Hello all! My names is James, adn after a while of reading over everyones shoulders I've decided to join the message board!
I currently drive a 1987 Merkur XR4Ti 2.3L turbo with 162K miles and the wife drives her 1995 Saturn SL2 DOHC automatic with 128K miles.
The Merkur has been using Mobil 1 10w-30 since new with PureOne filters, and only paper air filters. The last 25K miles I have been using Mobil 1 Delvac 5w-40 Synthetic (my twin brother owns an EZ Lube, Mobil products ONLY) and Wix/NAPA filters. I change my oil at 7K mile intervals, and I NORMALLY drive around 1,400 miles PER WEEK during the commute, and occasionally sees track and autocross duty as well. I may be selling the car next week only because I cannot afford to put fuel in it with that much driving per year, and do not want to risk crashing such a rare car (for CA) in such great shape. Any thoughts or suggestions for the oil-cooled turbo 2.3L?
The Saturn is a different story.....at around 85K miles after having dealer service and trans checkup in Austin TX, we returned home to CA, an 1800-mile trip. I added only 3/4-qt during the drive, right about normal for that time. I did the oil change at 2,500 miles and found the oil filter CRUSHED into a little ball, and the oil was thick and black...I drained it into a clean, clear container and let it sit for 3 days, and it settled out to have a 1" layer of sludge in the bottom, metal shavings down there also. 10K miles later after two more oil changes (clean at change after the second time), I check the oil and find none on the dipstick. I change the oil (it was about that time, and I check it pretty much weekly) and find only ONE sludgy quart in the pan.
Now we're at 128K miles after progressing from 10w-30 to 10w-40 to 15w-40 Delo to 20w-50 Castrol. The Delo actually cleaned the motor up and I found that it consumed less, though coming out it looked "dirty", peering down the valve cover hole the metal inside was less stained. No exhaust smoke, no external leaks, just missing 1 quart usually per 1200 miles....very strange. Used to use Fram filters on her car, not anymore.
Comments, rebuttals?
I currently drive a 1987 Merkur XR4Ti 2.3L turbo with 162K miles and the wife drives her 1995 Saturn SL2 DOHC automatic with 128K miles.
The Merkur has been using Mobil 1 10w-30 since new with PureOne filters, and only paper air filters. The last 25K miles I have been using Mobil 1 Delvac 5w-40 Synthetic (my twin brother owns an EZ Lube, Mobil products ONLY) and Wix/NAPA filters. I change my oil at 7K mile intervals, and I NORMALLY drive around 1,400 miles PER WEEK during the commute, and occasionally sees track and autocross duty as well. I may be selling the car next week only because I cannot afford to put fuel in it with that much driving per year, and do not want to risk crashing such a rare car (for CA) in such great shape. Any thoughts or suggestions for the oil-cooled turbo 2.3L?
The Saturn is a different story.....at around 85K miles after having dealer service and trans checkup in Austin TX, we returned home to CA, an 1800-mile trip. I added only 3/4-qt during the drive, right about normal for that time. I did the oil change at 2,500 miles and found the oil filter CRUSHED into a little ball, and the oil was thick and black...I drained it into a clean, clear container and let it sit for 3 days, and it settled out to have a 1" layer of sludge in the bottom, metal shavings down there also. 10K miles later after two more oil changes (clean at change after the second time), I check the oil and find none on the dipstick. I change the oil (it was about that time, and I check it pretty much weekly) and find only ONE sludgy quart in the pan.
Now we're at 128K miles after progressing from 10w-30 to 10w-40 to 15w-40 Delo to 20w-50 Castrol. The Delo actually cleaned the motor up and I found that it consumed less, though coming out it looked "dirty", peering down the valve cover hole the metal inside was less stained. No exhaust smoke, no external leaks, just missing 1 quart usually per 1200 miles....very strange. Used to use Fram filters on her car, not anymore.
Comments, rebuttals?