oil and gear dope recommendations?

[Geno67]

Looking for the longest distance between oil changes and highest mpg for a car we just purchased. The last quickie oil change cost us 43 clams so we will be performing our own changes in the future.

2002 Kia Spectra LS with T8D 1.8L dohc 16v I4, 5 speed manual, 120k miles, serviced with the cheapest oil/filter every 5k at kia dealership by the two previous owners. The car was dirt cheap due to hail and other body damage but is 100% mechanically sound. Runs and drives like brand new. I have repaired the body damage but am ignoring the hail damage. The wife and I are poor college students (older/non-traditional) with no income who live on student financial aid as frugally as possible.

Driving habits are very near hypermiler. Very low rpm gear shifts, maybe 5-10mph over at the most on the highway, 70% in town driving at 20-40 mph around the University of Alabama campus with lots of traffic and idling time (I don't idle a lot though, I turn it off and re-start when I can go), 30% long runs on the highway as we drive halfway across the state once a week - 86 miles one way, 70mph speed limit and we run 75ish. I have filled it up three times and the mpg were 24.2, 27, and 30.1 - she's getting used to my driving habits now.

Owners manual recommends API SG, SH, or SAE 5W30 for the engine but also has a viscosity/temperature chart that includes 30, 10W30, 10W40, and 20W40 for our temp range.

Owners manual recommends API Service GL4 or GL5 (SAE 75W-90) for the manual transaxle.

We are so glad we found this forum as we feel that we have been wasting good oil for 5 years now with 3kish oil changes at the local quickie change place.

Any and all recommendations are welcome.

Thanks,
Geno and Bamagirl.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Manual transmission,use Amsoil MTG.

 

[Gabe]

to BITOG!

I would use Mobil 1 gear oil and Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 motor oil. As for the OCI, Mobil 1 warranties the EP line for 15K miles.

 

[Geno67]

Thanks - glad to be here.

15k miles sounds great - is there a filter that would hold up that long?

 

[Geno67]

Sorry - stupid question was stupid. Google search happened and I are educated.

 

[Geno67]

What are thoughts on 25k oil changes with amsoil oil and filter rated for it?

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: Geno67
What are thoughts on 25k oil changes with amsoil oil and filter rated for it?


The filter is rated for 15K, so you'd need to change the filter and then top up the oil. At the end of the day, you'd be pushing the oil out pretty far without much cost savings.

Personally, if you're on a really tight budget I think you're better off just getting the oil change specials w/rebate when you can get almost free oil/filters, or if you're willing to shop at Walmart go with the lowest price conventional oil and change it @ 7.5-10K. Today's SN-rated oils are more robust than ever and are suitable to OEM drain intervals that can well-exceed 10K. Supertech 5W30 SN and a Purolator Classic would be fine for 10K with your engine and driving habits.

As far as the gear oil, at the risk of sounding like a Supertech fan boy, I'd go with that over M1's gear oil. I don't think M1's oil is suitable for an MT even if your car allows a GL-5. The Coastal and ST brand claim to be suitable for GL-4 and GL-5 applications, and I've put that gear oil in 2 different MT's (Subaru and Toyota) that call for GL-5 and it shifts great. It's also inexpensive. Amsoil's gear oil would be a good choice but it's a lot more cash.

Don't overthink this. Modnern lubricants are good and inexpensive. Buy stuff on sale and change it at a reasonable interval and you'll be fine.

 

[jegs]

Off topic but has the timing belt been replaced? This is a scheduled maintenance item on these engines and at 120000 miles it is due. If it breaks it causes catastrophic engine damage.

 

[Geno67]

timing belt was changed at 60k and is due again. Will be changed along with all the belts and hoses at the first of the year.

 

[mechtech2]

Old style square toothed belts needed changing as early as 60k.
But new round toothed belts of superior materials should go at least 50% more. [these are not exactly new tech - they are standard for years]
Anyways, get new pulleys and a tensioner with your new belt. They cause belts to fail, not the other way around.

Aftermarket manual transmission/transaxle lubes are really good nowadays.
Amsoil is superb. Contact Pablo on this site for info and ordering to your door.
Redline is also very fine. My new favorite is Motorcraft gold manual trans fluid.