New Member oil recomendation!

[Thax]

Hello all at Bitog new member just joined! Id like to get some opinions on the oil im using for mine and my fiancee's vehicles.
1.)00 Dodge Durango 4.7 w/86,000 miles have been using PP for the last 20K miles since i got here, previous owner used PYB for 90% of the time at 3-5k oci.
2.03 Saturn Ion 2.2 w/135,000 ive been putting valvoline maxlife blend in there since we got it at 119K , thing that scares me is we have no idea of vehicle maintenance done before we got it.
Ok so here are my questions to y'all , Ive been thinking about switching to Mobil 1 5w30 HM in the durango , any benefits to switch now , PP has been great for me. And with the lack of knowledge of previous OCI's and oil type in my fiancee's Saturn is Maxlife a good option , I know its a great oil but maybe someone with better knowledge of oil could recommend a better oil for her car. Thanks! Thax

 

[Johnny]

to BITOG.

I see no reason to change what you are doing right now.

How often are you changing the oil in the Dodge and Saturn?

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Johnny

to BITOG.

I see no reason to change what you are doing right now.

How often are you changing the oil in the Dodge and Saturn?



Me neither. It`s like replacing your hip, if it`s not needed, Why do it?

 

[bigsezza]

i think any synthetic that you put in should be good..i personally use Amsoil 5w-20 in my 07 Mitsu Endeavor and I am going to use 5w30 Amsoil in my 07 Camry LE...If PP has been great to you, then stick with it

 

[Thax]

I am currently changing both out at around 3k intervals , I know these oils can go much longer but I work at O'reilly auto parts so oil is cheap for me!And the durango rarely see's highway miles and it helps me sleep at night !

 

[Johnny]

I would bump both up to at least 5K changes. You could still sleep well at night and save a few bucks, even at a discount.

 

[Thax]

Thanks Johnny i'll probably end up doing that , do you think sticking with the maxlife in the saturn is a good idea or would switching to a full synthetic be beneficial , I just dont know what the previous owner(s) did or didnt do

 

[Johnny]

I've never used the maxlife or any other high mileage oil, but I've heard good things about it. If it is working for you I see no need to go to a full synthetic.

 

[Steve S]

There really isn't any syn oil benefits when the oil changes are only 5,000 miles. If you are scared of the unknown maintenance on the Saturn why did you get it? Then on both vehicles what about the trans and diff oil ? power steering oil? coolant? Brake fluid flush? Any name brand oil will serve you well. If you got the oil for free I wouldn't want to show a lack on knowledge by changing the oil with out reguard for its intended purpose. If you got free tires would you change them once a week?

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
There really isn't any syn oil benefits when the oil changes are only 5,000 miles. If you are scared of the unknown maintenance on the Saturn why did you get it? Then on both vehicles what about the trans and diff oil ? power steering oil? coolant? Brake fluid flush? Any name brand oil will serve you well. If you got the oil for free I wouldn't want to show a lack on knowledge by changing the oil with out reguard for its intended purpose. If you got free tires would you change them once a week?



I respectfully disagree with you there. 5k oil changes or not,you still have the Synthetic benefits. I.E Cold flow properties,cleaner engine,and even slightly higher mpg`s on some vehicles.And sometimes performance gains as well.

 

[Thax]

Im not scared of the maintenance on the saturn and I got it because of the under 2k$ price I got it for . As for the dodge the previous owner did everything and I mean everything scheduled in the owners manual ,every fluid change ,replacement part you name it it was done .I never said I got the oil for free ,but I did get it at a sharp discount.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Originally Posted By: Steve S
There really isn't any syn oil benefits when the oil changes are only 5,000 miles. If you are scared of the unknown maintenance on the Saturn why did you get it? Then on both vehicles what about the trans and diff oil ? power steering oil? coolant? Brake fluid flush? Any name brand oil will serve you well. If you got the oil for free I wouldn't want to show a lack on knowledge by changing the oil with out reguard for its intended purpose. If you got free tires would you change them once a week?



I respectfully disagree with you there. 5k oil changes or not,you still have the Synthetic benefits. I.E Cold flow properties,cleaner engine,and even slightly higher mpg`s on some vehicles.And sometimes performance gains as well.
You can disagree with me as you wish but in the 23 years I worked on fleet maintenance I never have seen a problem with using dino oil on properly maintained engines. I have worked on anything from cars forklifts, semi trucks and all sorts of odds and ends industrial engines. Cold flow ?In I am guessing South Carolina? Slightly higher MPGs/ performance gains most likley not due to the F.Ms used in todays PCMO oils. Now I will say there are some advantages to syn oils. When it is way below freezing IMO syn would be the choice . If you run extended oil changes "10,000" miles + syn has great benefits and will show engine cleanliness. Recommended by the MFG. If you have an engine by design or use runs the oil hot syn oil is the choice. I used to run syn oil. Starting in the late 1960s in my motorcycles and syn oil in my 1974 pickup in 1974 and all vehicles then on untill after seeing the results of how well the GPII[+] oils worked [around 1995] I found syn oils an unnecessary expense as I usually have no need for the benefits of syn oil ,if I did I would use syn oil.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: Thax
Im not scared of the maintenance on the saturn and I got it because of the under 2k$ price I got it for . As for the dodge the previous owner did everything and I mean everything scheduled in the owners manual ,every fluid change ,replacement part you name it it was done .I never said I got the oil for free ,but I did get it at a sharp discount.
There is nothing wrong with using syn oil I am trying to make a point that there really isn't a whole lot of benefits using syn oil at 5,000 mile oil change intervals on a vehicle that doesn't require it. No matter the price of the oil. Though if it makes you feel better use syn oil.
Just trying to learn ya something

 

[aztec12]

I personally would not change any of these two oils , if not the best they both are some of the best oils out there!
As far as the oil change intervals its your money what ever mekes you sleep better, if you can afford it why not .

 

[Thax]

Yeah Aztec I agree with you 100% on the PP and Maxlife being great oils , I was just thinking about the M1 HM because I like its SL add pack . And Steve I forgot to mention that I just moved down north from WV where it gets COLD!! in the winter so outta habit I wouldnt put a non syn in my truck . Thanks for all the advice guys!

 

[ChiTDI]

I'd stick with the brand and OCI you are successfully using.
Welcome to Bitog.

One thought on that Durango. Is that year/engine a known "sludge" producer?

 

[Thax]

wow totally didnt see your response. Yeah it is a 4.7 aka the known "sludge" motor . I am not too worried about it ,I just change out the oil every 3-5k to feel good about it. I did go against most everybody's advise and put in Mobil 1 HM and have been impressed. Truck runs smoother and idles nice and got 10 more miles out of a tank than when I had PP in it.