My Quest for Good Cheap Oil

[Carlostrece]

Years ago I was on a quest for the best oil I could get. That led to a lot of wasted money.

In recent years I'm on a quest for good cheap oil. From among low cost options, which are good performers, low cost, and easily locally available from Walmart, NAPA, or Oreilly because those are the oil sellers near my home.

Here's my finalists. Please tell me which you think is better and why (for 3 high mileage vehicles that don't leak oil, though one does burn oil).

NAPA High Mileage Full Syn
Quaker State High Mileage Full Syn

NAPA Full Syn
Quaker State Ultimate Protection Full Syn

I'm also open to other good oils suggestions if they're low cost at Walmart, NAPA, or Oreilly.

 

[Urshurak776]

What about Supertech? Or, Costco has Kirkland for $15/5 quarts, twice a year.

 

[cptbarkey]

What about Supertech?

This is the only true answer. Subscription and its 5/15% off.

 

[JavierH19]

Best cheap oil? anything euro rated for the lowest price. Castrol 5w-30/40 is on shelves for 23.97 and has been for a while. Before that it was qs 5w-40. Other than that supertech fs is good enough.

 

[facility1]

Quaker State ultimate 5w-30.

 

[Glenda W.]

Vehicle, oci, use type?

 

[ripcord]

"Bad" oil is as scarce as hen's teeth on the US market. Just buy anything on the shelf at Walmart and change it regularly and you and your engine will be great.

 

[barkingspider]

Hard to beat Supertech / Kirkland for the price

 

[SC Maintenance]

If you need more than 5 quarts at a time and are OK with a blend the Havoline box is a good deal - 6 quarts for 22.99 at Wally's - so $3.83 per quart.

I don't really like the box though. Never a free lunch.

 

[Carlostrece]

What about Supertech? Or, Costco has Kirkland for $15/5 quarts, twice a year.

There's no Costco within 40 miles. I considered Supertech, but I think QSUPFS & NAPA oil are better and cost a similar price as Supertech.

 

[nwjones18]

If you need more than 5 quarts at a time and are OK with a blend the Havoline box is a good deal - 6 quarts for 22.99 at Wally's - so $3.83 per quart.

I don't really like the box though. Never a free lunch.

My F-150 holds 6qts so its gets Havoline.. Helps they also have 10w-40 conventional which is what its always had in it. Everything else I've got holds 5 or 7 qts though.

 

[nwjones18]

There's no Costco within 40 miles. I considered Supertech, but I think QSUPFS & NAPA oil are better and cost a similar price as Supertech.

Any actual evidence of that? I have used a lot of Quaker State with good results.

 

[nascarnation]

What about Supertech? Or, Costco has Kirkland for $15/5 quarts, twice a year.

Wisdom.

 

[Bud_One]

Quaker State Ultimate Protection

 

[Carlostrece]

Lakespeed tested wear rates using VOAs and UOAs of Amsoil OE, Royal Purple, Supertech, and NAPA oils.

Amsoil OE, Royal Purple, and Supertech each performed equally well with excellent results (very low wear results). NAPA synthetic oil was the outlier. NAPA outperformed the other 3 and NAPA cost the least! See that video in next post below.

I'm already going to be going to NAPA to buy NAPA Gold filters. So NAPA oil is a near no brainer for me.

However, I also like Quaker State Ultimate Protection Full Syn and Quaker State High Mileage Full Syn for what I suspect to be good performance, though I have no data to back that up. I do know they have slightly higher viscosity per grade (than Valvoline or NAPA) which I like for my older engines. I also like QS prices and availability in my local stores.

 

[Carlostrece]

Here's some evidence (IMO) that shows Supertech is as good as Amsoil OE and Royal Purple, but NAPA oil is even better than those other 3.

That said, all 4 oils are excellent.

Here's the video.

 

[Glenda W.]

Here's clear evidence (IMO) that shows Supertech is as good as Amsoil SS and Royal Purple, but NAPA oil is even better than those other 3.

That said, all 4 oils are excellent.

Here's the video.

That’s not Amsoil SS(it’s OE). Wear alone does not deem an oil better or worse than another. Especially from a single UOA from a single dyno run. IMO Lakes worst vid.

 

[dubber09]

I'd say either A3/B4 or C3 oils depending on viscosity preferences. Those are long life oils and it looks like your cars are not very picky on specs. Those oils are of higher quality to begin with and can be used for extended OCIs unless your engines don't like longer OCIs. Better oil running a bit longer is a good choice imho, it'd come to same or better $ per mile since you are looking for lower cost.

 

[Carlostrece]

That’s not Amsoil SS(it’s OE). Wear alone does not deem an oil better or worse than another. Especially from a single UOA from a single dyno run. IMO Lakes worst vid.

Thanks for clearing up which Amsoil it was. I corrected my earlier post accordingly.

 

[Carlostrece]

I'd say either A3/B4 or C3 oils depending on viscosity preferences. Those are long life oils and it looks like your cars are not very picky on specs. Those oils are of higher quality to begin with and can be used for extended OCIs unless your engines don't like longer OCIs. Better oil running a bit longer is a good choice imho, it'd come to same or better $ per mile since you are looking for lower cost.

What designations are A3, B4, C3? Are those Euro oils? I'm only familiar with API.