Do they think nobody uses 5W-20?

[MGregoir]

1/3 of new vehicles sold in north America probably use 5W-20 now yet I can only find Mobil 1 and Castrol GTX in jugs at the local Canadian Tire or Wal-Mart and they are always low on stock.

I just want to be able to pick up a five-quart jug plus a single quart for the six quart Ford oil changes. If not for not having a Costco card, I'd just go pick up 12 quarts of FormulaShell for cheap and be done with it.

Now for a trip to the bulk plant to get twelve singles of Petro-Canada...

 

[rpn453]

I'm most surprised at how uncommon 0W-20 is up here! We get temperatures of -40C or lower every year, yet they don't seem to want us to use oil that's rated for use below -35C. Oh well, the 0W-20 at the Honda dealer wasn't a bad price.

 

[glennc]

I bet a lot of those newer cars are mostly non-owner-serviced, so there is less demand for the oils.

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted By: MGregoir
1/3 of new vehicles sold in north America probably use 5W-20 now yet I can only find Mobil 1 and Castrol GTX in jugs at the local Canadian Tire or Wal-Mart and they are always low on stock.




The CT stores in Toronto have a better selection of 5w20s in the bigger jugs, as we can get Pennzoil 5w20 in the big jugs here too, as well as Quaker State 5w20 and Valvoline 5w20.

Doesn't your CT sell Formula 1 5w20 in the big jugs too? I just posted a used oil analysis of that oil in my wife's car and it did a pretty good job. It did better than Petro Canada's 5w20! (much lower lead!)

 

[kazual]

HELLO NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH. IN CONNECTICUT, I SEE THE 5W-20 AND 0W-20 ALL THE TIME. ASK THE SALESCLERCKS IN THE STORES IF THEY CAN ORDER IT FOR YOU.

 

[MGregoir]

The CT stores I have been at in Alberta generally have everything in 5w30 and 10w30 except Mobil 1 and GTX, and I know GTX is a good oil but I would prefer Pennzoil because the 4.73 litre Pennzoil jugs plus a single quart is exactly enough for an oil change so there aren't dregs of oil sitting around everywhere.

I'd have to buy two extra quarts almost everywhere else, the Wal-Mart here generally carries 5W-20 only as single quarts except Mobil 1 and GTX in five litre jugs.

I am thinking I may just go to the Havoline distributor (they don't stock, they just take orders as they are primarily an industrial supplier) here and order in 12 quarts of Havoline 5W-20. At this point it looks like it's about the easiest and most cost effective way to get good 5W-20 oil in this area. Pennzoil in 5 quart jugs is regular $16.99 plus 50 cents environmental, so $3.49 a quart, while the Havoline is $3.34 per quart including the environmental fee. I have just been running yellow bottle in everything lately so it's kind of annoying to not be able to get it in a common package size.

 

[cyclic]

Agreed,

Canada Tire has a [censored] selection of 5w20. Can only get the following at mine in 5w20;
Castrol GTX & Syntec
Motomaster Formula 1 Synthetic
Pennzoil Platinum
Quaker State normal and Synthetic
They Just got Mobil 1 in 5w20.
They have just about everything else in 5w30 though.
And you can't get any 4 litre jugs of 5w20 except in Castrol GTX

I find Walmart has a good selection of 5w20 although I hate Walmart.

 

[Drivebelt]

Superstore has Esso Extra 5W-20 for ~ $3.29 l (in single liter bottles). Same price as the Esso 5W/10W-30's. Many brands charge a premium for 5W-20's. The Pennzoil and Quaker State 5w20's are more expensive than their other grades -- I think ~ $5.09l.

 

[MGregoir]

Generally the 1 litre bottles of all non-30 weight grades of oils I see are 20 cents per litre more for 5W-20. Nearest Superstore is a ways away while Wal-Mart and CT are 25 minutes and an every other week trip.

I think getting the flat of Havoline 5W-20 might be the best option because it's fairly good pricing and exactly two oil changes worth.

Where in Alberta are you posting from?

 

[Drivebelt]

Edmonton.

 

[mechtech2]

I guess Canadian Walmart store managers are not on the cutting edge of oil technology.

 

[MGregoir]

I was in Edmonton up until the end of March, I am back in Bonnyville for a job right now and then moving to Medicine Hat at the end of June.

Or, in BITOG terms, somewhere I won't be worried too much about 0W oil this winter. (Sunniest city in Canada with one of the mildest winters...also one of few places that can see 100 degrees F in the summer.)

Red L is the Texaco distributor for Western Canada and they have a shop in Bonnyville as well as a McEwan's Esso and Petro-Canada bulk plant so those are the three best choices locally. Local parts shops want $24 for 4.4 litres of Quaker State 5W-20...not joking. Nucking futs, have to make 25% on everything in the building I guess. Somebody here has flats of Pennzoil but I can't remember who or what they charge for it either...