Newbie, 1st Hello 2nd ?'s on OIL

[Gator]

1st Hello to everyone, I own a old Honda 4cyl, a 2006 Mustang GT and a Dodge Diesel. I have a question on oil, I have always maintained everything pretty well. In the last 5 years I have started stretching out my oil change intervals still not real long but I try and change the cars at 5,000 and the Diesel at 7500. But my questions is on oil for gas can anyone tell me a place to see real world oil test for 5w30 valvoline synpower, Pennzoil platinum and Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 extended service. I have come to the conclussion that oil is oil, these 3 sell here at the wal mart and for 5qts regular oil is 12.00 and 5qts synthetic Valvoline and Pennzoil is 19.00 and the Mobil 1 is 22 or 26 for the extended. I am going to go to the synthetic and spend the extra 7 to 10 dollars for peace of mind but just wanted to see where some one checked a real world oil sample or had real world expierences. I have used the Mobil 1 in the Honda from new till about 80,000 miles then switched due to needing to save a few dollars to Valvoline conventional and now have 150,000 with no troubles at all, I changed both at 5,000 but sometimes a trip or overtime got in the way and a few times i went to 6 to 6500 miles and both oils would start to use a little oil. So I still think oil is oil but would like some test to see. Kinda like the Guy here that did the filter test. If we could see oil test that way it would be great to see if the allmighty Amsoil was as supperior as advertised.
Thanks

 

[Gary Allan]

Gator

Oil is pretty much oil. By that I mean that there is no "magic" oil. If you're not going to see longer use out of a more expensive oil, in most cases, you're just spending money needlessly.

6 months works for most people. If you're doing more mileage during that period, then a synthetic (one that's designated for extended drains) may be a wise choice. Otherwise without any particular severity of service ..there's no reason to spend more money.

Check out the used oil analysis section. You'll see legions of members that have used just about every oil to about 1/2 of it's useful life. You'll see some "norms" formed. I always ask how long the oil was in service. I've concluded that most in a 4 season climate don't like to carry over OCI's into different calender years. That means that they mainly fall into 4, 3, or 2 oil changes a year. You do have a unicorn or two ..but that's the main theme.

 

[crazyoildude]

Welcome..

 

[daves87rs]

Welcome!

 

[HTSS_TR]

Honda engine is easy on oil, 6-7k miles OCI with brand name dino is nothing to worry. If you don't want to extend your oil change interval to 10-12k miles then synthetic is a waste of money in a Honda. But if you can buy synthetic on sale with/without rebate for less than dino, then synthetic is the right oil.

 

[chet2]

you are right oil is oil except for hi performance or turbo engines which need synthetic...any oil can go at least 8k in warm weather like alabamas...syn is really good at cleaning engine...go to pep boys on black friday for their $5.00 OC special... 5 qts castrol and filter

 

[chet2]

newbie, i have a oil life monitor in my pontiac....going by that 10k in warm qeather is reasonable...both honda and GM have come to same conclusion no matter what oil you use, just make sure you check...i cant bring myself to go that long even with Mobil 1, but i know i could...i have 78% oil life left after 2k miles on Quaker State Synthetic...but it is colder in NH than ala...the GM OLM is very accurate and honda says you can go 10k as well,i think they know what they are talking about after millions of miles of testing

 

[Gator]

How does the factory oil analyzer actually work. Several years ago I thought the computer just counted engine revolutions, is their more to it now.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Gator - It takes into account ambient temperatures, RPMs, length/time of trips and many other variables.

 

[JustinC25]

Welcome !!!