Sales on oil everywhere - what do you recommend?

[martyi]

I noticed that starting today several retailers in my part of Texas are having oil sales and I'm ready to start changing my own oil again (after many years!). The list is pretty long:

Valvoline Synpower - 6qts/$24 after $3 MI rebate.

MobilOne - 6qts/$23.28 after $4.80 MI rebate.

Mobil Clean 5000 - case of 12qts/$15.36 after $4.80 MI rebate.

Valvoline MaxLife - case of 12qts/$22.68 (sale price with no rebate as far as I can find).

Your choice of either Pennzoil Platinum or Q Synthetic - case of 6qts/$12.48 after $15 MI rebate.

There were a few others on sale but these are the oils I've heard about (except that "Q" synthetic which I never heard of). Since they are on sale these are my choices, along with Havoline and Motorcraft, both spoken so highly of at this forum, which I think only go for a couple bucks or so a quart anyway. I don't know the prices of oil these days since I have not changed oil myself since before I retired 10 years ago but these sale prices seem okay to me.

I have a new Honda truck with the VTEC-V6 engine and it calls for 5w20 (I assume all of the choices above come in that weight?). Schaeffer's oil was suggested to me but I have to buy a two case minimum and did not want to do that right off the bat.

Oh, I need to mention I do not tow or haul anything and most days it will be driven no more than 8 or 10 miles. I very seldom put more than 10,000 miles a year on any truck I've ever owned and usually trade at about 50,000 to 70,000 miles.

I plan on using the OLM to guide my OCIs, at least initially. According to some Honda forum members, their OLM shows oil change due on this truck somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000 miles. That would probably take me about 8 or 9 months to reach.

Until I saw these sales, I was just going to go with Havoline because I heard Honda's like lots of moly. Then again, I also heard Havoline should be change out no later than every 6 months.

I asked a similar question here a while back but did not have specific oils in mind. You all told me that since I will only keep the truck 50 to 70 thousand miles, to just use any name brand oil in my weight I find on sale, OCI by the monitor and forget about it.

So, which of the above oils (including Havoline and Motorcraft) do you all recommend for my needs - this time considering the sale prices and the value the oil represents (although frankly I don't care what the oil costs if it is the best one for my use).

 

[Ramblin Fever]

If you're only going to keep your truck for 50-70K, anything will work, and I would use Havoline dino.

If you're keeping for the long haul, I'd still recommend Havoline/Chevron products, or GC.

 

[ex_MGB]

Any 5W-20 oil is just fine. Personally, I'd go down to 30% on the OLM, then change. this is my strategy on my '05 Ody.

You know, I've got an idea for anyone who plans on keeping a Honda for only 60-70k miles. I'd sit down and chat with the local dealership service manager and tell him I'll sell you my vehicle at trade in price at 70k miles, now what kind of an up-front service agreement are you willing to make?

It might be interesting. I'd love to get a 6 year old around town Honda Ridgeline that wasn't used for towing with 60k miles at trade in price that I did all the service on.

 

[honus402]

Went to Tractor Supply today and picked up another case of 10w30 Chevron Supreme for $1.06/qt. This stuff is getting hard to find in Texas, so I've been hoarding it.

 

[ruking77]

I also use 5w20 in Mobil 1. Why not just change it once a year (10k OCI's for a total of 5-7 times) if you are only going to keep the vehicle 50-70k?

I do a min of 10k intervals with Exxon Superflo ($1. per qt) 5w20/oem Honda fill. I now have 0w20 Mobil 1 for the second oil change. It has been in the crankcase for 6k miles. After the meager warranty period of 3 years/36,000 miles, I have no qualms in doing 15-20k OCI's and I plan to keep this one to 250,000 miles and beyond. Right now the plan is to continue to use it in 50 mile R/T commuting. When my eldest daughter graduates college, it is in the cards to give it to her to use, so she doesn't start off her career with car payments.

