oil suggestions for chevrolet optra 1.8 columbian production

[lucaq]

They don´t only produce cocaine in columbia it seems... my father-in-law just purchased a new Chevrolet Optra today here in Quito, Ecuador and he was asking me about the change intervals and what oil to run in it.

Well I don`t really know because I am used to used cars in harsh climates so I thought that I would ask the experts (after searching, of course!)

Although they offer the Optra in Canada (but not in the USA... it is basically a Daewoo after GM got their hands on Daewoo and consulted the global parts bin), it has a different engine here. Here it has a 1.8l 16v (d-tec). From what I have read this motor is a holden platform if not acutally a holden motor (coded Z18 XE).

I know that it probably has a factory fill oil and I am going to make the recomendation that he not change it until indicated in the manual. But after this I would like some advise on change intervals, filters, weight and type of oil. Our choices are limited, but they have moble, repsol, excel (says made in USA), and shell oil here. He is an old guy and not really an enthusiest so he might not care too much about going synthetic. Will other oil filters from the GM family fit on this car that are maybe better than stock? Opel Vectra, Astra? Holden 4cyl???

Relevant info:
Quito, Ecuador 2811 meters (9223 feet)
Average temp: high 67Fº low 49Fº (20Cº 9Cº) with no real seasons
gasoline avail: super 89RON and extra 80RON (sux, but at high alt, it is not so bad)
9.8:1 compression ratio
bore and stroke: 81.6/86

Thank you so much in advance. I know that you all are gurus or i would never add this kind of detail or ask this kind of question. If i don`t really get any response i guess I will just recomend he take it to the dealer and not think about it...

link to indian review of the car with 1.8 motor
factory details...if you follow the optra link it gives you model variation

 

[XS650]

A good starting point would be what Chevy recommends for that car and your useage.

I doubt that the recommended oil in Equador is tailored to US EPA requirments, so Chevy should be giving some decent recomendations.

On of the list members in in the lubricants business in Equador, hopefully he will see your request because he knows a lot about your local oils.

 

[lucaq]

i was just thinking that their recomendations might also be for a wider temperature range since this is a global model. Suggestions about weight? brands ? (base stock for a mutli national oil like shell or something??) I know that the manual will be a great starting point, but I was looking for some additional input.

Thanks for your response

 

[pbm]

I'm not 100% sure but I think that is the same car as a Suzuki Verona? in the States. I would use any name brand oil/filter in the viscosity recommended in the owners manual.

 

[pbm]

Correction: I think it is the same as the Suzuki FORENZA (not Verona which is bigger).

 

[Willy_G]

Yes,

That is the Forenza/GMDAT clone. I hear thay are great cars. Any 'good' oil is fine. Just folow the owner's manual.

 

[XS650]

Lucaq, I had a brain **** last post. The person I was thinking of was Widman who is in the lubricants business two countries south of you in Bolivia. I still think might be good source of regional lube info. He was posting here yesterday so he's still around.

I will be flying over Equador Wednesday at about 11:00 PM. Be sure you're ouside so I can wave at you as I fly over.

 

[lucaq]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will just suggest that he stick with a good conventional oil or get it done at the dealer as the manual recomends. I will try to see what is available within this region for oil and find the tech specs on it. you were right about the suzuki clone... i have not been in the US for so long that I have not had a chance to see one so i just assumed that we did not get them in the US. It is really cool that this is a true global model. It seems like a really good value here, it even has more options than the US version for a lower price.

My girlfriend has a VW GOL and I just found out yesterday that her mechanic uses Mann filters on it, so I am confident of his knowledge now and I might recomend that she drives it longer than recomended between oil changes since it is a german filter on a 1.6l 8.5:1CR code:2br 8v engine. It is similiar to all of the VW 4cyl engines. she uses the 80RON gas

 

[lucaq]

the suzuki forenza in the US is a 2.0 though, and the one we get here is 1.8... but i think that the motor is almost the same.

I guess the body was designed by pinifarina and the suspension by lotus (does not say a whole lot since it is tuned for each region). a holden motor (so i read

)

Thanks again for the replies...

 

[Islandvic]

lucaq, what is available in ecuador anyways as far as oils and filters?

Do you have to buy it at the dealer, fleet wholesale, or auto-parts store?

What does the manual say.

I doubt it lists API standards b/c you are not in America.

Does the car have catalytic converters and other emission realted devices?

 

[XS650]

Lucaq, check this web site out:

Widman's website

Note the Bolivian oil filter anaylysis, most of them were from various countries in SA so may be applicable to your choices.

IIRC, the MANN filers were from Brazil.

Widman is right here on BITOG and a helpful person.

 

[lucaq]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Islandvic:
lucaq, what is available in ecuador anyways as far as oils and filters?

Do you have to buy it at the dealer, fleet wholesale, or auto-parts store?

What does the manual say.

I doubt it lists API standards b/c you are not in America.

Does the car have catalytic converters and other emission realted devices?

---

Well i finally got a look at the manual today. It said (just as i expected) 10w30 SL for good temp and 5w30 SL for clima fria (cold weather). Xcel is a big oil brand here and it is supposed to be synthetic... besides that we have mobile, repsol, texaco, and shell all widely available at gas stations. I think that the chevy dealer uses shell.

It does have the API standards since it does say SL...

As far as filters are concerned, I can get wix, mann, bosch and probably some others that I have not really looked for. The quality of things that I can get here is actually pretty good... basically a mix of european stuff and american stuff.

Tehre are parts stores sprinkled all over, mostly just personally owned shops, nothing really big or corporate for auto parts.

The car does have a catalytic converter, but I have not had a chance to see if it has a EGR (i did notice that a skoda felcia had a secondary injection pump the other day... the kind of thing that only used to come on cali/NY volkswagens... I thought that that was kinda odd)