Comments I don't understand: "My car loves it"

[tc1446]

I notice an awful lot of folks make this comment about whatever new brand of oil they've recently installed. Now, I know there are mechanical situations where a change might make a noticable diff, but I have to believe these are rare.

I'm an old coot, 76 YO, and have used about every oil made at one time or the other. I do my own oil/filter changes. I don't normally keep a car past 150K, mostly because I'm tired of it and want something diff, not because of mechanical issues.

Even back in the pre-syn days I ran dino for 5K between changes. Don't recall ever having a car with excessive consumption. Except for my 38 Ford which was worn out when I got it.

These days I use syn and change at about 10K.

In all these years from the 38 Ford to my current Smart, Altima, Corolla & Ranger, I can't truly say about any oil that "my car/truck loved it".

Right now, I'm "loving" M1 & filter because AZ & Advance run sales frequently and its more convenient to obtain than Amsoil which I had been using. But dang it, neither of these vehicles seem to give a hoot what I put in.

At least I haven't hear them say, one way or the other!

Thats just my take on it; yours may vary.

 

[bepperb]

You're not alone. If I could find an oil that was "better" than the rest I'd pay whatever. But I can never tell a difference. So I just use whatever is on sale or has a rebate or whatever.

I could take the passenger seat out of her car and my wife wouldn't notice.

 

[40Deluxe]

What engine does the ranger have?

 

[crazyoildude]

we all have likes but when it comes down to it oil is oil....
shhhhhhh you did not hear that from me

 

[BILLYMAC]

To an "old coot" from a "soon to be old coot"...Well put, and I tend to agree with you tc.

 

[HTSS_TR]

My 25x,xxx miles '94 LS400 had 5w30 conventional and syn of many different brands for 17 years without any different in engine performance or noise.

My 12x,xxx miles '00 E430 had Mobil 1 0W40 the first 7 years, on the 7th year it was noisier than the first few years. I first tried Mobil 1 10W30 and the engine quiet down and it seemed to have a little more power. I then tried Pennzoil Platinum 5w20, the engine was so quiet specially when it was idle at red light, not only that the engine rev easier it also consumes less gas in both city and on highway. I then tried Valvoline Synpower 5W20 and then Mobil 1 0W20 but neither oil makes the engine as quiet as Pennzoil Platinum 5w20. To my ears this 4.3L V8 likes Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 better than others of similar grade.

 

[dparm]

Placebo to a certain extent, unless someone was making a radical change like a 20w50 to 0w30 or whatever. I did notice my motor felt a little different after moving to a high-end "race" oil though that has either worn off or I've grown used to it.

 

[webfors]

haha.. I know. It's a funny statement really.

 

[GMBoy]

Great post topic. I agree - I don't buy into the "my car loves" a certain oil. I could never tell a difference between oils (except syn versus conventional on a really cold day!). No sound difference, no power difference, etc.

 

[bluestream]

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...349#Post2070349

 

[CourierDriver]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Great post topic. I agree - I don't buy into the "my car loves" a certain oil. I could never tell a difference between oils (except syn versus conventional on a really cold day!). No sound difference, no power difference, etc.
I resemble these remarks, I have run straight 30,5w30,10w30,10w40,currently5w40,, and back in the 60s,probably straight 30wt. I have not tried any of the 0w stuff yet. But all my engines and cars,,noise was never a factor for whatever oil i used. I wonder if some of these 4 bangers of foreign mfgr are just thinner engine blocks , or possibly to much aluminum in them,,,I dont know, but this sound thing comes up alot. If u start my Harley, u cant hear any engine noise,,loud mufflers,,so if u want to get rid of engine noise, put on a decent set of headers and louder mufflers and the sewing machine effect will be gone in MHO. Real men drive V8s anyway,,,amen, just kidding u.

 

[chubbs1]

I will have to say I believe some cars or engines may resonate differently with different oils. I could not seem to notice any dif whatsoever in my Civic for example, it seemed to be rough on anything. I Picked up Castrol EDGE 0w20 on sale at AAP mainly to try the filter, I wanted to hate BP products because of the spill etc. but when I started running it I could not believe the way the car stopped rattling. I sometimes forget the car is running. So I am a believer (to an extent) in an oil that dampens sound better. As for performance I can't tell in any of my cars between oils.

 

[Hallmark]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Placebo to a certain extent, unless someone was making a radical change like a 20w50 to 0w30 or whatever. I did notice my motor felt a little different after moving to a high-end "race" oil though that has either worn off or I've grown used to it.


