Ditching the whole synthetic rave...

Pennzoil motor oil
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Big_Kat

Joined
Oct 31, 2009
Messages
525
Location
Iowa
Car: 2007 Corolla 1ZZ-FE Auto
Mileage: 47,000
~18,000-20,000 miles/year mostly rural hwy
After much thought I jumped of the synthetic band wagon and I am going back to dino. OCI will be at roughly 5000-6000 miles and I feel confident that Pennzoil Conventional or FS will provide superb results.
 
If you like to do 5-6k OCI regardless if the oil is synthetic and conventional, then it doesn't make sense to waste money on synthetic. If you want to do 10-12k OCI then synthetic is needed because most conventional will form sludge with that long OCI.
 
Or you can switch between brands/synth/dino like you`re supposed to change between brands of shampoos :^) It`ll keep sludge out of your engine and buildup out of your hair ;^)
 
There could be an advantage on some cold Iowan Winter morning to having a good syn in the sump. Or maybe not, some of the better conventionals have good cold weather properties.

I wait for sales and buy good syn for as cheap as possible and stock up a bit, many times it's less than conventional oil. Change it at 5-6k and no worries :)
 
I just hate chasing rebates...but i am kinda temped to go for that valvolnie/oreillys one..so all hope aint lost
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With Pennzoil Platinum at $20.50 for 5 quarts at Wal-Mart, there is no way I would go back to dino.

I have an '06 Corolla S 1ZZ-FE, Auto and I have used PP until the last two changes where I am using PU now.

I use a Fram XG-3600 filter on it which has more volume than the stock filters and fits perfect. Bypass is within a lb or 2 of the stock filter.

I am also using a Filtermag MB-300 (300lb pull force) magnet on the filter.

I just changed the oil tonight at 78,438 miles and 6,200 on the PU. You could still see through the oil on the stick and it was still dead on the full mark.

As good as the engine looks inside the valve cover and how well it is running, I just don't have a problem spending $40 for what would be 2 severe service oil changes. I have a Fram Sure Drain plug on it and I changed the oil in 20 minutes and didn't spill a drop on the driveway.

Best of all, I will take the used oil back to Wal-Mart in a spare PP bottle and they will recycle it for free.

The peace of mind that my engine is protected and as clean as it is just seems worth it. I add 10 oz. of Motorkote engine treatment every fourth oil change. I bought a gallon of it awhile back and I don't see it hurting anything.

I will be surprised if this engine doesn't go 300K before it is tired. It is only supposed to have 128 Hp, but I have put many a car to shame with it on the highway.
 
Big-Kat, Pennzoil conventional will do fine for 6K, no worries at all- especially in a corolla. (My folk's ride is an '03 corolla and in knocks down some pretty killer used oil analysis on Pennzoil conventional for 6K intervalls.)
 
Dino for short intervals, syn for extended intervals.

Like everyone else here I was stuck on syns for a decade, or longer. I have a stash of PP in the basement for winter and dino the rest of the year. When the stash runs out, I'll use whatever quality conventional oil is on sale.

With regular maintenance with the cheapest oil you can buy the engine in your car will outlast *everything* else. The lube you choose makes little difference.

After 4 years on bitog that's what I've learned, hence why I now use conventional in my subaru.
 
Keep in mind my response was directed at your corolla. If you had an application that warranted syn, then that's what I would recommend.
 
While it is true that today's conventional oils are really very good and will serve you well - there are still worthwhile reasons to stick with synthetics even with non-extended drains.

1.) Better cold flow for cold startups.
2.) Much better at handling high temps.
3.) Possibly a wee bit better MPG's
4.) Syn lubes are not much more in price than dino at W-Mart.
5.) An extra margin of safety - isn't that worth a few dollars?

Just saying...
 
Kudos to brsmith - for knowing what he's doing and why he's doing it.

Meanwhile to OP - I would consider MC or other quality blend. MC is about the same price as dino. Personally I keep cars for 10 to 15 years - I just couldn't stomach dino at 6k OCIs over that interval - I detest the brown engine (and I don't have full confidence that dino could stave it off).
 
While it is true that today's conventional oils are really very good and will serve you well - there are still worthwhile reasons to stick with synthetics even with non-extended drains.

1.) Better cold flow for cold startups.
2.) Much better at handling high temps.
3.) Possibly a wee bit better MPG's
4.) Syn lubes are not much more in price than dino at W-Mart.
5.) An extra margin of safety - isn't that worth a few dollars?

Just saying...



Totally agree!

Since the Corolla in question is in Iowa, the winters there warrant synthetic.

I am from the Quad Cities and it can get between -15*F to -20*F.

It doesn't hurt when you sell your car, which I sell all of mine as a private party, to throw out a filled out service book with synthetic being used. They know you cared about the maintenance.

I am sure Dino would serve it well, but as competitive as synthetics have became and how good off the shelf oils like PP and PU have became, I have no problem paying extra since an oil change done by me is cheaper than the quick lube using dino.
 
My thinking is this. Let's say you like an OCI of around 6000 miles and you average 30 mpg in your Corolla. If you get an extra 3% mileage with synthetic that's a savings of around 6 gallons of gas for the OCI, or around $18 at today's prices. So you've more than paid for the synthetic just on gas savings alone, with the extra potential protection as a bonus. Even if the savings is only 1% in mileage (giving you 30.3 mpg) you would save 2 gallons of gas, or $6, which would probably make the synthetic a break even if you're getting something like PP at WalMart for $20.50. If you feel you can extend your OCI with a synthetic the savings can really add up, plus you spend less weekend time under the car changing oil, which is my main beef with short OCIs.
 
Synthetics are good for more then just extended OCI there good for added protection with ANY length OCI.

better flow/pump ability
better cold weather performance
better hot weather high oil temp protection(better thermal stability)
cleaner operating engine(sludge,deposits,varnish)
in some cases added fuel economy


and any more today there sold at a very reasonable price.
 
Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
My thinking is this. Let's say you like an OCI of around 6000 miles and you average 30 mpg in your Corolla. If you get an extra 3% mileage with synthetic that's a savings of around 6 gallons of gas for the OCI, or around $18 at today's prices. So you've more than paid for the synthetic just on gas savings alone, with the extra potential protection as a bonus. Even if the savings is only 1% in mileage (giving you 30.3 mpg) you would save 2 gallons of gas, or $6, which would probably make the synthetic a break even if you're getting something like PP at WalMart for $20.50. If you feel you can extend your OCI with a synthetic the savings can really add up, plus you spend less weekend time under the car changing oil, which is my main beef with short OCIs.


3% MPG impovement? Not a chance. Protection is the same.

Changing oil in a Corolla is one of the simplest things to do as far as a car.

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
I'm in FL,but if I was anywhere the start-up temps were below 35f, I'd stock up and just use synthetic all the time.


Then I'm in some serious trouble over the 30 plus years of driving WELL below ZERO using conventional oils.

The oil is not going to help until you get REAL cold. And most people who live in those climates do things that really matter like plug in their vehicles.

Take care, bill
 
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