Engines that are "picky" about oil

Pennzoil motor oil
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VeryNoisyPoet

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I don't want to start a brand loyalty flame war here. I'm simply curious if you've had experience with any engines that stand out as liking one particular brand over another in terms of noise, smoothness, or consumption.

My car doesn't seem to care in terms of smoothness and noise. Pennzoil conventional, Pennzoil High Mileage (brown bottle), Castrol GTX HM, Mobil 1 High Mileage, Valvoline Maxlife HM blend, and now Full Synthetic HM with Maxlife. All were 10w30, and all were similarly quiet and smooth. Unfortunately don't have consumption data since all but the current OCI had significant leaks from one source or another on the order of 1 quart in 1k miles. Slightly more than 1/2 quart down after 4k of hot highway use with no known leaks now. Only used oil analysis so far was this past winter with Mobil 1 High Mileage: https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub..._mo#Post4822287

Only other vehicle I have any data for is my mom's XC70 (nearly the same engine as mine) which purred like a kitten and didn't use a drop of M1 in 3k miles, despite having a sludge problem from previous owners' neglect. No noticeable difference in consumption or noise from the previous bulk 10w30. M1 turned nearly black in that interval with high wear metals, possibly from metal-rich sludge dissolving in oil. See this thread for used oil analysis discussion: https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub...les#Post4786246
 
Originally Posted By: sloinker
VW 1.8L need synthetic and a maximum 3,000 OCI if you don't want sludge

Incorrect, there was a used oil analysis of a 2001 1.8T MK4 that went 8k kms I believe on a normal synthetic oil. I can't find the thread but it was pretty recently. I think it was a 5W40, too.

The longitudinal 1.8 is apparently the bad one for sludge with it's smaller oil pan. I have a feeling oils have improved even since the mid-2000s and there were a lot of people still using 5k OCIs on dino because turbo euro cars were not nearly as common as they are today. I think now-a-days even a normie can understand that a euro car has different maintenance needs than asian or domestic. The 1.8T and the diesels from the same period suffered from the same issues: First time VW, euro car, or passenger car diesel owners because of VWs exploding popularity at the time.
 
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Well I nearly change my brand of oil every OCI it always seems to use about a cup in 5K miles no matter what oil I use. The one time I saw an exception to this I replaced my PCV 400 miles after the OCI and the problem went away.
 
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Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
Any high mileage small block ford (SBF), pre about 2005 or so ...

Any details for those of us unfamiliar with the quirks of these engines? Noise, sludge, consumption? What oils seem to help, what ones seem to make it worse?
 
Originally Posted By: VeryNoisyPoet
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
Any high mileage small block ford (SBF), pre about 2005 or so ...

Any details for those of us unfamiliar with the quirks of these engines? Noise, sludge, consumption? What oils seem to help, what ones seem to make it worse?


yeah, i don't think they are that picky
 
Originally Posted By: VeryNoisyPoet
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
Any high mileage small block ford (SBF), pre about 2005 or so ...

Any details for those of us unfamiliar with the quirks of these engines? Noise, sludge, consumption? What oils seem to help, what ones seem to make it worse?


I'd like to know as well. Recently picked up a 95 Mustang with the 5.0. 85k Miles. I changed the oil with 10w30 Pennzoil Platinum high mileage. Seems to run OK with Ford filter.

On the thread topic, I've heard of people having engine rattle or tick in the Nissan 4.0s with certain oils and filters. Some run 0w40 instead of the recommended 5w30 to quiet it down. I don't have the issue with 5w30 M1 and Fram ultra filter though.
 
I think big inline DOHC 4 are picky. Like my Nissan QR25DE.
Depends how picky the DRIVERS are too. Me, I want full throttle high rpm power AND low speed (1200-1500 rpm) lug-ability in top gear.

The RIGHT filter will fix most engine noise too if your oil is good. Today this is M110A (Champion labs traditional good build) for most Asian cars (minus Toyotas)
 
BMW S54 found in the E46 M3.

8000k rpm redline on an inline 6, iron block. Quite an amazing noise it makes too.

They had a huge problem with thrown rod bearings supposedly due to a supplier issue. At the time of the recall they also mandated using Castrol TWS 10w60 if you wanted to maintain warranty coverage.
 
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Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I think big inline DOHC 4 are picky. Like my Nissan QR25DE.
Depends how picky the DRIVERS are too. Me, I want full throttle high rpm power AND low speed (1200-1500 rpm) lug-ability in top gear.

The RIGHT filter will fix most engine noise too if your oil is good. Today this is M110A (Champion labs traditional good build) for most Asian cars (minus Toyotas)


Nissan probably fixed it by now but when this engine first same out it had a lot of problems.

I think the stroke to rod length makes it susceptible to wear at high rpms and generates a lot of vibration.

In some models like the Altima the catalytic converter material can also break down, get sucked back into the engine, and cause engine wear.
 
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Originally Posted By: FordCapriDriver
The famous Detroit 2 stroke Diesels still have to be run on Mono SAE 40 oils as they will devour and rip to shreds any and all multigrade you put in them.


I've never seen one rip to shreds but with 15w40 it will blow a steady stream of oil out the air box drains.
 
Check my sig:

The F150 doesn't care at all (industrial/tractor engine) but the cam timing gear is much quieter on 40 weight.

Dodge B2500 didn't care if it was 5w20 or 10w30. Ran the same with the same oil pressure.

4Runner doesn't care.

BUT. The ranger loves what's in it now. I've tried everything in that truck. Motorcraft was the worst.

All of my vehicles run smoother and quieter with the High Mileage oils. Particularly Mobil 1. I admit I haven't tried others. But they are all old with over 250k (except the Ranger (85k)).
 
305 in my 83 Silverado is happy with 20w50
cheers3.gif
 
A month ago I changed the oil in my wifes '11 equinox that had Napa syn in it that I got for $2.99 a qt. It used almost 2 qts during a 5k oci, by the oil life monitor.That oil was Dexos 1&2 rated oil. This last change I used mobil 1 ext perf oil that did not have the symbol on the bottle. At 1 k miles oil level was full to mark and the oil looked clean. If at 5 k miles the oil is full to the mark, I won't be worried about the dexos endorsement for future changes.The motor had 50k miles on it at the last change.,,
 
Originally Posted By: VeryNoisyPoet
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
Any high mileage small block ford (SBF), pre about 2005 or so ...

Any details for those of us unfamiliar with the quirks of these engines? Noise, sludge, consumption? What oils seem to help, what ones seem to make it worse?


Give me an 87-92 5.0 roller motor with forged pistons, some Pennzoil 5W30, some AFR heads and Trick Flow intake, a 150 shot, and a T56 conversion, and all is right with the world.

Til those dang LS engines came along and took Ford's Windsor pattern to another level of muscle...
smile.gif
Then I bought one of those.

My favorite license plate ever seen on a street racing 1998 Camaro that likely ran 9s around 2000.. "LS WON", and he certainly did!
 
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