does it really matter?

[electrolover]

dino oils have come so far in the recent years does it really make a difference which one you pick any more? im leaning towards no. true they are all made a little differently but can one really tell a difference in cleaning or wear protection between VWB, PYB, QSAD, or chevron supreme?

In the past year i have used Formula Shell, QuakerState, Pennzoil, Valvoline, Maxlife, motorcraft, Exxon Superflo, and Castrol in mine and my friends cars. I can honestly tell you if you change your oil at 3-5k you will never know the difference. I have noticed that Syn is a little better at cleaning up a dirty engine (mainly PP and PU), but it seems any SM or SN dino will have no problem keeping a clean engine clean if changed on time. (time is whole different thread

)

My stash has dwindled from almost 100 quarts down to about 30. mainly from helping out friends and neighbors, and it was all oil i got "on the cheap". I used to freak out when i saw a good deal but im starting to realize that there will always be a good oil on sale. that being said i dont plan on stock piling anymore because i can always find a good deal somewhere on a good oil. my car's future may very well rely on whats on sale rather than what i want. because in reality its not going to know the difference if the last fill was Maxlife or formula shell.

when i really look at them i can find something awesome to say about most oils. for example the really high boron in QS or the high moly in CS and FS SM or the high quality and low price of mobil 5000. i guess what im trying to say in this ramble is thanks BITOG for the education and i think for most of us any name brand or "sleeper" oil will do just fine.

the only real question is how long you can run your pick....

 

[The motor guy]

I've never understood why people stash oil. Then you end up changing the oil in your car without any record for the next owner that you changed it cause their is no receipt. Now maybe if you kept your car so long that it's only worth a thousand bucks anyway then I can maybe see a savings cause you can be like hey it's got 250,000 miles on it, I must have done something right. That's a little off topic, sorry. I'm not totally sure I agree with the thought that oils have gotten better in recent years. I'd rather run some sj rated oil then this ashless low zddp oil they have nowadays.

 

[Jakegday]

people actually save oil receipts?? a dealers gonna give you a set amount for your car weather you produce the pile of receipts or not. same for the insurance company if someone accidently totals your vehicle

 

[CarbonSteel]

Originally Posted By: Jakegday
people actually save oil receipts?? a dealers gonna give you a set amount for your car weather you produce the pile of receipts or not. same for the insurance company if someone accidently totals your vehicle

+1 - the receipts may carry some weight when selling to an individual, but a stealership could care less. The objective is to have you give them your car and have you buy theirs.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I've never understood why people stash oil. Then you end up changing the oil in your car without any record for the next owner that you changed it cause their is no receipt. Now maybe if you kept your car so long that it's only worth a thousand bucks anyway then I can maybe see a savings cause you can be like hey it's got 250,000 miles on it, I must have done something right. That's a little off topic, sorry. I'm not totally sure I agree with the thought that oils have gotten better in recent years. I'd rather run some sj rated oil then this ashless low zddp oil they have nowadays.


You stash oil when its a super buy, that way when its time for a change you have some oil you carry you through until its on sale again!
When i'm done with my cars they are not fit for anyone, so resale is never a thought.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I'd rather run some sj rated oil then this ashless low zddp oil they have nowadays.


If you had stashed some oil, you might still have some sj to use he...he...he !!

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I've never understood why people stash oil. Then you end up changing the oil in your car without any record for the next owner that you changed it cause their is no receipt.


I tend to buy oils and filters and bulk. I just toss the receipts in a folder and when I change the oil, I rip off the top of the filter box and write down the date and mileage (and which oil), and toss it in the folder. I've been doing this pretty much since I've started driving-my dad taught me this. It seems to help when selling the car private party, that's for sure.

I do think oils have gotten better, particularly inexpensive oils. I'd have to agree with the OP, it doesn't really matter much, as long as you have enough in there and change it at a reasonable interval.

 

[Steve S]

Dino oils started reallyy getting good in the late 80s and at work I started seeing lots of log lasting engines by the middle 90s. The biggest change for the good was the using Chevrons nomenclature the Hyroisomerized base stocks.

 

[hattaresguy]

I just run whatever name brand synthetic is on sale. Oil is oil.

My "stock" consists of whatever doesn't go into the motor, usually about 1/2 a quart.

 

[84zmyfavorite]

Aaah...See!? Thats why its good to have a stash. See now, When I change the oil in my 87,96,99 and 2001 Cherokees with flat tappet cams still in them, I use oil from the same vintage, mid 90s till 2001, 2002. And these oils have all the good High levels of Zinc/Phospherous my motors need. I just need to share more with others that could benefit from my stash...

 

[d00df00d]

For my car, it definitely does matter what oil I pick, regardless of OCI length. Whatever oil I choose has to be able to take a severe beating even if I change it every thousand miles.

My brother's car offers him more flexibility in his choices. He could even drop down to a decent non-synthetic if he really wanted.

The average driver with the average car has a LOT more flexibility. Most mainstream engines these days will last forever with modern engine oils, synthetic or not -- as long as they meet the right basic specs.

As always, it depends on the application.

 

[Steve S]

With all the I bought this car with a sludged up engine posts . I am not sure changing the oil matters to a majority of used vehicle purchasers.

 

[electrolover]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
With all the I bought this car with a sludged up engine posts . I am not sure changing the oil matters to a majority of used vehicle purchasers.


its kinda fun to clean up a sludged engine! for me anyway... i have often thought of buying a $500 sludge monster to experiment on.

 

[johnachak]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I've never understood why people stash oil. Then you end up changing the oil in your car without any record for the next owner


Not true. I keep a computer record of the changes. I also enter the changes on the my ford and the onstar websites (For the Caddy)
What's the difference beteween my records and someone that has their brother in law who has a shop draw up some receipts. I know that one look in the oil fil of my cars looks like factory new!