Recommened Dino

[heavyhitter]

Here's the scoop. I have a 05' Honda Element calls for 5w20 @ 5000mi.
A 07' Nissan Frontier 4cyl. calls for 5w30 @3750mi.

I have been running Valvoline and Havloine in the Honda. And just changed the oil @3k with havoline in the nissan. The honda has 30k.

My plan is to run Dino oil on both @ 4k. It would be less than recommened for the Honda and strecthing 250 miles for the Nissan.

Whats the general consensus of a dino oil to run in these cars, I know just about any name brand would be ok I just want the best. I have been partial to havoline/Valvoline in the past. Butis there something better?

 

[mikeg5]

not really. GTX and Havoline has shown really good #'s out to 5k miles.. penzoil also! if i had to chose it would be one of those 3 on sale. seriously..

 

[rriddle3]

My choice? Havoline. 4k miles should be safe for both vehicles.

 

[TallPaul]

odd, the shorter OCI with the thicker oil. I'd run Maxlife, which of course is a blend, but I think can be had at near conventional oil prices sometimes. The PAO and 300 ppm moly would be good for your engine and I think i would run the 5w30 5000 miles.

 

[cmhj]

If you need to document a SM oil, I'd use Havoline DS.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Keep in mind that it's 3,750 for severe service. Do you fall into the severe service category?

 

[mikeg5]

tallpaul brings up a good point.. maxlife would probably be the best bang for the buck thats out right now.. if you have a warranty then you need to find out what is recommended for you car and make sure the oil fits the bill to cover your butt

 

[heavyhitter]

Yea if I could get a good deal on Maxlife, too bad they dont make a 5w20.
I used to be the 3k oil guy religiously. So stretching to 4k is pushing me, but Im sure most oils can go 5k

Castrol seems to get a bad rap on here by some. I think eveyone like havoline but isnt doesnt the new DS have a weaker add pack?

 

[mikeg5]

no the castrol blend and syntec gets the bad rap the GTX is good stuff and proven here on this board.. some drive it past 5k miles on GTX

 

[Dr_No]

This is all based on opinion, I recommend any dino meeting SM that is cheapest

 

[TallPaul]

Quote:

---

Yea if I could get a good deal on Maxlife, too bad they dont make a 5w20.

---

According to this product data sheet they do (scroll to second page). The problem is, does any store actually stock the 5w20?

 

[3putter]

Whatever brand gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling is what you want. The performance among any of the big name brands is vitrually indistinguishable. The "whatever's on sale" theory will work fine. And the SM ratings allow for longer OCI's, which is good on your pocketbook and great for the environment.

 

[Syntec-Man]

go with GTX

good stuff

 

[PT1]

Quote:

---

odd, the shorter OCI with the thicker oil. I'd run Maxlife, which of course is a blend, but I think can be had at near conventional oil prices sometimes. The PAO and 300 ppm moly would be good for your engine and I think i would run the 5w30 5000 miles.

---

Me too!!!

 

[PT1]

Or if no 5w20 Maxlife go PP on the Bogo

 

[jorton]

I can still remember the sound of an engine cranking in +5 degrees F winter cold. Is that a common temp in your part of Nebraska? If I lived somewhere that has a climate like that I would use something 0w so I say that would be "something better."

 

[Curious Kid]

If out of warrantee period on the honda, one could use 5w30 as it's but 2-3 cSt higher than a 5w-20 or so...not such an issue - if you don't take long drives the engine's dealing with thicker oil most of the time anyway. Cold visc in the chill of winter will be slightly thicker for a 30 than a 20 however, but what's the lowest you are likely to experience? Having one grade just simplifies things.

I understand wither way as it's always nice to gat a few more miles out of each tank of fuel!

Like has been said, use whatever name brand makes you feel good, and with the latest API certification oils are passing more harsh environments for longer periods than ever before...so the test data says. Fuel and machine management quality are also up.

Take care.