This is my first vehicle and it is my baby. It has a 350 sbc with an auto transmission and a few bolt on mods. I recieved it with 205k on it and shortly replaced the oil. The previous owner never specified oci's or what he used, but it had a pepto sticker and was on 3,000 miles according to the sticker, and had a stuck filter, boy was that fun. I changed the oil with the combo in my sig since it was a sale and my dad said heavier oil for old engines is good. This truck gets driven semi harsh, and is run year round in Maine. My question is what is a good all season oil that has great numbers and will hold up to harsh driving? I also have no oil cooler and the truck is driven on 60 mile daily trips by my dad during the week and will be driven mostly short city trips when I start DD'ing it since he needs to fix his car and stop driving mine.
Need help choosing oil.
- Thread starter Cbass
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Use a 5w 30 of your choice and see how much it uses , check it the first week and often. If using a syn blend, i might do the first change at 5k based on your driving, then 7 k for highway running.Short trips 3-5k. I personally would run a better filter like a purolator, i don't care for fram.
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purolator or wix filters would be a good choice
Valvoline max life 5w30 ( nexgen,red botle, full syn, all stout, proven oils for high mileage vehicles).Parents use these o. Thier vehicles, smooth running, no leaks or burning oil for 5k.
But for more money but longer OCI, id go with mobile 1 high mileage 5w30.
Rottela T6 5w40 would be the best of both worlds, good cold flow, thick for hard driving and towing.
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I'll second the purolator and wix, and recommend Quaker state High Mileage (Defy) 5w30.
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EDIT: Welcome to BITOG!
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Any quality 5w30 conventional with a quality filter for a 5-7K OCI on your pickup will be fine. Make sure she does not burn oil, keep the Transmission happy with fresh ATF, and keep your other fluids topped off with a occasional change and it may last another 20 years. I have seen a few GM trucks from that era reach 500,000 miles your halfway there! How long have you had your pickup? If it is the majority of those miles I would not change very much you made it this far.
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High detergency, tough base oils, they have more anti wear agents as well.
The myth is that hdeo will poison your cat converter, witch is not true unless your engine is burning the hdeo oils, at that point you got big issues with your motor, but the same is true for regular oil, but the hdeo will do it at a faster supposedly.
Mpg is usually where regular oil has the advantage, but I doubt it would be noticeable in a small block Chevy. Amsoil makes a 5w30 and rotella t5 makes a 10w30 hdeo if mpg and a more free revving engine are desired.
A tip on the oil/filter deals, at orielly and AZ, ive always been able to buy the better filter with the deal, you just pay the difference in price between the filter you want and the one advertised. If they wont do that, than take both and keep the cheap filter for emergency , if your doing a quick flush or short oci or stock pile and sell them on craigslist for profit.
The myth is that hdeo will poison your cat converter, witch is not true unless your engine is burning the hdeo oils, at that point you got big issues with your motor, but the same is true for regular oil, but the hdeo will do it at a faster supposedly.
Mpg is usually where regular oil has the advantage, but I doubt it would be noticeable in a small block Chevy. Amsoil makes a 5w30 and rotella t5 makes a 10w30 hdeo if mpg and a more free revving engine are desired.
A tip on the oil/filter deals, at orielly and AZ, ive always been able to buy the better filter with the deal, you just pay the difference in price between the filter you want and the one advertised. If they wont do that, than take both and keep the cheap filter for emergency , if your doing a quick flush or short oci or stock pile and sell them on craigslist for profit.
Its not fair to compare different wt oils. The thicker oil will protect and resist burning and heat better, the thinner make your engine rev easier and be more responsive and typically get better mpg., but still protect your motor.
The maxlife oils have seal conditioners and anti wear agents to slow the wear inside your engine beyond what normal oil can. The full syn would give you the best protection and comes in a 10w40 if you plan to tow during the summer. They are like castrol, usually on the heavy side of whatever weight they are classified. They are common, easy to find, usually on sale or have rebates.
Hdeo's , imho, shine in (gas) vehicles that do a rediculous amount of severe driving or that burn oil or are known sludgers.
Hope our advice helps, theres no single oil that is best, but these are universally great performing oils. Choose your weapon and enjoy your truck.
The maxlife oils have seal conditioners and anti wear agents to slow the wear inside your engine beyond what normal oil can. The full syn would give you the best protection and comes in a 10w40 if you plan to tow during the summer. They are like castrol, usually on the heavy side of whatever weight they are classified. They are common, easy to find, usually on sale or have rebates.
Hdeo's , imho, shine in (gas) vehicles that do a rediculous amount of severe driving or that burn oil or are known sludgers.
