Havoline Synthetic

[mikep]

On the way out this morning I stopped off at Advance Auto Parts (new chain up here in the N.E.)and they had quite a good selection of motor oils. Havoline dino, blend and synthetic in every viscosity, M1 in every vis, Mobil Drive Clean Plus, every variation and vis of Pennzoil, Valvoline, QS and Castrol you can imagine. Slightly higher than Walmart prices on most of the stuff, but not by much. For instance, Pennzoil Conventional is 1.44 / qt. and M1 is $4.78 / qt (a penny more than Wally). The only thing they had in 5 qt. jugs was dino Havoline in 10w30.

On a whim, I picked up a case of Havoline synthetic (not the blend) 5w30 at $3.78/qt. Now that my F150 is out of warranty I think I'm going to give it a try using a 7500 mile drain interval. I would be very surprised if this oil can't hold up to that given the amount of interstate driving I do. Chevron Supreme conventional did very well for me at almost a 5,000 mile interval so I'm expecting significantly better performance from this synthetic.

I'll use up the remainder of my Chevron Supreme conventional on the new Pathfinder then at around the 10,000 mile mark perhaps I'll swith it over to the Havoline synthetic also (pending a favorable UOA from my F150).

One part of me says I'm nuts for messing with the success of Chevron Sup dino given the very good UOA (and the price) but another side of me wants to satisfy this weird curiosity and urge to try different motor oils and see how they compare in the lab results.

I blame all you people for my new eccentricities

.

Mikep

 

[sbc350gearhead]

I used (equilon) havoline synthetic for years with no problems.

 

[pepper32]

My F150 is running Chevron Supreme synthetic 5w30. I believe it's pretty close to Havoline. Don't know if I'll do a used oil analysis.

 

[97tbird]

One part of me says I'm nuts for messing with the success of Chevron Sup dino given the very good UOA (and the price) but another side of me wants to satisfy this weird curiosity and urge to try different motor oils and see how they compare in the lab results.
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Mikeup,

I saw you mentioned that you've used a "Chevron soup" with good results; I'm currently running a Chevron dino "soup", too in my 97 ford 4.6L sohc.
My soup is 3 qts of 10/30 plus 2 qts of 10/40.
..what kind of "sup" did you use? just curious.

thanks.

 

[mikep]

quote:

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Originally posted by 97tbird:
..what kind of "sup" did you use? just curious.

thanks.

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Sorry if I mislead you. I didn't mean to suggest that I conjured up any mix. I was just being a bit lazy by not typing out Chevron Supreme (Chevron Sup). BTW...I've been using the 5w30 version.

sbc350 and Pepper.....ever do a an analysis of the Havoline or Chevron synthetic from your vehicle? If so, would love to hear about it.

Mikep

 

[Robbie Alexander]

quote:

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Originally posted by mikep:
-*-*-*
One part of me says I'm nuts for messing with the success of Chevron Sup dino given the very good UOA (and the price) but another side of me wants to satisfy this weird curiosity and urge to try different motor oils and see how they compare in the lab results.
-*-*-

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I'd say why not keep what is working and on the new one give the other a try?

 

[mikep]

quote:

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Originally posted by Robbie Alexander:
I'd say why not keep what is working and on the new one give the other a try?

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I thought of that too. Actually, it was the first thought to use the new stuff on the Pathfinder but since it is still under factory warranty I don't want to extend the drain past the 3,750 miles scheduled maintenace. I just feel it would be a waste of $$ to drain the synthetic that soon.

Ah geez, I should just save my darn $$ and stick with the darn Chevron Supreme (or Havoline) in both vehicles. LOL, I'm making myself nuts over motor oil

Mikep

 

[sbc350gearhead]

mikep......sorry.....I never did a used oil analysis.

 

[Whimsey]

Mikep, is this Havoline synthetic a group III or is it PAO or a combo of something? Considering with NJ sales tax you paid $4.01/qt. I had Schaeffer's 5w30 Blend delivered to my door recently for $4.00/qt

. Schaeffer's 5w30 blend is group III and PAO

. For all practical purposes it's more "synthetic" than most commonly available "synthetics" which are group III's. And it's additive package is supposed to be real good.

Whimsey

 

[mikep]

quote:

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Originally posted by Whimsey:
Mikep, is this Havoline synthetic a group III or is it PAO or a combo of something? Considering with NJ sales tax you paid $4.01/qt. I had Schaeffer's 5w30 Blend delivered to my door recently for $4.00/qt

. Schaeffer's 5w30 blend is group III and PAO

. For all practical purposes it's more "synthetic" than most commonly available "synthetics" which are group III's. And it's additive package is supposed to be real good.

Whimsey

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Point taken. After thinking more about it I'm less and less thrilled with my impulse buy on the Havoline Synth. I'll probably swing by the store one day this week and exchange it for a stash of Havoline 5w30 conventional and 5w-20. I want to give the 5w-20 a try in my truck based on TD's advice that that the 5w-20s seem to be pretty shear stable.

Mikep

 

[Whimsey]

Mikep, it will be interesting to see how the Havoline 5w20 conventional does this winter in your truck. Especially with the "piston slap" condition you experienced last year. Word has it that to appease the "piston slap" gods you should get together at a strange place called "Shakey Jakes" and share a few

and pray like h*ll for a warm winter.

Whimsey

 

[mikep]

quote:

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Originally posted by Whimsey:
.... and pray like h*ll for a warm winter.

Whimsey

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I do that every autumn but it doens't seem to have worked well for me. Maybe because I left out the

component?

Mikep

 

[sHERM]

Go to Big Lots and pick up the Havoline Syn for $ 1.99 at that price you can change it at 5k.

 

[mikep]

quote:

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Originally posted by sHERM:
Go to Big Lots and pick up the Havoline Syn for $ 1.99 at that price you can change it at 5k.

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But the airfare to sunny Florida would add a bit to the overall expense

. We don't have Big Lots stores around here. We do have a store called Odd Job which I suspect is sort of the same thing but I've never seen Chevron or Havoline motor oils there. I have seen Shell, Amoco and I think Citgo oils there.

Mikep

 

[Kompressor]

I say try a little strange, give the synthetic a spin. I am trying Mobil 1 10w30 in my F150 for the first time, I'll probably try a couple different types and brands over the next year with used oil analysis for no other reason than my own curiosity. I'd like to eventually test Amsoil, Schaeffer, Mobil 1, Chevron Sup and Pennzoil LL just to make my own observations.