Guess I should change this oil?

[ClutchDisc]

2001 Chevy S-10 2.2L 78k miles. Approx 3,500 miles on the oil, a lot of short trips on the oil in the last 200 miles. The blotter on the right was just taken last week. The blotter on the left is from about 200 miles ago.

There is some oil seepage on the bottom of the engine, but it's not dripping on the pavement. I'm planing on running Maxlife to help get rid of the seepage. I have two choices:

Some 5w30 Maxlife Nextgen I just got or some 5w30 Maxlife full synthetic that is about six years old.

I'm planning on using the Nextgen now, and saving the synthetic until after the engine cleans up some and the seals stop seeping. Does that sound like a good plan?
Also, I will be running a Baldwin oil filter.

 

[spasm3]

I'm not convinced you can judge the many factors of an oil with a drop on paper, but thats just me.

 

[daves87rs]

Oil in right now?

 

[ClutchDisc]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Oil in right now?
I don't know because it's the oil from the previous owner.

 

[dave1251]

Blotters can provide such a variance in accuracy I would tread with caution.

 

[TallPaul]

Blotters are not the most accurate method of evaluating oil, but we can surely see there is a lot of crud in his oil, especially the most recent blotter--yet it may not be that bad as we expect the oil to carry some suspended crud if it is doing the job of keeping the engine clean. But, as he does not know what oil is in there now, and his seals are seeping, I would change it out now. Get that Maxlife in there to start working it's wonders on those seals.

 

[daves87rs]

Wait-wouldn't maxlife expose the leaks (if there is any) by cleaning?

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Wait-wouldn't maxlife expose the leaks (if there is any) by cleaning?

I thought that was mobil 1,or maybe it's just synthetics in general
Based on that blotter it looks like the filter is missing particles. Is the filter any good. Maybe it's in bypass.
Ya. It might be smart to change the oil and filter. At least your starting new and can then loosely judge what kind of deposits have been left behind from the PO.

 

[bigjl]

Originally Posted By: ClutchDisc
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Oil in right now?
I don't know because it's the oil from the previous owner.


What!

And you didn't take advantage of that opportunity to change the oil!

Lol.

I can certainly speak positively of Maxlife Diesel 10w40 Synth blend, both the Clio and Taxi are running well on it apart from slightly slower turnover in the Clio when cold when compared to 0w40 Mobil 1 which is to be expected.

The slight weeps that were evident on the Taxi, just gone past 177k this week, are now either so slight you can't tell or have indeed stopped.

Remember I am a confirmed fan of Castrol Magnatec and Edge products and a bug Mobil 1 fan, so it doesn't come naturally to recommend a Valvoline product!

But I have always lived by the motto "speak how you find".

I am considering getting more Maxlife but really want full synth, will see how it goes.

 

[ClutchDisc]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Based on that blotter it looks like the filter is missing particles. Is the filter any good. Maybe it's in bypass.
Ya. It might be smart to change the oil and filter. At least your starting new and can then loosely judge what kind of deposits have been left behind from the PO.
It has a Fram filter on it right now, one more reason to change it.

 

[TallPaul]

Change it out ASAP and get that Fram off of there. I have cut open several Fram filters and they are poorly constructed compared to the Baldwin or a Wix.

 

[ClutchDisc]

Well, I changed my oil the other day and put Valvoline Maxlife Nextgen 5w30 in. I feel much better now, knowing what oil is in it and getting that fram filter off of there!