Least Expensive Synthetic Blend

[HighwayRanger]

Anyone have a suggestion on the least expensive synthetic blend out there (10w30)? Motorcraft, perhaps? It's for my company car, so I don't want to spend much of my own money! 05' Crown Vic, by the way.

 

[Steve S]

Have the company pay for the oil change.Syn is not required in the engine.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Sometimes Trop Artic is cheaper.

 

[VK56VD]

I would use Motor Craft 5w-20 Syn Blend. It is one of the least expensive Synthetic blends. Wal-Mart always has the everyday lowest price, sold in jugs.

 

[Spitty]

Why use synthetic? if it's not your car and you want to save money?

 

[HighwayRanger]

The reason for using something better than dino is the extreme temps I drive in. Desert heat in the summer and mountain freezing in winter. Ice-on-the-roof starts in winter, and full desert heat in the summer. I'd like to protect this car so, at $4 per gallon, the company doesn't yank the company car perk.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: HighwayRanger
The reason for using something better than dino is the extreme temps I drive in. Desert heat in the summer and mountain freezing in winter. Ice-on-the-roof starts in winter, and full desert heat in the summer. I'd like to protect this car so, at $4 per gallon, the company doesn't yank the company car perk.


I've got a 327k VW Jetta which has seen more weather than you'll ever see about 20 miles from you right now (Lakeside) and all its seen is conventional oil every 4-5k.

Just use 5w-20 conventional (pick your favorite color bottle) and change it 5k and your engine will be well protected.

Your engine in the ford is easy on oil.

Take care, bill

 

[MillerMan]

heck get tropartic blend 5w-20 or 5w30, it's good oil for the money
and use a walmart motorcraft filter

 

[Spitty]

Originally Posted By: HighwayRanger
The reason for using something better than dino is the extreme temps I drive in. Desert heat in the summer and mountain freezing in winter. Ice-on-the-roof starts in winter, and full desert heat in the summer. I'd like to protect this car so, at $4 per gallon, the company doesn't yank the company car perk.


I would think you would be in the range of a 10w30 even if you used it year round.
There once was a time before synthetics !

 

[Colt45ws]

5W20 Motorcraft (6 quarts) and a Motorcraft FL-820S filter every 5k and you will be set.

 

[HighwayRanger]

How do you know that your VW "has seen more weather than you ever will?" Bill? Just curious.

 

[SrDriver]

5W20 Motorcraft Semi-Synthetic and a Motorcraft filter. Will do the trick.

Works well here in the southeast and when we are up north in the Midwest too.

Your local Wal-Mart should have it.

 

[02zx9r]

get 3 quarts of dino and 3 quarts of the same brand synthetic and make your own blend.

motorcraft gets good reviews as well as the Valvoline maxlife syn blend

 

[Bamaro]

The least expensive synthetic blend is probably the one with the least synthetic in it.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
5W20 Motorcraft (6 quarts) and a Motorcraft FL-820S filter every 5k and you will be set.


I vote for the Motorcraft synblend also. The only idea I will throw out there is to use the 5w20 in the winter for cold starts. In the summer possibly switch to the 5w30 Motorcraft syn-blend.

Somtimes Walmart doesn't carry the MC 5w30 in jugs but it usually has it in quarts. If you want to save some money just buy the 5w20 jug and mix in a quart of the 5w30 to thicken it up in the summer.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: HighwayRanger
How do you know that your VW "has seen more weather than you ever will?" Bill? Just curious.


Its seen 110 PLUS drives across the desert for over 20 years.

Its seen below zero with feet of snow on it for over 20 years.

Its seen dusty city use along with high way use for over 20 years.

Its seen only conventional oils for 98% of its life (different brands. Whatever was on sale)

Most of those oils were SG, SH and SJ. Todays conventional oils are so much better.

So, If the car can go 327k on mostly yesterdays oils in more extreme weather than you are going to see (I'm aware of Alpine weather very well. Its NOTHING like we see here or between here and Lakeside) I think my statement is pretty close.

I doubt your work car will see 300k, as extreme weather as the Jetta seen.

Just follow the manual, change the oil and filter with a good conventional and you are set.

As far as the company taking away the car, just pray that the company STAYS in business in the next few years.

The road is going to be bumpy.....

Take care, Bill

PS: The Jetta stays down there (again Lakeside (just off Wintergardens (sp)) most of the time lately and comes up here 3-4 times a year. Sister in Law got the car when we got into another outfit. Still running 100%! (and passes your states #@%$^&! Dyno smog unit)

 

[Cory]

Now, according to my owner's manual and I don't know how it relates to all engines, it recommends the usage of either 5w30 @ 100F and lower or 10w30 for temps 0F to 100F+.

Is 5w20 the right choice for his conditions as many have suggested?

 

[HighwayRanger]

Got it Bill, thanks. Sounds like your people are getting their money's worth out of the VW! By the way, my company car is parked up in the mountains (daily freezes in winter) and is driven down into the desert out east daily (I flog it coming up the grade in 100 plus temps, plus the regular dust storms!)

The company changes the conventional 10w30 every 5K. I'm most concerned about the long very hot summers and lead-foot driving style. I'm now wondering about air filtration given the frequent blowing dust on I-8. But then again, the oil gets changed every two months or so, which should remove lots of the silicon!

 

[MillerMan]

personally I prefer a 0w or 5w for temps consistanly below 25 or 30F at cold sartup on a gas engine

also in the past I have mixed tropartic and motorcraft syn blend oils, but I think not mixing 5w20 with 5w30 is best, it seemed to me mixing 10w30 with 5w30 was ok thou.
this was due to supply problems at local Walmarts
good or bad or no big deal?

 

[06VtecV6]

Originally Posted By: HighwayRanger
Anyone have a suggestion on the least expensive synthetic blend out there (10w30)? Motorcraft, perhaps? It's for my company car, so I don't want to spend much of my own money! 05' Crown Vic, by the way.


Motorcraft @ Walmart.