Guy wanted 15w50 in his car....

[toneloc12345]

yesterday at work, a guy with a '02 suburban with a 6 liter V8 wanted mobil 1 15w50 put into his truck. I advised him that the oil was too thick, but he wanted it because his truck had high mileage. It had about 85,000 on it.

haha I wonder what kind of gas mileage he is getting. I also wonder how it it starting since it's about 9 degrees outside.

 

[Zaedock]

Jeebus, I use Mobile 1 15W50 in our ATV's.
Well, I guess thicker is better.. :sarcastic:

 

[Malaclypse]

Sheesh. I guess the customer knows best...

P.S. Send him my way when he needs a new engine.

 

[Pablo]

What are you gonna do?

I will say the 15W synthetic will actually sorta crank ok at 9° F. (don't try this with dino) Still he should stick with the recommended vis.

 

[thooks]

High miles?

LMAO... I just sold a '00 Chevy Silverado with 95k on it. Never had anything but 5W30 Valvoline in it.

Gas mileage had improved from 19.5 to 22.2 mpg highway during the last 10k miles.

I'd say it was just getting "broke in". Best thing GM has going for them- that 5.3L engine.

 

[Flimflam]

I used to run a Ford Bronco 351 in New York in the mid-1990's. I used Castrol HD-30 monograde dino in it. When it did not have an electrical problem(wiring loom was bad), it started first time every time, absolutely no problem cranking.

Castrol HD-30 is a lot thicker than Mobil 1 15w-50 can ever hope to be.

 

[JeffPGH]

Flimflam,
You live in TX and this guy is in OH. His winter temps are going to be a little lower than yours.

 

[RF Overlord]

85,000 is NOT high mileage...at least not high enough to require an oil THAT thick, unless the motor was abused.

Did you have him sign a waiver? When his engine croaks, he will blame everyone but himself...

 

[Willy_G]

Mobil 1 pours at -45F. Most conventional (I & II) 5w30s are Jello at -45F. I don't think this is such a big deal.

I just wish M1 15w50 wasn't discontinued. It is a great product!

 

[blupupher]

Willy_G, it is still available as M 1 EP.

 

[windnsea00]

quote:

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P.S. Send him my way when he needs a new engine.

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If that engine can't handle that oil, that is a very weak engine indeed!

 

[bkrell]

quote:

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Flimflam,
You live in TX and this guy is in OH. His winter temps are going to be a little lower than yours.

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Actually, he said he was in New York at the time.

quote:

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I used to run a Ford Bronco 351 in New York in the mid-1990's. I used Castrol HD-30 monograde dino in it. When it did not have an electrical problem(wiring loom was bad), it started first time every time, absolutely no problem cranking.

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[Fastride95]

My father still runs 20w-50 Catrol GTX in every car he owns. His thinking may be from the days of aircooled german autos.

Currently, he's using it in a 1992 Lincoln Town Car with over 200k on it. Doesn't burn oil, gets 17 - 18MPG in the city according to the trip computer and his records, it's not clogged up, etc.. The car rarely sees a long trip.

He does use Redline fuel injector cleaner, whatever it's called.

I agree with those of you that commented on a lighter oil being better, but making claims it'll destroy an engine? Please.

I swear there are just as many new snake oil beliefs as there are old ones.

 

[Amkeer]

Since he wanted Mobil 1 Synthetic it would have been perfectly fine at 15w50.

 

[Kestas]

I'll have to admit that waaaay back when, I used to run 20W-50 year-round, including the cold winter days when my commute was 3 miles. All was well except for that one cold day at -10°F when I couldn't start my Omni. The battery couldn't crank fast enough to start the engine.

 

[Mr Nice]

Toneloc,

If the guy wanted 75w90 in his Suburban....then you put what ever he wants, its not your car. Why care ?

The customer is always right.

 

[Audi Junkie]

FTR- my "Mart" has both 15w-50 and 15w-50 EP freshly stocked. It's only good to thicken regular 30 weight M1, imo.

 

[ShotGun429]

mobil 1 15w50 is fine! Im am race engine builder in a well known shop. a couple of years back Mobil 1 suppiled oil free to our shop,we still have stacks of it here,all 15W50 Mobil 1 (SJ)api. let me tell you: Every thing I own from a 1955 Ferguson 35hp tractor,to 2 1969 Muscle cars,1993 Ranger (many miles) to 2000 Ford Expedition (5.4L)and 2004 Ford Taurus(3.0L 24valve)gets 15w50 with not one problem,this mourning the temp outside was 7 degrees.Outstanding Oil!

 

[Audi Junkie]

Supposedly, newer EP additives negate the need for grade-thicker oils for "extra" protection. There are always some applications in which that thick oil is a benefit, but I likely don't drive any cars that need it. My mechanic buddy always jokes that..."Ya know who uses Valvoline and 20w-50? -engine builders! ...that shows what they know".

 

[Eiron]

Yoose guys is wimps!

I ran M1 15W-50 for over a year in my "weakling" 125hp 2.0L 4cyl here in N.Colorado. It had somewhere around 160k mi on it at that time & it fired right up all winter long. My lowest startup that winter was about 0°F after sitting all day long in an outside parking lot. Here's the UOA.

This same car now has over 185k mi on it. It's still my daily commuter & I'm currently in the middle of a 20k mi OCI on M1 0W-40 (hi temp today & tomorrow: 8°F!). Speaking of which, I'm getting close to the BITOG-members'-suggested 1st sample point of 12k mi (after more than 13 mos). Another week & 1/2 should do it, & I'll pull a sample & change the filter at that point.