Right now she drives a 94 Toyota Landcruiser with 126k miles which has seen a steady 15,000 mile OCI's, or the oil has been changed app 9 times. This car is perfect for her in that she can use it like an office, place to crash, moving vehicle and not many folks tend to do stupid stuff to a 4,800 # vehicle. She does not drive it much so right now it is easy to keep control of gas money.

 

[AmericaWestCMH]

I recently picked up a case of Havoline 5w30 for $12.96 at Advance Auto.

 

[Mr Magoo]

When my eldest daughter graduates college, it is in the cards to give it to her to use, so she doesn't start off her career with car payments.


That's very thoughtful of you Ruking.

 

[Ray H]

Stock up on your favorite brew if you have the room! I have a feeling motor oil retail prices are gonna shoot through the roof in the not distant future.

 

[bruce381]

Ray you are correct this will be the "good old days" next month another 5% increase in base stocks with additives going up again.
bruce

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Motor oil can be cheaper than gas by the gallon.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Motorcraft or Havoline synthetic blend.

 

[pitzel]

quote:

---

Originally posted by GROUCHO MARX:
Motor oil can be cheaper than gas by the gallon.

---

Good point, how hard is it to burn virgin motor oil in diesel engines? Do the additives mess up the injectors or the valves very much?

 

[brianl703]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ray H:
Stock up on your favorite brew if you have the room! I have a feeling motor oil retail prices are gonna shoot through the roof in the not distant future.

---

Costco prices for 12-quart cases of Formula Shell are up from $12.99 to $13.99

 

[Steelhead]

leave the original Honda breakin oil in for at least 3k.
with those light duty short trips, 8 to 10 miles a day, do the Mobil Clean 5000 conventional oil and dump and change oil and filter every 2,000 miles to get rid of all the cold engine corrosive buildups. use 0W20 or 5W20 only, no thick stuff in this engine and operating conditions.
short trip driving without full engine block and oil heat saturation is classified severe service.
Add 5 oz of Valvoline VSOT each oil change to boost moly and anti wear for those expensive OHC's.
use the on sale extended OCI major oil brand conventional's and change often with new Purolator or Wix filter.
use a bottle of Chevron Techron concentrate every 5k to keep those expensive Honda injectors clean, liquid fuel setting on slightly warmed valves after shut off spell carbon deposits.
take her out on the freeway for at least 30 miles once a week and run her hard, 4k on every shift and at least once a week to redline after up to operating temp.
do not break in this expensive beautiful engine with just these short distance 10 mile shutoffs, rings will never seat.

[ September 05, 2005, 06:31 AM: Message edited by: Steelhead ]

 

[The Critic]

Steelhead,
I agree with what you said, to a degree. The 2K OCIs and 5oz VSPOT is a bit of an overkill.

"Rings will never seat with 10mi. shutoffs," dunno about that. Most of the cars in my neighborhood are 4-cyl Camrys, 03-05, and most of 'em see 5-10mi. trips since day 1 and they are running fine on 5K, 5-6mo OCIs using dealer bulk Chevron 5w30 and Toyota Filter and burn ZERO oil.

The OLM will factor in the "severe" service and short trips, so I would NOT be concerned about that. As anal as I am, I usually suggest changing every 6 months or 4-5K, whichever comes first.

Doesn't Havoline already have plenty of Moly?

I think the Moly thing is overemphasized, many oils do very well without Moly (i.e. GC, MC Blend, Esso XD3, most HDEOs) so its really the overall chemistry that matters. Sure, the moly is a plus, but if the oil already performs well the way it is, why mess with it?

Michael

 

[dave1251]

I think the Moly thing is overemphasized, many oils do very well without Moly (i.e. GC, MC Blend, Esso XD3, most HDEOs) so its really the overall chemistry that matters. Sure, the moly is a plus, but if the oil already performs well the way it is, why mess with it?

Michael


I agree with you even the highly reguarded GC does not have moly. It the over all blending is the key.

Marty just go with havoline the price is right and you dont need to worry about rebet forms. If your looking for a deal on oil but it kind of a hassle please send me a private message. Trust me if you like waiting for coupons and etc. You can get a very good oil cheap.