High Mileage oils

[fisher83]

How well do high mileage oils work? My grandmother has a 2001 Chevy Prizm with about 125k miles. It has a problem with burning oil which I understand is fairly common on this engine. It uses a quart every 1k or maybe a little more. This has finally plugged the catalytic converter which she is having replaced. Since the only permanent fix is expensive engine work that exceeds the car value, she intends to replace the converter and just soldier on checking and adding oil as needed. Would a high mileage oil help her to reduce consumption or is moving to a heavier oil weight better?

 

[hardcore302]

You could use a high mileage oil which will swell some of the seals, and you could also go with a thicker oil. Or both.

 

[LeakySeals]

I bought the 02 Camry in my signature cheap at 130k. Had a number of ailments including ticking, rough idle, bad oil consumption, smoking startup valve seals and oil leaks. Results of very poor maintenance. Switched to Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w30 at 135k. Now at 203k and the cars running better than ever. Still haven't changed the gaskets, no drips. Only burns 1/2 qt over a 6k oci which is 1/3 the rate prior to Mobil 1 High Mileage. No ticking, smooth idle, like a different engine.

 

[fdcg27]

If this car is burning oil, it is likely getting past the rings.
It is probably not a seal or gasket problem.
An High Mileage oil might help, in that it will be blended toward the thicker end of whatever grade you would run in the car.
A thicker oil might be in order, maybe a forty grade, like a conventional 10w40.
Still, I would probably not use 10W-40 for a Nebraska winter.
Try a 10W-40 for the warmer months, and see what that does for oil consumption.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

High Mileage dino (even Supertech) helps. So does CD-2 Oil Treatment (Red Label) - the one that says "Helps Oil Burning".

Do two OCIs of both together and I bet it cuts consumption in half, at least.
Worked for me in two different, older, high mileage vehicles.

 

[daves66nova]

how 'bout some Kreen?

 

[charbaby]

I have a 1980 Firebird FORMULA that my wife and I bought new. I can't tell ya how long(15 years, maybe!) the engine has leaked a bit of oil on the garage floor or where ever we parked the car.

The past 3 summers/OCI's, I have been using MaxLife and I am now seeing the drips slow down considerably. The first time I used ML, I didn't notice anything. The second year/summer, it was a bit better and the 3rd, better still.

Maybe this coming summer and another OCI, the drips will slow down enough to allow me to park in the driveway without having to clean the oil spots.

 

[fisher83]

I appreciate all the replies. I will try changing over to a high mileage oil on her next oil change. I have heard good things on here about Valvoline MaxLife. I think the car does leak a small amount too but it is very minimal. The Chevy dealership she had it checked out at recently tried to talk her into a brand new engine to the tune of about $5k. You can buy a whole lot of oil for $5k. I told her that as long as she's not leaving a big blue smoke screen all over town it really isn't worth fixing. The car has been extremely reliable in all other aspects.

 

[hardcore302]

MMO piston soak might help..

 

[Doc Holiday]

High Mileage oils are very good..very robust. I've seem them work and do as claimed. Everyone on here will blast me but if a car is wore out, I'd go with Lucas. No I don't like Lucas for anything except for a wore out engine. And as you described her car, I don't think it is ready just yet for that. If it was puffing the blue smoke I would say it is ready. I've seen Lucas bring back an old dead engine to life. I've seen it add a couple years to a motor. But like I said don't go with that step yet. High Mileage oils will reduce leakage and reduce oil usage/blow by. Max Life is very good and I think the first of the High Mileage oils. I'm sure Mobil High Mileage is good though I have not used it. I also like what I've read about the QS Defy.