"High Mileage" Oils - Pat Goss

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buster

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Quote:
I own a 4.5 year old vehicle with a V-8 that just rolled up 70,000. I've always maintained it per factory instructions, including timely oil changes with proper viscosity, but have not used synthetic oil. Question: For an SUV with this mileage which I intend to keep for awhile, is it worth the extra cost to switch to a synthetic oil for high-mileage vehicles with my next change? Do any of these oils really work better?
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Pat Goss: DO NOT DO IT! Switching to synthetic is fine but do not use any high-mileage oil until there is a problem with the engine that warrants its use. There is no way to know that all engines with 75,000 miles have the same amount of wear therfore no way to make the changeover recommendation. With most high mileage oils once you start you're hooked and when the car really does need it there is no benefit. The benefit was used up before it was needed.

Why would you advise against high mileage oil in a car without engine problems? I was given the opposite advice from my shop (even though I don't have engine problems) since I'm at 90,000 miles. What damage can occur by using the high mileage product?

Pat Goss: Once you start using the high mileage oil you often can not go back to the less costly regular oil. Also when you finally do need the benefits of the high mileage oil (making seals tighter) there is no place to go they have already been swelled to the max.
 
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Originally Posted By: buster

Pat Goss: Once you start using the high mileage oil you often can not go back to the less costly regular oil. Also when you finally do need the benefits of the high mileage oil (making seals tighter) there is no place to go they have already been swelled to the max.


Sounded logical, but it is very difficult to prove it either way.
 
Valvoline:

Quote:
What if your vehicle has less than 75,000 miles? Are there any advantages to using this oil in a car with fewer miles on it? Actually, you could start earlier with these oils to prevent aging effects and to help further preserve the life of your vehicle's engine. Once you switch to an oil formulated for engines over 75,000 miles, you should continue to use it in order to get the maximum benefits. Alternating between this oil and all-climate oils won't harm your engine, but you won't get the full benefits.
 
For a well maintained vehicle, I don't consider 75 high mileage. I'd start thinking about high mileage oil when it starts burning or leaking oil.
 
Recognizing that ole Pat is a "icon", he would not be around on anything but public TV. Many times his advice is so sponsor directed, to what they exactly want. This show could use some new blood. But they are all tenured, sort of government employees.
 
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Heck, no.
75K is nothing.
Now, at 175K, we can start to talk.


Yeah but the point is it won't hurt the cars to run on them, and he is saying that you can't switch back because it will cause damage to the engine. Bull.
 
Originally Posted By: rudolphna


Yeah but the point is it won't hurt the cars to run on them, and he is saying that you can't switch back because it will cause damage to the engine. Bull.


I think what Pat is saying [I've heard him say something similar on "Motor Week"] is that the seal swellers in the "high mileage" oil will swell the seals before they are leaking....then, over time when they need to be swollen up in order to reduce leakage, they'll already be swollen and the high mileage oil won't work as intended.
 
Originally Posted By: fredjacksonsan
Originally Posted By: rudolphna


Yeah but the point is it won't hurt the cars to run on them, and he is saying that you can't switch back because it will cause damage to the engine. Bull.


I think what Pat is saying [I've heard him say something similar on "Motor Week"] is that the seal swellers in the "high mileage" oil will swell the seals before they are leaking....then, over time when they need to be swollen up in order to reduce leakage, they'll already be swollen and the high mileage oil won't work as intended.



That is probably what he's saying, but the issue is if that's true or not. Doesn't seem like it is. Seems like he's just using opinion and to me, that's not helpful when people look to him for facts.
 
Originally Posted By: zddp77
Pat Goss clearly knows nothing about engine lubricants.


+1
 
My understanding of the really good high-mileage oils, like Maxlife, is that they have adds which clean things like rear main seals, and restore their pliability.
The additives do not merely swell seals.
Remeber too, that there is a distiction between seals and gaskets.
The rear main has a seal, while the thing under the valve cover is a gasket.
From what I understand, a good high-mileage oil can help with the former, but not with the latter.
 
I believe Valvoline created the first High Mileage oil. Mostly marketing.
 
Originally Posted By: buster
I believe Valvoline created the first High Mileage oil. Mostly marketing.


It was/is very good marketing. But, Maxlife is a very good high mileage oil better than most other high mileage oil. If I need high mileage oil for '94 LS400 with 250+k miles, it will be the one I'm buying. Currently I use regular dino/syn I bought on sale for dirt cheap.
 
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