Moral dilemma

302Xplorer · Aug 2, 2007

If you knew that a you would be selling your car in a year or so would you change your maintaince habits for the vehicle (particularly oil choice)?

My wife and I are going to be having a kid sometime in the next year or so and the 2 door GP that we have now is just not going to cut it w/ child saftey seats.

I have been using syn in it for most of it's life but now am considering going w/ the cheapest sm dino I can get my hands on.

If this isn't a BITOG caused dilemma, I don't know what would be!

What do you guys think?

Titan · Aug 2, 2007

"Non-synthetic" isn't going to do damage. It's the same situation as we all go through on any oil selection: economics. Economically, it makes most sense to use a "non-synthetic", especially in your case. As long as it meets the required specifications for your engine, use the cheapest oil you can find. Sleep soundly.

CBDFrontier06 · Aug 2, 2007

There's nothing moral about this decision. You've made an economic decision to use the minimum required protection for the engine because its no longer worth it to you to use a synthetic product in an attempt to extend the life of the vehicle. Keep in mind that the person that ends up with the car will likely be using cheap dino in it as well.

Now, if you were planning on using used lawnmower oil in the car with an intent to sell it later... there's where your morals would be called into question.

302Xplorer · Aug 2, 2007

I guess "moral" was a bad usage, but it sure will feel funny pouring that super-tech down the filler tube.

ToyotaNSaturn · Aug 2, 2007

Why not buy the SuperTech full synth? It's only a couple dollars more than most major brand dino's these days.

You can make your pocketbook feel happy AND make your car feel happy by using a group III synth oil. There's a reason why WalMart sells a LOT of ST product...

LouDawg · Aug 2, 2007

+1 on what Titan said.

mstrjon32 · Aug 2, 2007

You could practically run that Buick V6 on vegetable oil and it will still last longer than most engines, especially in the non-S/C version. You'll be fine running it on whatever cheap oil you want to put in there, as long as it meets the specifications outlined in the manual.

benjamming · Aug 2, 2007

Just don't try to use a selling point that it has seen synthetic its whole life.

Matt_S · Aug 2, 2007

I see no problem using a less expensive oil that you know will still do the job. I do see a problem with just using the cheapest available stuff regardless of whether it will protect the engine or not.

Gary Allan · Aug 2, 2007

Don't change your habits ...learn to live with the 2 door while you only have one child. Save $$ for when the second pup comes along and it's mandated (still isn't). Stretch the back ..spare the wallet.

ToyotaNSaturn · Aug 2, 2007

Quote:

Don't change your habits ...learn to live with the 2 door while you only have one child. Save $$ for when the second pup comes along and it's mandated (still isn't). Stretch the back ..spare the wallet.

Exactly. We got rid of our two-door 94 T-bird when the first one arrived. Shoulda just kept the car. In the long run it's a LOT cheaper than any other option.

benjamming · Aug 2, 2007

Yep, that leads to another point. I wouldn't, & don't, change my habits at all b/c you never know that you may keep the car. Then you'll just kick yourself. Now just considering oil choice, it's really not a big deal either way but the other maintenance stuff is a big deal to me. For example, I wouldn't stop changing the ATF even though most folks never change it.

Scott P · Aug 2, 2007

It's not like you are neglecting the car. You are simply going from one acceptable oil to another acceptable oil. The two door GP isn't exactly a car with easy access to a back seat. A sedan is a much smarter solution than keeping that car around.

mstrjon32 · Aug 2, 2007

Getting into the back seat is really not that bad. I don't understand why people complain about getting into the back of 2-door cars so much.

Matt_S · Aug 2, 2007

Quote:

Getting into the back seat is really not that bad. I don't understand why people complain about getting into the back of 2-door cars so much.

Try putting a baby in the back of such a vehicle. I'm in the same boat (Monte Carlo) and I thank my lucky stars that we have a minivan that we can use 99% of the time when we're going somewhere with my son (currently 19 mos). By this time next year, I expect the Monte will be traded in favor of something with a couple more doors.

rpn453 · Aug 2, 2007

I plan on never selling my car, and I use Tech2000 (Canadian Supertech equivalent) in it.

wantin150 · Aug 2, 2007

Even a small 4 door can make installing a child seat much more difficult than it needs to be! Picture me, at 6'2" trying to sit on the base (and then in the child seat) to get it secured tightly enough, in a Corolla!

We bought our ext cab Tacoma while my son was still very young. Luckily my wife is small and could fit in the back!

OT:

No dilemma here. Go with the recommend min and be at peace with yourself!

Dr. E · Aug 2, 2007

The terms "dino,synthetic,blend,conventional" are marketing derived; not scientific.

Titan, there certainly are"scientific" differences between synthetic and dino. Highly/severely refined (Group II/III) petroleum oil is not synthetic. Even the A.P.I. recognizes the difference, with groups I to III categorized as dinos and Groups IV/V categorized as synthetic. While some here at BITOG have jumped on the group III "bandwagon", chemists understand the difference between dino and synthetic. Moreover, it is the marketers that have attempted to create a perception of "no difference".

Gary Allan · Aug 2, 2007

Quote:

Quote:

Getting into the back seat is really not that bad. I don't understand why people complain about getting into the back of 2-door cars so much.

Click to expand...

Try putting a baby in the back of such a vehicle. I'm in the same boat (Monte Carlo) and I thank my lucky stars that we have a minivan that we can use 99% of the time when we're going somewhere with my son (currently 19 mos). By this time next year, I expect the Monte will be traded in favor of something with a couple more doors.

They don't stay that small THAT long. We still had an 86 Tempo with all three kids in the back. Now, sure, the minivan was NICE in comparison ...but we really didn't NEED a $330/month payment (IIRC = bought with virtually no money down) with a young family. $100/week (higher insurance due to higher value)in 92 $$ can handle a decent level of hassle, imo. We also needed two cars anyway (always did) ..so it ended up meaning the retirement of my beater Courier (rusted Mazda w/Ford innards) pickup.

My son has a paid for 00 Cherokee (and a 96 NEON beater) ..but bought his SO a new Sedona because the Cherokee "didn't have enough room for carting the kids around (nearly 1 year old and a 2+ year old)".

So?

Just looking back at how we managed to make excuses for spending money needlessly. Then again, if your wallet is thick enough ..or you realize that you're not going to really do anything productive with the avoided costs ...why not??

Aldaris · Aug 2, 2007

Quote:

If you knew that a you would be selling your car in a year or so would you change your maintaince habits for the vehicle (particularly oil choice)?

My wife and I are going to be having a kid sometime in the next year or so and the 2 door GP that we have now is just not going to cut it w/ child saftey seats.

I have been using syn in it for most of it's life but now am considering going w/ the cheapest sm dino I can get my hands on.

If this isn't a BITOG caused dilemma, I don't know what would be!

What do you guys think?

I'd hold off on the oil change until right when you want to sell it. Call me evil.

Moral dilemma

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