Pick Your Oil for Each Car.

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Which oil and interval would you choose for each car? I listed the current selections. Temps are 15-100F

1. 1991 Chevy S10 4.3L V6 - 240,000 ML - 9,000 ML Year - 60/40 City/Highway
15W-40 Mobile Delvac 1300 - Every 6 months (4500 ML)

2. 1991 Olds Ciera 3.3L V6 (Baby 3800)- 100,000 ML - 28,000 ML Year - 20/80
15W-40 Mobile Delvac 1300 - Every 3 months (7000 ML)

3. 1995 Buick LeSabre 3800 V6 - 95,000 ML - 9,000 ML Year - 70/30
10W30 Texaco Havoline - Every 6 months (4500 ML)

4. (2) 2001 Chevy Malibu 3.4L V6 - 80,000/85,000 - 20,000 ML Year - 50/50
10W30 Havoline Every 3 months (5000 ML)

5. 2004 Ford Focus 2.0L - 400 ML - 5000 ML Year - 60/40
Motorcraft 5W20 - 300 ML / 700 ML / 1500 ML and then every 6 months (2500 ML).

Gene
 
Delvac 1300 or M1 SUV (maybe even Rotella T 5W40) every six months in all of them except the the Focus and I'd use a synthetic 5 or 10W30 in it. That's just me though.
 
#1 and #2, since I am not convinced to run a diesel motor oil, could try Valvoline Durablend 15w40 (few places have it, NAPA is one) or 10w40 Valvoline Maxlife.

I do like 10w30, so I will leave #3 and #4 alone, even though I am a Valvoline guy.

Main concern is #5, the Focus (I don't like thin oils, especially in your climate): apart from warranty limitations, Mobil 1 10w30 with annual oil changes. Why not synthetic Valvoline? I believe Valvo is Group III. In the case of a car speced for 5w20, I want the Group V extra measure of safety running 10w30, just in case there is something to the "thinner is needed for tighter clearances."

[ June 20, 2004, 01:18 AM: Message edited by: TallPaul ]
 
quote:

Originally posted by KW:
Delvac 1300 or M1 SUV (maybe even Rotella T 5W40) every six months in all of them except the the Focus and I'd use a synthetic 5 or 10W30 in it. That's just me though.

If I switch the Ciera 3300 and the 3.4L Malibus to 6 month changes they will be going 14,000 ML and 10,000 ml between changes. This seems a bit long for 1300 in my opinion.

I am considering going to Mobile 1 10W30 in the Focus with annual changes after break-in is complete.

Actual research shows that record lows and highs for my local are -12F and 112F but this is atypical.

Average Daily Highs in Late July are 90F and average daily lows in Late January are 30F.

Gene
 
quote:

Originally posted by TallPaul:
#1 and #2, since I am not convinced to run a diesel motor oil, could try Valvoline Durablend 15w40 (few places have it, NAPA is one) or 10w40 Valvoline Maxlife.

I do like 10w30, so I will leave #3 and #4 alone, even though I am a Valvoline guy.

Main concern is #5, the Focus (I don't like thin oils, especially in your climate): apart from warranty limitations, Mobil 1 10w30 with annual oil changes. Why not synthetic Valvoline? I believe Valvo is Group III. In the case of a car speced for 5w20, I want the Group V extra measure of safety running 10w30, just in case there is something to the "thinner is needed for tighter clearances."


I like the extra detergents, conditioners, and vicosity of the HDEO in the older engines.

A stated in a previous post I am considering 10W30 in the Focus as it is the recommended oil in Australia for the same engine. Great Britain uses 0W30.

Gene
 
I agree with KW on 1-4...use a HDEO as the engines have higher mileage. Delvac 1300 is good stuff, my personal fave is Delo 400 from Chevron. Either way, they offer extra adds and protection that just aren't available in run of the mill dino oils. Just add some Lube Control--that Delvac 1300 will be just fine at 10K. (Please post a UOA or two!)

On number 5, some sort of 30wt synth... M1 10w-30 once a year as it never gets that cold 'round these parts is an excellent choice.
cheers.gif


[ June 20, 2004, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: ToyotaNSaturn ]
 
quote:

Originally posted by Gene K:
I like the extra detergents, conditioners, and vicosity of the HDEO in the older engines.

A stated in a previous post I am considering 10W30 in the Focus as it is the recommended oil in Australia for the same engine. Great Britain uses 0W30.


I can't argue with your solid reasoning for the HDEO. Your version of "High Mileage" oil. They do make it in 10w30 if you should prefer.

I suspect the M1 10w30 would handle -14F fine on the few occasions you might actually see such cold.
 
quote:

Originally posted by Gene K:

quote:

Originally posted by KW:
Delvac 1300 or M1 SUV (maybe even Rotella T 5W40) every six months in all of them except the the Focus and I'd use a synthetic 5 or 10W30 in it. That's just me though.

If I switch the Ciera 3300 and the 3.4L Malibus to 6 month changes they will be going 14,000 ML and 10,000 ml between changes. This seems a bit long for 1300 in my opinion.

I am considering going to Mobile 1 10W30 in the Focus with annual changes after break-in is complete.

Actual research shows that record lows and highs for my local are -12F and 112F but this is atypical.

Average Daily Highs in Late July are 90F and average daily lows in Late January are 30F.

Gene


Sorry for the bad info. that 14K is a push. 10K should be easy at the rate you are putting on miles. A UOA or two would let you know how far you could stretch it in each vehicle.
 
Unless your using oil, I couldn't go along with 1 and 2. I have a '90 Cutlass with the exact same engine with 190K and still using 5W-30 winter and 10W-30 summer, good ol' regular Pennz.
Don't know if I'd push 3 and 4 past 4K on mileage but would surely go further with the Motorcraft on number 5. That stuff is a synblend and it holds up well.
 
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