Originally Posted by alarmguy
Originally Posted by OilUzer
What's are the top 3 parameters you may consider (if any) when selecting an oil.
1. API rating
2. Price
3. Price/brand
Many years ago I cared about brand, for decades I was right to do so, there USED to be good and bad oils, no more.
API took care of that, any engine will last just as long on any brand at any price if you use the oil stated in your owners manual.
So now, I use API SN at the lowest price and almost every time conventional. Sometimes "branding" still gets the better of me, so instead of lets say Super Tech conventional at $12 for 5 quarts I may go for Chevron Conventional for $13 for 5 quarts.
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and my daughters car, since she lives 2 hours away and I know she will run that oil till the last minute all through the winter I just put in Super Tech Syn for $15 - 5 quarts. I figured it was worth the extra $2.
There used to be big differences in oil, even magazines like Consumer Reports would test oils DECADES ago. But now, all the additives/packages are made by a handful of companies, just like TVs made in Asia, its all the same and no one can prove any will damage a car engine because they all meet the same API.
Hate to say it and know it will ruffle feathers in here but any engine will outlast the vehicle by using the recommended API oil in the owners manual at any price. Syn or Conv, doesnt matter.
if the engine doesnt last, it wasnt the oil, it was the design of the engine and NO oil will overcome the design. No matter what the marketing department of any oil company says.
To be quite honest, I know the Chevron Conventional Oil in our Mazda Skyactive will prevent wear just as good and better then an oil like Redline.
With all this said, I do change oil sooner rather then later, never wait to the oil change monitor to tell me to change.
If I was one to wait to the maximum oil change interval I would maybe select a synthetic like Super Tech over conventional because synthetic is more stable/less like to sludge (maybe), it does not mean there will be less wear however, as conventional oils have some very good anti wear properties that get "refined out" when its turned into synthetic.
Many manufacturers say if synthetic is used it does not extend oil change intervals.
So, exactly what brand of oil do you use? Quit teasing all of us