It’s the 1990’s: what motor oil and grade are you using?

[BobsArmory]

DA Lubricants & Kendall in 15W-40 Just because it was free to use at work.

 

[E150GT]

I was a kid in the 90's but I used a lot of Castrol GTX 20w50 in my 80's Mercedes back in circa 2008

 

[CheezWhiz]

As a teen, I worked at Texaco full service station, and owned gm 350's in the '70's, those engines on Havoline 10-40 were the GOAT, they never failed.

i certainly made every effort to blow it up and failed

 

[Carlostrece]

In the 90s, I used 10w30 Mobil One in my 96 Jeep 4L in the 1990s. My dad used Pennzoil (conv) 10w30 in his 93 Olds Ninety Eight and 93 Chevy van with 350 V8.

In highsight, I think Mobil One was a waste of my money. If I had a do over back in the 90s, I'd use 10w30 Valvoline or Quaker State (conv) or 5w30 Valvoline or Quaker State (blend). My 2nd choice would be Pennzoil 5w30 (blend). Kendall was good too, but not widely available in my local area.

There was nothing wrong with Mobil One 10w30 in the 90s, but in those days M1 was expensive, even at Walmart. The other oils mentioned cost less and would have got the job done just fine.

In the 70s & 80s everyone in my family used Pennzoil conventional for everything. I think every American and Japanese car we had used Pennzoil 10w40. A few cars in late 80s might have used 10w30. It's hard to remember the details from the 70s & 80s, but I know it was always Pennzoil.

 

[Plumb Bob]

In highsight, I think Mobil One was a waste of money.

Pretty sure @tig1 would disagree.

 

[NormanBuntz]

I recall buying Exxon Superflo and Shell conventional 5w-30 for 89 and 99 cents a quart.

 

[Dean]

5w-30 Valvoline.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I was a Castrol GTX 5W-30 loyalist throughout the '90s.

 

[anndel01]

M1 EP 10W-30 and Amzoil Z-rod 10W-30 on every other oil change for our 1993 Toyota Pickup.

 

[Carlostrece]

Pretty sure @tig1 would disagree.

It was my money. In hindsight I think it was overpriced and not the best use of my money. That's my opinion. The other oils I mentioned costed less and we're good.

 

[BrickCity]

Castrol GTX 20W50

 

[csandste]

I saw some Spectrum oil; do we know who blended it though?

Thank You

From memory I'm sure it wound up being WPP and identical to Walmart's product (Tech 2000). I know there was some question about Walmart sourcing in the early 2000's but the last time I bought Spectrum I'm sure it was Warren PP.

 

[Speedbird001]

Wolf’s Head or Valvoline:
10w-40 in Summer, 10w-30 in Winter

By the late 90’s I was driving more modern (Jetta then the Tacoma and switched to 5W-30)

2000: I got a better paying job and changed to Mobil-1 with BG MOA (with the intent that the Tacoma would last another 10 years, which it did)

 

[hank2]

By the '90's I had gone to 10w30 almost exclusively. Mostly Castrol GTX. I had read some good tests on a Castrol blend that was marketed as "turbo" oil. I didn't have any turbos but switched to that in 10W30 with good results. With a Ranger truck I had, I sometimes used a 15w40 in summer months. Can't remember what the brand was but it was marketed as a gas truck oil.

I recall my dad getting a new '87 Olds 88 with a pre-3800, roller cam 3.8. I was shocked that GM spec'd 5w30 oil for it. Many dire forecasts were made regarding 5w30. None other than Don Garlits denounced it. The first vehicle I owned that spec'd 5w30 was a new 2001 Altima.

 

[Black Thunder]

Tropartic 5w30

 

[wemay]

Castrol GTX 10w30
Valvoline (white bottle) 10w30

 

[TiGeo]

Castrol GTX 10W30 in my Subaru GL 4x4 wagon.

 

[shortyb]

I was the poster child for Castrol GTX. Had all manner of Hondas back then and did mostly 5W-30. Occasional Valvoline when I felt like living on the edge.

 

[TiGeo]

I was the poster child for Castrol GTX. Had all manner of Hondas back then and did mostly 5W-30. Occasional Valvoline when I felt like living on the edge.

I ran it that Subaru and my '92 Toyota truck. Liquid engineering! Prevents thermal breakdown!

 

[MParr]

Whichever of these were the cheapest.
Valvoline
Texaco Havoline
Motorcraft