I propose a new sticky --- The Best Oil

[d00df00d]

Something to the effect of the following:



There is no "best" oil!

The BITOG community would love to help you find a good oil for YOUR vehicle and YOUR habits. Sometimes we can also help you find an oil to address a problem you might be having, such as oil consumption. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all oil, or a best oil "overall". Every engine is different, and what works for one engine might not work for another.

If you want to know what's best for you, start by letting us know the following information:

- What kind of vehicle you have
- What your owner's manual says (viscosity, API/ILSAC grades, etc.)
- Where you live
- How you drive it (easy? hard? fast? slow?)
- What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?)
- Whether it has any known problems

If you have any preferences about synthetic vs. conventional, or how long you want to go between oil changes, let us know that as well.

The more information you give, the better.

 

[UberxG]

agreed

 

[stranger706]

Great idea. I'll be a test newbie:

Hi, I drive a 2007 Mazda 3.
My OM says API 5w20 SM / ILSAC GF4
I live on the gulf coast.
Im generally an easy driving person but I do wind it up a few times a week. I do not race.
I live out in the country and my commute into the city consists of 40 miles of highway/interstate driving and 5 miles of city driving.
No known problems.
I drive around 2500 miles a month so I would like to run a long interval between oil changes. Prefer 10,000 miles.

What oil should I choose?

 

[karld]

I'll bite too! 2007 GMC Sierra 4.8l. Daily commute of 25 mi round trip,ave speed 45 mph.I live in Rochester,NY so a lot of mornings in the teens or lower in the winter. Currently running Mobil 1 0w-30. What do you think?

 

[buster]

+1

Wouldn't hurt to maybe add a few other things to the list???

 

[1 SX]

This is a great guide.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: buster
+1

Wouldn't hurt to maybe add a few other things to the list???

Well I wanted to keep the list pretty simple so it wasn't too intimidating. That's why I added the bit at the end about "the more details, the better".

 

[mechtech2]

Who is going to have the final say-so about what is right?
There will be different opinions - East and West at the same time.

 

[d00df00d]

No one. Hopefully people will talk about it.

The idea was to give people a guide for what to say in their threads when they ask for advice, and to try to reduce the number of "what's the best oil overall/on the shelf" threads.

 

[postjeeprcr]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Who is going to have the final say-so about what is right?
There will be different opinions - East and West at the same time.


The person who will have the final say is the person who asked the question. They will be the one who has to decide which is best for their vehicle.

 

[fdcg27]

How 'bout any oil meeting manufacturer's specs changed at the required intervals is a really good oil?
The quest for the one best oil is like the quest for the holy grail.
It doesn't actually exist.
All of us who have spent years lurking and posting will continue the quest, however.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I`ve been using Castro. Is it safe for my engine if I switch it to Mobil 1? I`ve heard you can`t switch an engine that`s been using conventional to synthetic. Plus I don`t want to have to use synthetic for the life of my car because it will ruin your motor if you switch back to conventional.

 

[TeachMeOil]

Ready for your first customer? Before I get started just wanted to say what a great site this is I've been wondering around for a few weeks now.

I have 2 cars I'm looking for recommendations on, I live in North Dakota so I prefer a synthetic for the cold winters:
2006 Honda Civic EX 33k miles, last 2 oil changes have been Mobil 1 5w20, I change the oil every 6 months due to not putting more then 4k miles in that time. My wife drives it to work so it is driven probably medium, she has about 6 miles of highway and 6 in town driving on her daily commute. Wondering if I should go to Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 or think about AMS oil and only change 1x a year. How long is PP or Mobil 1 good for if you aren't putting a lot of miles on? Also would like a filter recommendation seems to be a lot of love for the purolator. I've been using Honda OEM oil filters.

Second vehicle is a 09 Toyota Tundra, just had its 2nd OC at 4K miles, I put Mobil 1 5w20 in at 1400 miles and put Mobil 1 0w20 in it at 4K. both OC I used a toyota OEM filter. I'm thinking of going to Pennzoil Platinum 0w20 in 6 months, I don't put 4k miles in 6 months on it. It sounds like I should be doing 6 month OCI's while under warranty. It is driven typically 4 miles a day which is 2 miles one way to day care and back, I drive it very easy. A lot of in town miles right now, I know I need to take it for a road trip.

If anyone has a tip on getting the oil out of the filter cartridge housing, I'm open. I'm 0 for 2 on draining the [censored] thing, nothing like an oil shower.... Thanks

 

[cornfused]

Great idea, It's working already!



Now somebody start answering these guy's questions!

 

[StevieC]

I completely agree with having a "Stickie" not just for this question but for all questions along the same lines.

 

[stenerson]

Yeah but just one sticky. Stickies get overdone and clutter up the page. (IMHO)

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: stenerson
Yeah but just one sticky. Stickies get overdone and clutter up the page. (IMHO)
+1

 

[hpichris]

I feel this is the best thing to happen to this page.

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: TeachMeOil
Ready for your first customer? Before I get started just wanted to say what a great site this is I've been wondering around for a few weeks now.

I have 2 cars I'm looking for recommendations on, I live in North Dakota so I prefer a synthetic for the cold winters:
2006 Honda Civic EX 33k miles, last 2 oil changes have been Mobil 1 5w20, I change the oil every 6 months due to not putting more then 4k miles in that time. My wife drives it to work so it is driven probably medium, she has about 6 miles of highway and 6 in town driving on her daily commute. Wondering if I should go to Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 or think about AMS oil and only change 1x a year. How long is PP or Mobil 1 good for if you aren't putting a lot of miles on? Also would like a filter recommendation seems to be a lot of love for the purolator. I've been using Honda OEM oil filters.

Second vehicle is a 09 Toyota Tundra, just had its 2nd OC at 4K miles, I put Mobil 1 5w20 in at 1400 miles and put Mobil 1 0w20 in it at 4K. both OC I used a toyota OEM filter. I'm thinking of going to Pennzoil Platinum 0w20 in 6 months, I don't put 4k miles in 6 months on it. It sounds like I should be doing 6 month OCI's while under warranty. It is driven typically 4 miles a day which is 2 miles one way to day care and back, I drive it very easy. A lot of in town miles right now, I know I need to take it for a road trip.

If anyone has a tip on getting the oil out of the filter cartridge housing, I'm open. I'm 0 for 2 on draining the [censored] thing, nothing like an oil shower.... Thanks


If not both vehicles, last one is definetly under warranty. Follow manufacturer instructios for this.

 

[sangyup81]

Here's the one I need the most advice on

What kind of vehicle you have: 2000 Toyota Camry 2.2L 4 Cylinder

What your owner's manual says: 5w30

Where you live: Near Washington DC

How you drive it: My brother drives it but pretty easy compared to me.

What your daily drive is like: Non-highway 10 miles to school

Whether it has any known problems: I heard these models are sludge prone. I just did a 2.5K OCI of Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 and the oil came out really black. It was running conventional before that. I have GC 0w30 in it right now.

Just how paranoid should I be with this car?