out and got the big 4.8liter v8! I know this big powerhouse v8 will need a very special oil but i cannot decide what brand to use. I only want the best so i was thinking of using fully synthetic supertech oil but i can not seem to find it in 20w50. the manual says to use 5w30 but i know better than that. I will be changing the oil every 2500 to 3000 miles for long engine life. any sugestions? By the way i am sure you will all have alot of questions for me about my new truck so let me just say YEA SHE REALLY GOES! thanks.


Your not goin to pay attention to the owners manuals recomendation? Wow, whats the point in "wanting only the best" if you dont even wanna listen to what GMC says to use? Makes no sense to me at all!

I sure as [censored] wouldnt wanna run 20w50 in the cold temps that Minnesota has during the winter months.

 

[HARTZSKY]

I figure GM'S engineers in Research and Development test there engines with different weight oils and determine which is going to work the best. They know there engines alot better than I do, So therefore if they say run 5w-30, I run 5w-30, and to use bad english, aint no way I'm runnin 20w50.

 

[demarpaint]

The only way I would consider 20W-50 would be in a high mile vehicle that is using oil in a big way. I've heard what 10W30 sounds like in -25*F weather, after sitting a few days, and can only imagine what would be going on with 20W50 in the crank. Maybe 30 or more years ago it was the ticket to an engine that was built loose. Ain't no way I'd run it especially in a new rig.

YMMV,
Frank D

 

[1999nick]

Originally Posted By: otrdriver725
hello everyone. just before christmas i went out and bought myself a new pickup truck! It is a 2007 GMC Sierra classic 1500. my last truck had the 3.8 liter v6. This time i went all out and got the big 4.8liter v8! I know this big powerhouse v8 will need a very special oil but i cannot decide what brand to use. I only want the best so i was thinking of using fully synthetic supertech oil but i can not seem to find it in 20w50. the manual says to use 5w30 but i know better than that. I will be changing the oil every 2500 to 3000 miles for long engine life. any sugestions? By the way i am sure you will all have alot of questions for me about my new truck so let me just say YEA SHE REALLY GOES! thanks.


Just a minor point that has been bugging me as I read all the replies - Just what kind of a truck did you have with a 3.8 liter engine?

 

[endeavor to persevere]

Originally Posted By: 1999nick
Originally Posted By: otrdriver725
hello everyone. just before christmas i went out and bought myself a new pickup truck! It is a 2007 GMC Sierra classic 1500. my last truck had the 3.8 liter v6. This time i went all out and got the big 4.8liter v8! I know this big powerhouse v8 will need a very special oil but i cannot decide what brand to use. I only want the best so i was thinking of using fully synthetic supertech oil but i can not seem to find it in 20w50. the manual says to use 5w30 but i know better than that. I will be changing the oil every 2500 to 3000 miles for long engine life. any sugestions? By the way i am sure you will all have alot of questions for me about my new truck so let me just say YEA SHE REALLY GOES! thanks.


Just a minor point that has been bugging me as I read all the replies - Just what kind of a truck did you have with a 3.8 liter engine?


I thought about that. Off hand I can't think of a truck that has a 3.8.

Don