Decision time approaches

MarkC · Oct 28, 2004

About 700 miles left on the 2nd rinse phase of ARx in my 96 Cherokee with a bit over 100K, so I've been loitering around the oil sections in various stores( and I hate you all for this)thinking about what to use next. I'm using Chevron Supreme 10W30, like usual, in the past it was Castrol GTX 10W30. There have never been any oil isssues with my engine, no leaks, no consumption, and since the ARX and some Fuel Power, it's running like new.
But since it's sometimes hard to leave well enough alone, I'm considering switching to something else..or not.
What suggestions, and why? I've done UOA searches by the ton.
I'm considering these options: Chev/Hav HM 10W30, Mobil1 Truck&SUV 5W40, Rotella 5W40, abd just leaving it like it is.....
Thanks

Spector · Oct 28, 2004

There is a lot to be said for if it ain't broke don't fix it. In your case I would go with what you have done in the past, may consider 3 0z of RX maint dose and keep going

Gary Allan · Oct 28, 2004

Sit and wait for more data to confuse you, Mark

I face the same situtation ..but I had a goal ..extended drains. If you're just looking for "great oil" ...there are many out there for just about any OCI or driving condition that you will encounter ..in just about any engine..with evidence to support their use.

What's your desired effect? Unsurpassed protection? Extended drains? Playing with oil (highly under rated)?? Finding a supply for a proposed waste oil burner in your house/garage??

You need a "quest", my friend! You need to "prove" something! Assume the pioneer spirit and blaze a trail ...right here on BITOG! A place where you add your exploration of lubrication in a direction that no one is taking! You can look at it not just as a personal thing...but rather a contribution to a vastly larger collective composite of knowledge. (visions of Star Trek's infamous Kirk speeches that were done in the classic Roman style of "in the round" = AND King Arther's seemingly redundant dialog with Guenevere as she gave him back Excalibur in the movie "Excalibur", "..of things that once were ..so that they may be again..." i.e. the creation of a legend for the good of humankind

)

TooManyWheels · Oct 28, 2004

Boldly go where no man has ever gone before !!!!!
(I don't know where that is but I really like the sound of it).

MarkC · Oct 28, 2004

Oh, God....

EmbarkChief · Oct 28, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by MarkC:
Oh, God....

Yes?

Gary Allan · Oct 28, 2004

Seriously, Mark, what are your "limitations" on this? That is, you've probably got some parameters that you already have assigned some "Well, I ain't gonna do this" or "I wanna do this" type notation to your routine here.

What are they??

MarkC · Oct 28, 2004

I want good protection, as little wear as possible. I'd like to be able to run the same oil here around Seattle year round. I go into the Cascades in the winter, and it can be a bit nippy there. I don't want too thin, not too thick, just right. I'd like to keep the engine clean, now that it has been ARX'd, and I'd like to keep the seals in good shape.
Is that asking too much!?

Gary Allan · Oct 29, 2004

Well, you can kinda figure that M1 T& SUV will suit your needs since it appears to mimic Delvac 1. Rotella synth hasn't been represented enough in the UOA section for any meaningful data there ..but it is cheap enough and surely up to the task in our engines for some duration (how far-who knows

) . Both would probably satisfy your cold weather performance issues unless you did a whole lot of short trips.

How nippy is "nippy"? I only hit near zero for about a week or two here a year.

michaelc80 · Oct 29, 2004

One thing to consider-the Jeep 4.0 engines (I have 2) seem to prefer the slightly thicker 40w oil. While not terrible, the lead in both my UOA's was on the high side of average (which is high anyway). I'm now doing Amsoil 10W40 and am anxious to see how it changes the UOA in a few months.

MarkC · Oct 29, 2004

I guess most of the winter here it doesn't go below about...what? 35 or maybe 30, with a few lower? When went skiing last year, it was about 14 or so.

T-Keith · Oct 29, 2004

These engines seem to do pretty well. Buy Chevron/Havoline by the case when it's 59 cents and don't look back.

Jelly · Oct 29, 2004

Where in West Virginia do you live?

I know the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Lewisburg has Rotella T 5w-40 and the Motorcraft FL-1A combo I'd recommend (at least they did last winter)...

MarkC · Oct 29, 2004

Not West Virgina...Western Washington, across the lake from Seattle.

Ugly3 · Oct 29, 2004

No suggestions for German Castrol?

Jelly · Oct 29, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by MarkC:
Not West Virgina...Western Washington, across the lake from Seattle.

I'm blind in one eye and can't see of out of the other...

Gary Allan · Oct 29, 2004

quote:

I guess most of the winter here it doesn't go below about...what? 35 or maybe 30, with a few lower? When went skiing last year, it was about 14 or so.

This won't be a problem for you in any synth 40 weight. You could probably do it with the dino. 90% of your driving year is above freezing. You've got a warmer climate than I do ...maybe yours lasts a little longer. Here we have colder "lows" ..but we bounce above and below freezing for most of the winter. Wreaks great havoc from all the freeze thaw issues.

Pick up the Rotella for $12.84 before they change their minds about the great price and smile everytime you think of it circulating in the engine. I don't think that our, although hearty, 4.0's or 2.5's are going to tax this oil in any manner that it laugh at.

Drew99GT · Oct 29, 2004

I vote for Havoline 10w-30 HM. Not too thick, not too thin, and besides Valvoline Maxlife (which is a thinner HM type oil), it has the best cold weather specs I've seen of the various HM oils (in 10w-30 grade of course). Plus, it's the cheapest HM oil by far at $1.99. As long as your not gonna be starting in below 0 weather, it'll be perfect IMO. That's why I'm going with this oil for my next change.

Jelly · Oct 29, 2004

delete

Jelly · Oct 29, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Drew99GT:
I vote for Havoline 10w-30 HM. Not too thick, not too thin, and besides Valvoline Maxlife (which is a thinner HM type oil), it has the best cold weather specs I've seen of the various HM oils (in 10w-30 grade of course). Plus, it's the cheapest HM oil by far at $1.99.

I was just getting ready to ask the question about "which HM oil has the best cold temp specs".

Is this oil widely available?

If I remember correctly, I picked up a five quart jug of Pennzoil HM 10w-40 for around $9.50, which would put it at $1.90/quart.

Decision time approaches

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