MAXLIFE or DEFY

[shell_user]

Hello everyone. Would you use either MAXLIFE or DEFY in a high mileage vehicle that has a leak? Friend of mine has a older Cavalier with seems to be valve cover leak, possibly crank seal seep. He uses Quaker State Conventional in 5w30, says he's thinking of the QS DEFY. Thank you in advance. Also this car has around 182k on it.

 

[bigjl]

No practical experience but am putting it in my Taxi at next OCI. 10w40 Maxlife Synthetic Blend.

 

[Boss302fan]

Either would be fine... Defy does seem like a pretty nice oil for the money.

 

[shell_user]

Thanks for the replies guys, and he is gonna get the DEFY today and change the oil this evening he tells me. $15 FOR 5QT JUG isnt bad if you ask me.

 

[armos]

Is that a 2.8/3.1 in that cavalier? I had a valve cover gasket start leaking on that engine at about the same mileage. The gasket was melted at a corner. If it's anything like how my gasket was the oil probably won't help, but it's a good choice of oil whether it fixes it or not.

 

[buster]

Both excellent, but Defy is more for cars that need higher levels of ZDP where as MaxLife is SN/GF-5 levels. Defy SL.

 

[shell_user]

its a 2.2 litre in a 98 cavalier. He is goin to try the DEFY and soon fix the valve cover leak, and do the crank seal.

 

[KCJeep]

Maxlife has a proven record of helping stop some leaks, Defy looks great on paper but being the newer kid on the block the jury is out on leaks with it. The price on Defy is fantastic.

 

[Bamaro]

I've used Maxlife for years (no leaking problems) but just switched to Defy

 

[shell_user]

I change my oil about 2 hrs ago and have been using Quaker State Advanced Durability 0w20 now. Before that my crank seal was weeping a bit, and I used pennzoil high mileage and it stopped the leak. All is well now.

 

[Ayrton]

Originally Posted By: buster
Both excellent, but Defy is more for cars that need higher levels of ZDP where as MaxLife is SN/GF-5 levels. Defy SL.


What types of vehicles would need the higher ZDPs? Honest question, curious for my own vehicles. Would it be for older cars?

 

[buster]

Originally Posted By: Ayrton
Originally Posted By: buster
Both excellent, but Defy is more for cars that need higher levels of ZDP where as MaxLife is SN/GF-5 levels. Defy SL.


What types of vehicles would need the higher ZDPs? Honest question, curious for my own vehicles. Would it be for older cars?


Correct, older cars with flat tappet cams.

 

[Bgallagher]

I recommend DEFY. It is a solid oil with a good add pack. I have tried Maxlife before and it seemed too thin for my application and made my engine loud. My SUV runs VERY quiet with DEFY, even after 6k on the oil.

 

[badtlc]

My cavalier had the same leak. No oil will slow it down. The good part is you can go with whatever is cheapest and add the 1qt/3k miles and have a fairly long OCI because of all the makeup oil.