It was reported in the national news tonight that people taking a placebo medication, EVEN WHEN INFORMED THAT THEY WERE TAKING A PLACEBO, felt a benefit. I really believe that a vehicle owner's perceptions of 'improvement' with one oil or another of the same viscosity is all in their imagination based on expectations or desires.

 

[CourierDriver]

Originally Posted By: Hallmark
Originally Posted By: dparm
Placebo to a certain extent, unless someone was making a radical change like a 20w50 to 0w30 or whatever. I did notice my motor felt a little different after moving to a high-end "race" oil though that has either worn off or I've grown used to it.


It was reported in the national news tonight that people taking a placebo medication, EVEN WHEN INFORMED THAT THEY WERE TAKING A PLACEBO, felt a benefit. I really believe that a vehicle owner's perceptions of 'improvement' with one oil or another of the same viscosity is all in their imagination based on expectations or desires.


I would bet that the marketing department folks of many oil mfgs who read what we write get a kick out of us and all the guessing and such and off the wall comments that are made including urs truly....

 

[shpankey]

Originally Posted By: chubbs1
I will have to say I believe some cars or engines may resonate differently with different oils. I could not seem to notice any dif whatsoever in my Civic for example, it seemed to be rough on anything. I Picked up EDGE 0w20 on sale at AAP mainly to try the filter, I wanted to hate BP products because of the spill etc. but when I started running it I could not believe the way the car stopped rattling. I sometimes forget the car is running. So I am a believer (to an extent) in an oil that dampens sound better. As for performance I can't tell in any of my cars between oils.

Castrol EDGE made a noticeable difference in my wifes SUV, to the point she made a comment to me about it. Then I put it in my car and noticed it too seemed to be smoother and quieter too. I've seen a few other's mention this about Castrol EDGE too, so there may be something to it. Granted it didn't make as much a difference in my car as it did my wifes SUV, which is a pretty loud engine, but I could definitely tell.

I have sampled so many oil's now... Red Line, Royal Purple, Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy and HM, German Castrol, GTX, Pennzoil Platinum, SynPower and T6 Rotella. I still have a few others in my stash to try, Havoline DS, Mobil 1 Euro, Pennzoil Ultra Euro, Motul 300v and a few others but the Castrol EDGE so far has stood out the most in this regard. I wish I had more in my stash as I'm down to 6 quarts of Castrol EDGE 10w30 but I'm saving that for the wifey's SUV in the Spring. I'm about to refill my car with GC to give it another try in my 4 banger as I only ran it for a short time before.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Bluestream

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...349#Post2070349


+1

 

[FZ1]

You just have to be in touch with your internal automotive self to notice differences in oils.

 

[rclint]

I think the post brought up an issue that needs attention from time to time here as it seems the forum gets so caught up in which oil is best war...

There may be oils here, or there that may in fact excel in some areas, but even the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy does not do that much more in terms of fuel economy.. if it did the OEM would be all over it boasting a increase in economy in which the EPA would part velvet robes... so to speak... What I'm say is what others have said oil is pretty much oil as long as same specs are compared.. and it's getting beyond that that even across specs oils are very very close, so close even that for a life of an automobile/engine that an out of spec oil could be run without due harm unless in extreme cases of turbo, or some other highly tuned engine..

Now that said I'm not one for sounds, anal dyno's, or vast extremes in economy on a oil change alone (and gasp at the amount of the old oil is still in the engine). The most difference I have noted is that of Castrol Edge, and start-up noise is reduced a considerable amount.. enough so that I noted it.. Still this is not anything harmful to an engine in my opinion, and prof positive at the many engines on the road with hundreds of thousands of miles on them.

 

[rclint]

Originally Posted By: FZ1
You just have to be in touch with your internal automotive self to notice differences in oils.


I agree, my last OCI I got a small air bubble when pouring in the last quart.. I could tell when I started the engine as it had a slight blurp-dagosh-whooooshh uh to it, and while driving down the road I could feel every 47 seconds or so that the oil pump caught that air bubble... which of course everyone knows this makes a small loss in the oils ability to flow at low/mid temps ( yes it was synthetic) so I added some MMO and upon pouring in I heard a burpppp and a slight pop from the exhaust.. along with an odor.. the engine was not running than goodness, and once again I can feel the difference in power, acceleration is much much better, and response is better as well, economy up 3.9756 MPG, and no more air bubble floating around in my engine.. Thank goodness I was running synthetic (the air bubble was also synthetic) if I had not had all that extra protection, and I was also able to extend my OCI out long enough to get the bubble out...

 

[FZ1]

See,that's what I'm talkin' about.