"Build Your Own Blend"

[serious II]

I have a 2001 LeSabre with 96,000 miles. (I bought it used with 60,000). I do about 30,000 to 35,000 per year, 95% of it on the highway on cruise-control. Needless to say, 3K OCI's are killing my wallet (even though I do them myself now).

I am using 45% Valvoline Synthpower and 55% Valvoline MaxLife (dino) with 1 oz of the Valvoline Sythetic Oil Treatment per quart of oil.

I know that the concensus on this site is "anti-Valvoline" ; that aside, shouldn't this get me to 7,000 mile OCIs? (I now use Purolator Pure One filters - after reading tghis site I kicked the "Orange Habit" quick)

 

[Palut]

With almost all highway driving, most any oil would be fine for your manual's "normal" service interval. I'd pick up some Chevron Supreme and run 5k miles, or the normal service interval, whichever is greater.

The places around here sell Chevron Supreme for a little less than Valvoline. A better oil for less money ain't a bad deal...

 

[Brett Miller]

The Mobil Clean 7500 would be a good alternative. $2.18 a quart at Walmart and good for 7,500 miles.

 

[TomJones76]

Can't kill that 3800. If I were you I'd do one of two things:
1. Run Wal-Mart house brand API SM 5W30 out to the maximum OCI reccomended in the book. OR
2. Run Mobil 1 EP 5W30 for 15,000 mile intervals.

For my dollar, those seem like the two most cost effective solutions.

 

[serious II]

Thats true enough about the 3800 (L36). My previous car was a '93 park Ave and I had 246,000 trouble free miles on it when I traded her in ( for a non-engine related problem).

I am concerned about maintaining the valve seals, thus the MaxLife. I am not familiar with the VOA specs on Mobil, but am open to anything that will save me $$$ whie ensuring protection/performance.

 

[Gary Allan]

Save $$$ ..move outtah Ahttaboro ..or Nahtun and get outtah Mahass

I don't have any thing to add to the thread ..but ....

I used to live in Attleboro and Norton ...mother was born in Chartley ..where the Burgesses are thick as buffalo (when buffalo were thick).

 

[outrun]

Revisiting an older topic there is some truth to running a PAO/Ester based synthetic in a 3800 being overkill.

Honestly this engine design seems to run flawlessly for 300,000+ miles whatever you run in it at 5,000 miles intervals or more.

I would almost say it is an idiot proof design minus the late 90's intake manifold - dexcool folly.

On Maxlife vs. Seal life.

Again i defer to the above, 3800's are not known for going in for valve jobs

I say if the Mobil EP is not too much that is fine...as is MaxLife but your sticker price is rather just for advertised seal conditioners.

It be interesting how the Mobil engineers view these high mileage oils amd weather they have covertly reformulated the dino product lines to compensate the market.

 

[jthorner]

quote:

---

I do about 30,000 to 35,000 per year, 95% of it on the highway on cruise-control. Needless to say, 3K OCI's are killing my wallet (even though I do them myself now).

I am using 45% Valvoline Synthpower and 55% Valvoline MaxLife (dino) with 1 oz of the Valvoline Sythetic Oil Treatment per quart of oil.

---

With your conditions you are throwing money away draining that oil every 3,000 miles.

Dollars for donuts, and of the good midrange oils like Mobil 7500, Pennzoil "SUV" blend, etc. would probably easily get you to 7,500 miles between oil changes with margin to spare. You could probably even get the job done with any of the best of the conventional oils, especially in the new GF-4 formulations. Pennzoil, Castrol GTX, Chevron Supreme and others have all pretty consistently earned high marks.

Pick one to try and do a used oil analysis at the 7,500 mile change point and I think you will be happily surprised. Personally I would run 5W-30 in the Mass winters and 10W-30 in the summers. Building your own blend might be fun, but I doubt that it achieves a superior result.

Does your vehicle include a version of the GM Oil Life Monitor?

John

[ March 16, 2005, 11:47 PM: Message edited by: jthorner ]

 

[Shaun]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gary Allan:
Save $$$ ..move outtah Ahttaboro ..or Nahtun and get outtah Mahass

I used to live in Attleboro and Norton ..

---

Three of us who live or lived in Attleboro!?! That is funny. I lived there from '82 to '92 on North Main St.

Small-World-Syndrome at its best.

 

[haley10]

Gotta love these engines for being easy on oil.

That's why they get used in the Sequence III testing.

The little PF-47 type oil filter makes extending drains a little more difficult than it should be.

Any good synthetic blend should be able to go 6K conservatively. You could probably use the OLM as an indicator as well and be fine.

I'm proving to myself that GC combined with the OLM is going to be ok.

My theory is that Amsoil ATM will do 10K, my GC can do 7,500 with the OLM ok, and if one desires to use Lube Control with a good blend, you could go just as far. UOA have to be used if going beyond this.

As long as TBN hold up about the only issue with the 3800 is keeping the insolubles in check.

Under 5K for you isn't necessary.

 

[serious II]

Yes, my Buick does have an Oil Life Monitor which shows 40% oil life after 5,000 miles. ( the 2001 LeSabre is rated for 10,000 mile OCI.) But get this, my GM mechanic told me NOT to trust the OLM and stick to 3,000 mile Oil Changes. (Cha - ching !!! $$$$$$) I guess he didn't get the memo from GM re: the OLM. Aftrer reading the posts on the OLM, I am leaning towards using the OLM as a guide.

Hey, am I the only sap left in Attleboro?

No "wundah" it seems so lonely around here lately . . . .