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

[Auto tech]

We weren't happy with their products.

I've been following your posts over the years. I know you are a fan of Schaeffer's products. I like Schaeffer's but I also love Mobil 1. What was it that you didn't like about Mobil 1?

 

[DirectRejection]

Red Line High Performance 20W50.

 

[RazorsEdge]

I've been following your posts over the years. I know you are a fan of Schaeffer's products. I like Schaeffer's but I also love Mobil 1. What was it that you didn't like about Mobil 1?

We were using it in a dirt track late model race car. Another group of guys were using Mobil in their 410 sprint car. Without getting in specifics, the tear downs at the end of the seasons looked better in both the Amsoil and Schaeffer's engines.

 

[earlyre]

10w30, we weren't brand Loyal.
I can't remember dad buying anything but 10w30 back then.... except SAE30 for the push mower...
back then ALL maintenance on our vehicles was done at the local SOHIO/BP procare... so likely some bulk Castrol variant..

I personally did exactly 1 oil change ( my first one!) in the summer of 1999 on my 87 Olds 98 ( inherited from Grandpa when he passed)
Pennzoil 10W30, and a first Gen. Pure one... Blue with Rainbow text on the label.

 

[Hohn]

M1 TriSyn 5w-30, the GOAT.

I was partial to the 10w30 green cap myself, but still a GOAT oil for sure.

I prefer not to recall the 5w50 Syntec years....

 

[MuzzleFlash40]

All my Dad used was Castrol in whatever weight was required. That’s all I used for a long time because of him.

 

[oldhp]

Plain ol Pennzoil 10W30 in everything.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Castrol 5W-30 in my 1991 Toyota Corolla.

 

[Auto tech]

We were using it in a dirt track late model race car. Another group of guys were using Mobil in their 410 sprint car. Without getting in specifics, the tear downs at the end of the seasons looked better in both the Amsoil and Schaeffer's engines.

Thank you for your response

 

[userfriendly]

Bought my first Mobil 1 in the late ‘90s when I was about 18.

Used it on the advice of a friend’s dad who was a successful dentist and collected cars.

Among the cars he had, that I remember: An AMC S/C Rambler (4-speed Hurst) and a Coronet Hemi sedan, similar to these:

He was a huge Mobil 1 fan, and always gushed about what an incredible oil it was. He’s a big reason I got interested in cars and oil.

View attachment 281372View attachment 281373View attachment 281374View attachment 281375

Anyone who’s monkey’s with AMCs knows how much their V8 engine blocks weigh.

In the 90s my go-to winter oil was Esso XD-3 0W40. The other three seasons, mostly in small and big block Chevs, SAE 30 or 15w 40. My son’s 350 van on LPG used 15w50 Delvac year round. Back then, he lived in the Whistler parking lot.

 

[srfdude]

I was using Castrol multigrade, I think 10W-50?? in mid 60's in Germany. I remember telling my Dad in Hawaii to try it in his Benz, as I recall I was impressed that the oil pressure went up as it was getting hot, don't remember the details.

 

[busdriver]

Mobil 1 5w-30 1991......Back when it was a true synthetic

 

[Lubener]

During that time, I used either Valvoline All Climate 10w-30 or Castrol 10w-30 "engineered for small, high revving engines" LOL.

 

[yowps3]

15w40 is still one of the most popular viscosities here..

 

[Hohn]

15w40 is still one of the most popular viscosities here..

Probably because 1) it's bloomin' hot in Australia and 2) it works.

Not to mention with so much heavy equipment and commercial usage in proportion to the passenger car market, it's probably easier to find 15w40 diesel or mixed-fleet oil than anything else.

 

[novadude]

Does anyone remember in the early days of this forum (late 90s / early 2000s), there was a lot of buzz about Chevron Supreme? All the discussion here about that oil prompted me to start running it in my 5.0L Mustang (10W-30). Prior to that, I was using mostly Quaker State and Pennzoil 10W-30 or 10W-40 in the 90s.

 

[wander2039]

I remember the 88 Aries Wagon and 92 Plymouth Voyager got Pennzoil yellow bottle 10w30 with Fram filters. Back when we had a Fram factory in town. The Festiva's got Castrol 20w50, the fix back then for the lifter tap. Whatever cheap oil filter we could find for them. I think I ran Havoline 10w30 in the 88 GMC S15 iron duke most of the time. Lawn mowers and tractors don't remember, thinking the cheapest we could find. 86 F150 5.0L got 10w40, seem to recall Havoline.

 

[53' Stude]

I remember the 88 Aries Wagon and 92 Plymouth Voyager got Pennzoil yellow bottle 10w30 with Fram filters. Back when we had a Fram factory in town. The Festiva's got Castrol 20w50, the fix back then for the lifter tap. Whatever cheap oil filter we could find for them. I think I ran Havoline 10w30 in the 88 GMC S15 iron duke most of the time. Lawn mowers and tractors don't remember, thinking the cheapest we could find. 86 F150 5.0L got 10w40, seem to recall Havoline.

Never knew FRAM had a factory in Missouri. I recall Formula SHELL well. Even AMES motor oil I remember.

 

[wander2039]

Never knew FRAM had a factory in Missouri. I recall Formula SHELL well. Even AMES motor oil I remember.

Nevada, MO… Opened in 1975 and I think closed in 2015. My uncle worked there probably the entire time it was in open. Now its a aerospace something.

 

[Bear906]

Motorcraft 10W40 and Chevron Ursa 15W40 in my '79 Marquis
Motorcraft and Pennzoil 10W40 in my '80 LTD Crown Victoria
Motorcraft 10W30 in my '81 Escort
Valvoline 10W30 in my '84 Rabbit and '86 Jetta
Pennzoil and Quaker State 5W30 in my '88 and '91 Festrivas

The owner's manual for both of my VWs specified Valvoline, so that's what I used.