Hope our advice helps, theres no single oil that is best, but these are universally great performing oils. Choose your weapon and enjoy your truck.
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Originally Posted By: Jeffy_D
Its not fair to compare different wt oils. The thicker oil will protect and resist burning and heat better, the thinner make your engine rev easier and be more responsive and typically get better mpg., but still protect your motor.
The maxlife oils have seal conditioners and anti wear agents to slow the wear inside your engine beyond what normal oil can. The full syn would give you the best protection and comes in a 10w40 if you plan to tow during the summer. They are like castrol, usually on the heavy side of whatever weight they are classified. They are common, easy to find, usually on sale or have rebates.
Hdeo's , imho, shine in (gas) vehicles that do a rediculous amount of severe driving or that burn oil or are known sludgers.
Hope our advice helps, theres no single oil that is best, but these are universally great performing oils. Choose your weapon and enjoy your truck.
"thicker oil will protect better" Please do not make a blanket statement like this. It depends more on the engine and how is driven than viscosity of a lube. There are many instances were a thicker than necessary oil will cause more wear than a lesser viscosity. Viscosity and wear are not inclusive.
Its not fair to compare different wt oils. The thicker oil will protect and resist burning and heat better, the thinner make your engine rev easier and be more responsive and typically get better mpg., but still protect your motor.
The maxlife oils have seal conditioners and anti wear agents to slow the wear inside your engine beyond what normal oil can. The full syn would give you the best protection and comes in a 10w40 if you plan to tow during the summer. They are like castrol, usually on the heavy side of whatever weight they are classified. They are common, easy to find, usually on sale or have rebates.
Hdeo's , imho, shine in (gas) vehicles that do a rediculous amount of severe driving or that burn oil or are known sludgers.
Hope our advice helps, theres no single oil that is best, but these are universally great performing oils. Choose your weapon and enjoy your truck.
"thicker oil will protect better" Please do not make a blanket statement like this. It depends more on the engine and how is driven than viscosity of a lube. There are many instances were a thicker than necessary oil will cause more wear than a lesser viscosity. Viscosity and wear are not inclusive.
It varies with the oil you buy and the average loading on your engine. Average fuel mileage is a good measure of average loading.
Given pretty much any API SN/GF5 conventional oil
12 mpg = 3600 miles
14 mpg = 4200 miles
16 mpg = 4800 miles
18 mpg = 5400 miles
I wouldnt be afraid to round up or down a little from there to make easier oil change intervals ie truck averages 16 mpg and changing at 5000 miles but I wouldnt get to far from that without an used oil analysis with TBN on your truck with oil of choice.
Given pretty much any API SN/GF5 conventional oil
12 mpg = 3600 miles
14 mpg = 4200 miles
16 mpg = 4800 miles
18 mpg = 5400 miles
I wouldnt be afraid to round up or down a little from there to make easier oil change intervals ie truck averages 16 mpg and changing at 5000 miles but I wouldnt get to far from that without an used oil analysis with TBN on your truck with oil of choice.
I have made a decision then(drum roll) Pennzoil 5w30 High Mileage with a purolator filter. I will most likely do 3,000 mile oci or little more, considering the oil is so cheap and as I saw in another thread: "Cheap Insurance". Thank you to all who have contributed to this thread in helping me choose. I decided to pick Pennzoil over the Rotella and Valvoline because it was the cheapest and Rotella is not in 5 qaurt jugs.
Pennzoil is highly regarded around here. Its likely capable of a little longer drain than some others. If your truck averages 15 mpg I wouldnt be afraid to do 5000 mile oil changes.
Originally Posted By: Gene K
Pennzoil is highly regarded around here. Its likely capable of a little longer drain than some others. If your truck averages 15 mpg I wouldnt be afraid to do 5000 mile oil changes.
Cant go wrong with Pennzoil or quaker state.
Mobil super high mileage is good cheap insurance as well, its a blend and is guaranteed up to 7500, used in my lebaron , good stuff, didnt burn off. Its USUALLY cheaper than pennzoilHM, so keep that in mind when you go. Both are good for the money. That is all.
Pennzoil is highly regarded around here. Its likely capable of a little longer drain than some others. If your truck averages 15 mpg I wouldnt be afraid to do 5000 mile oil changes.
Cant go wrong with Pennzoil or quaker state.
Mobil super high mileage is good cheap insurance as well, its a blend and is guaranteed up to 7500, used in my lebaron , good stuff, didnt burn off. Its USUALLY cheaper than pennzoilHM, so keep that in mind when you go. Both are good for the money. That is all.
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