Newb needs a suggestion

[BucFan55]

Hello all!

New to the forum and would like to ask for some advice on oil.
I have a 2000 Pontiac Trans Am, and it has 207K miles on it which I've put all of them on, mostly highway. I drive it daily and my normal commute is over 50 one way.
At the beginning I was using Mobil 1 synthetic, but past few years I've used Valvoline synthetic for high mileage, mostly due to price and availability at the local auto parts stores.
Live in Florida, so heat and humidity are a factor.
So far the LS1 has been doing well and I'd like to keep it that way for as long as possible. I'd prefer if I could obtain any suggested oil(s) locally.
I appreciate the suggestions in advance!

 

[brandini]

Keep doing what you've been doing but do keep a keen eye on your cooling system with a test strip every so often.

Have you replaced the water pump ever?

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: brandini
Keep doing what you've been doing but do keep a keen eye on your cooling system with a test strip every so often.

Have you replaced the water pump ever?


Good advice. There's no magic oil that is going to make your engine last another 100k miles guaranteed. I see very few Trans Ams still on the road so keep it going!

 

[Bud_One]

Looks like you've got it covered with the Valvoline High Mileage oil.
You could also try the others available -
Quaker State Defy
Castrol High Mileage (worked well in my 6.0 chevy)
Pennzoil High Mileage
Pennzoil Platinum Pure Plus High Mileage - currently only available @ Autozone and a bit pricey for now.

 

[CT8]

207,000 miles we should be listening to you !!!

 

[abycat]

Originally Posted By: CT8
207,000 miles we should be listening to you !!!


I agree! And a car that gets driven harder than most other cars. I hope my car gets to over 200000 miles if I keep it for that long. Maybe get a used oil analysis done if your curious.

 

[901Memphis]

Maxlife high mileage is pretty good but Mobil 1 High Mileage is better in my opinion.

 

[285south]

And Redline for Transmission fluid.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: brandini
Keep doing what you've been doing but do keep a keen eye on your cooling system with a test strip every so often.

Have you replaced the water pump ever?


Yup and make sure all your plastic air dams and junk under the bumper stay in place for max cooling.

Your V8 on the highway isn't super stressed.

 

[BucFan55]

Thanks everyone!
I doubt you should be listening to me, but I appreciate the welcome!

Reason I'm on here asking is that the local Autozone stopped stocking the Valvoline recently and I'm looking for an alternative, not a magic bullet. I did see the Pennzoil one mentioned but wasn't sure.


The water pump has been replaced before, long story but it's doing it's job cooling things down. Not sure about the test strip, but I change the coolant out around 75K or so. Air dams are clean and attached!

 

[Donald]

Doesn't Walmart have a large selection of oils?

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: BucFan55
Thanks everyone!
I doubt you should be listening to me, but I appreciate the welcome!

Reason I'm on here asking is that the local Autozone stopped stocking the Valvoline recently and I'm looking for an alternative, not a magic bullet. I did see the Pennzoil one mentioned but wasn't sure.



Too bad they stopped stocking the Valvoline Synpower High Mileage. Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w30 is an oil I've used and liked a lot. A new oil that's recently been released is Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage. Many people on this board like Pennzoil Platinum. Oils at AutoZone are generally much higher priced than at WalMart, unless they're on sale.

Fram Ultra oil filter, too. They're very reasonably priced at WalMart.

What is the oil consumption rate of your LS1?

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Doesn't Walmart have a large selection of oils?


And cheaper than Autozone.

 

[BucFan55]

Autozone is less than 5 miles away, Walmart is over 30 miles... I'll pay the little extra not to drive out of my way and avoid the door dings.

Oil consumption seems pretty good, every oil change I can almost fill up a 5 qt jug with the used oil.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I know quite a few LS1 owners who have had great results with Castrol Edge 0w-30, so that would be my recommendation. I plan on trying it in my 3800 powered Firebird one of these days as well. One can find it on sale at Autozone from time to time.