Choosing what to use from the stash is difficult!

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qdeezie

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I have worked up quite the stash of oil and filters. One thing I have noticed is that I can't seem to decide what I want to use for the next oil change on my truck, which is about 1,000 miles away. There are several different brands/types of oil and filters that I have on hand and want to try. Most of the time I end up deciding when the oil is draining out.

For those of you that have worked up a stash over they years, do you have the same crazy "issue" to go through when it's time to do your next change? What's your formula to deciding on what to use?

What I think of when deciding is whether or not I will be doing long distance road trips, weather conditions over the next few months, how quickly I think I'll accrue mileage and what time (season) it will be and how hot/cold it will be outside when changing, etc.

It might be crazy, but the reality of it is that it's a serious thought process I go through every 5,000 miles.
 
I swear to you I go through the same thing, I think I am crazy. I do the "forecast" for the OCI and figure what should fit best. What can I say....there are a lot worse addictions out there. I did it today in fact. I wanted to change the oil in my new Sonata, I got some Edge FST for it but I decided to tap my Synpower stash because Valvoline posts its NOACK #'s Castrol doesn't. I want the lowest possible volatility in the DI engine. Bla Bla Bla...but those are things a BITOGer thinks about.
 
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You have a 1990 truck . You could use city star and the truck would run the same.
http://www.universalws.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=45824

Kidding aside. I got slammed by suggesting that I run 10w30 gf-4 john deere oil in my corolla so unless your truck is rebuilt , you can run sg-sl oil with better results. Better additive package for older motors.
Myself , I would run dino 15-40 delo or similar.
 
Originally Posted By: daman
That's why I've stuck with one brand,it's a no brainier when OC time rolls around.


I stuck with one brand for about 15 years and ended up with a bit of disappointment in the very end. That pretty much eliminated my brand loyalty for the most part. My engines didn't die or anything, but upon inspection of one vehicle I used a specific brand in for over a decade, I felt somewhat deceived. Maybe my expectation at the time was unrealistic. My mentality didn't change to "oil is oil" but I backed away from one brand being the answer for every scenario. I used it as a reason to experiment and learn what the other companies have to offer.
 
Originally Posted By: qdeezie
Originally Posted By: daman
That's why I've stuck with one brand,it's a no brainier when OC time rolls around.


I stuck with one brand for about 15 years and ended up with a bit of disappointment in the very end. That pretty much eliminated my brand loyalty for the most part. My engines didn't die or anything, but upon inspection of one vehicle I used a specific brand in for over a decade, I felt somewhat deceived. Maybe my expectation at the time was unrealistic. My mentality didn't change to "oil is oil" but I backed away from one brand being the answer for every scenario. I used it as a reason to experiment and learn what the other companies have to offer.

Haven't lost one in over 20 years and counting..yes there's many good brands out there but what i'm running is good too.
 
Originally Posted By: chad8
You have a 1990 truck . You could use city star and the truck would run the same.
http://www.universalws.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=45824

Kidding aside. I got slammed by suggesting that I run 10w30 gf-4 john deere oil in my corolla so unless your truck is rebuilt , you can run sg-sl oil with better results. Better additive package for older motors.
Myself , I would run dino 15-40 delo or similar.


Oh, I cracked up laughing out loud when I just checked out that city star link!

Honestly though, you have a valid point.

I have absolutely no reservations about experimenting with different oils with my truck because I know it'll run on pretty much anything.
 
Originally Posted By: daman
That's why I've stuck with one brand,it's a no brainier when OC time rolls around.



I also stick to one brand (Amsoil) so choosing what to use next is a bit easier but still a thinker because there are different levels of Amsoil i have in my stash.

For example, my 07 Civic EX. Been running SSO 0w30 for 10k intervals with good results. This last oil change i decided to try XL 5w20 for 2 reasons. #1. I want to run it for 10k and see the results (it's rated for 10k or 6 months) and #2. I wanted to run a 5w20 oil to compare the results to the 30 grade i've been using. (this would go great for the 30 vs 20 debate)

Otherwise, i also think about what the weather will be like in the next few months and decide between 0w, 5w or 10w.

I don't like stashing oil for longer then a year. I like to keep it fresh.
thumbsup2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: 67Customs
Originally Posted By: daman
That's why I've stuck with one brand,it's a no brainier when OC time rolls around.

Bingo! Same for me.

"My vehicles run on Mobil 1"

^^
thumbsup2.gif
 
I have a pretty extensive stash.
You want Chevron Supreme Full Syn, Maxlife SB, Durablend, Synpower, Edge, PP, PU, QSGB, QSTP, QSUD, G-OIL, Delvac, GTX, Syntec, M1, Amsoil or Peak, I've got ya covered.
I've probably missed a few.
I like to use the same oil in the same car for a few changes.
I plan it that way.
Filters?
Don't really care.
I have a good stock of Puro classics, P1s and D+ oil filters at the moment.
Any of them are more than good enough for the 5-7K OCIs I run.
The only reason I ever exceed 5K on any car is that the weather is really cold and nasty, and I don't feel like laying under a car, even in the dry, but cold, garage.
A stash gives you flexibility and choice, as well as plenty of oil bought cheap.
 
My Ranger gets an oil change tomorrow.
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Same oil as always,Mobil 1 5W30 but I did have to decide which filter to use between the Wix,K&N and Mobil 1 in the stash. I finally picked the M1 this time.
 
I do a per-day day mileage calculation and a forecast of when the next change will be. This time it will be from October 1, 2011 to October 7 when the 6500 mile stripe comes up.

Then I do a weather check and figure in where I will be. I am going to the Eastern Sierra this fall, so it will be a mix of dino and synthetic working out to about 5W-30, as morning starts at high altitude will be mighty cold. If it was the summer and a trip to the low desert was planned, a heavier oil would be chosen. The car works fine with heavier stuff in summer, but I am not going as heavy as in former times.

The filter gets chosen, and off I go. Once the Fram filters get used up (there are two left) I will use my stock of better ones (Mobil Extended, Bosch, NAPA, and Toyota OEM.
 
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No issues with FZ1. Use them in chronological order,oldest first. I only keep 2 changes worth in my stash. Fresher oil and later spec oil that way.
 
That is one reason why I mix oils. I do not totally fill the oil pan. So if the cold or really hot weather is coming, I can fudge it a little by adding some lightweight oil to the mix or some heavy stuff. I usually keep some PYB straight 40 weight on hand if the weather is warming; if getting cool some 0W-20, 0W-30 or 0W-40 can be had. Also it is my understanding that Marvel Mystery Oil will knock your viscosity numbers down a bit.

I know in Apple Valley the October low average is about 45 F. and in December around freezing. I am south of the San Gabriels so the weather around here is milder, but I will be up around Bridgeport in a few weeks.
 
Originally Posted By: Cristobal
The filter gets chosen, and off I go. Once the Fram filters get used up (there are two left) I will use my stock of better ones (Mobil Extended, Bosch, NAPA, and Toyota OEM.


I would use the better ones first, then the Fram last
 
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