New engine, obligatory "what oil" post.

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Got me another 2.2 Ecotec for $400 to go in the Saturd. It seems to be in good shape. Supposedly, it only had 37,000 on it when removed from the donor car. I'm putting new timing/balance chains in it for good measure. Rings and bearings still look brand spanking new so I don't think I'll mess with them.

Anyway, my oil will either be:

Kendall GT-1 blend (I just can't find the full syn locally).

or

Rotella T6 + one extra quart of something, probably QSAD.

Whichever I choose, I will try to use the same oil every change, which is something I've never done before for any engine.

OCI will still be by the oil monitor, which will usually take it to ~7500 miles.
 
Why not just use a good synthetic 5w30 like M1, PP, PU, QSUD?

No reason to use the overly thick T6 5w40 in that healthy engine, T6 has a very high HTHS for that application.
 
Don't think you can go wrong with the Kendall in 5W-30. No reason to go with the T6 in a good low mileage engine that calls for 5W-30.
 
I ran whatever 5w30 synthetic was on sale, and died from a loss of compression at cylinder #3, so either I got screwed with an engine from a bad batch, or just using any synthetic 5w30 doesn't work.

I think I just got screwed because my dad's Pontiac G6 Ecotec has over 110,000 miles and runs fine, and he uses whatever 5w30 is on sale.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I ran whatever 5w30 synthetic was on sale, and died from a loss of compression at cylinder #3, so either I got screwed with an engine from a bad batch, or just using any synthetic 5w30 doesn't work.


Extremely helpful post. Thanks for explaining what type of engine, type of oil, OCI, mileage . . .
 
Originally Posted By: kremer17
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I ran whatever 5w30 synthetic was on sale, and died from a loss of compression at cylinder #3, so either I got screwed with an engine from a bad batch, or just using any synthetic 5w30 doesn't work.


Extremely helpful post. Thanks for explaining what type of engine, type of oil, OCI, mileage . . .

Engine: Ecotec 2.2
OCI: Whenever the change oil message was displayed.
Mileage of engine death, approximately 100,000 miles.
 
Originally Posted By: MinamiKotaro
Got me another 2.2 Ecotec for $400 to go in the Saturd. It seems to be in good shape. Supposedly, it only had 37,000 on it when removed from the donor car. I'm putting new timing/balance chains in it for good measure. Rings and bearings still look brand spanking new so I don't think I'll mess with them.

Anyway, my oil will either be:

Kendall GT-1 blend (I just can't find the full syn locally).

or

Rotella T6 + one extra quart of something, probably QSAD.

Whichever I choose, I will try to use the same oil every change, which is something I've never done before for any engine.

OCI will still be by the oil monitor, which will usually take it to ~7500 miles.


Not sure where in TN you are but if you're in the SE portion, there is an oil distributor in the N. Atlanta area that carries the full syn for sale to the public. I posted here recently I picked up four cases of the full syn and it came out to be a little over $4/quart.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: kremer17
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I ran whatever 5w30 synthetic was on sale, and died from a loss of compression at cylinder #3, so either I got screwed with an engine from a bad batch, or just using any synthetic 5w30 doesn't work.


Extremely helpful post. Thanks for explaining what type of engine, type of oil, OCI, mileage . . .

Engine: Ecotec 2.2
OCI: Whenever the change oil message was displayed.
Mileage of engine death, approximately 100,000 miles.

Burned valve could be the cause of compression loss. Did you ever check the oil level or add oil between changes? My son's 03 Ecotec Cavalier will give a false oil level reading on the dipstick cold - unless you actually pull it out, wipe clean, then re-insert and get a true reading. He ran his car 3 qts low in a 5 qt sump - the fact he had M1 in there may have saved him.
 
Originally Posted By: bigt61
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: kremer17
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I ran whatever 5w30 synthetic was on sale, and died from a loss of compression at cylinder #3, so either I got screwed with an engine from a bad batch, or just using any synthetic 5w30 doesn't work.


Extremely helpful post. Thanks for explaining what type of engine, type of oil, OCI, mileage . . .

Engine: Ecotec 2.2
OCI: Whenever the change oil message was displayed.
Mileage of engine death, approximately 100,000 miles.

Burned valve could be the cause of compression loss. Did you ever check the oil level or add oil between changes? My son's 03 Ecotec Cavalier will give a false oil level reading on the dipstick cold - unless you actually pull it out, wipe clean, then re-insert and get a true reading. He ran his car 3 qts low in a 5 qt sump - the fact he had M1 in there may have saved him.

Oil levels didn't change between changes.
 
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