No, look at my Xterra. Still not burning anything.
Slightly off topic, but thank you for correctly spelling “peace of mind”. I read so many misuses of that phrase and people type “piece of mind”I don’t drive much these days, so the cost of high-quality oil doesn’t bother me. When I do get behind the wheel, it’s usually a 400 mile round trip and well worth it for the peace of mind.
and usually at the same time referring to their vehicles, equipment or what have you as “investments” and I double facepalm lmao.
Agreed. One thing that is often overlooked on our forum, is marginal benefit.
I’m not saying that every single high mileage engine is burning oil from the use of cheaper oils, but there are a good amount of them out there. Some engine designs are very forgiving and driving habits are a factor as well. But I still think that your best chance of having a perfect condition high mileage engine is to avoid the cheaper oils.
Yes but its a circular argument. Some cars that used premium oil still burn oil. Some cars that use regular oil burn oil. Some cars that use whatever and not that frequently do not burn oil. There is nothing to be gleaned from this. Its confirmation bias using some very narrowly focused data.
As others have mentioned, the cost difference between the cheaper oils and better ones isn’t really that significant compared to what you pay for fuel every year. If you compare the cost of Supertech vs M1 ESP for example, it’s only about $9 more per oil change. I think that’s money well spent.
That's why I asked the question in the first place. If I get 300k miles using the oil that "just barely squeaks by", or 350k using the one that "greatly exceeds the requirements", then depending on one's situation, that difference may be insignificant or unimportant. If the difference is, say, 200k vs 400k, that much more significant difference may matter to those same people.
It’s really such a small price difference, and oil isn’t just oil. The truth is there are many unknowns about true needs and what is not needed. Depends on the goals. If one wants to ensure the best possible outcome, there is no downside to boutiques or the higher priced OTS synthetics. Unless you are truly on a budget of scraping by, then sure the cheapest appropriate grade with appropriate approvals changed more often is “enough”, but I think that’s only when you need to save the funds.
That's another great point. For instance, the difference between Valovoline Restore & Protect, which goes for around $30 here at WalMart, and their Supertech Full Synthetic which goes for $19, assuming you change your oil every 6 months, the difference is $22 a year, which in the big picture, would be insignificant for many people, so why not get the extra cleaning and performance you might get from the more expensive oil?
Exactly. Most people would ditch a 2018 Outback with 100k miles burning 3 quarts per 5k miles. Or run it out of oil…With premium oils I’ve got it down to 1/2 quart and plan on going 250k minimum like I always do with my Subaru’s.
Or statements like my vehicle likes X and dislikes Y… anthropomorphism always amuses me.
No offense, but how do you know that Kirkland/Supertech/house brands, "just meet the bare minimum requirements". This sounds like your assumption, based on the price of these oils. These Warren produced oils have zero advertising budget that needs to be offset by higher prices. Sometimes, cheap is good, without compromise. Without facts, it's just a guess or opinion.
Most people don't hang out on oil forums and discuss the subtle nuances between brands, blends, and viscosities. Such a shame they will never learn of the cleansing properties of a fresh jug of VRP.
I'll bet there are way, way too many variables to even come close to attributing anything like that to oil choice. How would you know, for example, that you got a batch of rings that were on the softer side, or that the cylinder bore was on the larger end of the acceptable range, and that over a decade or so, you end up burning more oil? Or any number of other things that you don't know about nor have any control over?
Here’s the story below. In my experience the difference in oils has never been wear, it’s engine/piston cleanliness. IMO my specific vehicle under severe conditions created an environment for piston deposits. I’ve always said oil choice is based on the engine and conditions. Most can get away with anything but others can’t.
