Shoud I go synthetic???

[kd3yt]

2001 Chevy Blazer 4.3 L V6 53K miles.
Comtemplating going to synthetic oil. Here is my driving habits. I drive half mile to and from work every day (Drive because of health). Every other weekend I do two 70 mile roundtrips. Other driving is here in city, stop and go. I live in the south central mountains of Pennsylvania. It might make it down to 0 deg once and awhile during the coldest part of winter.
Any suggestions from a most informative forum. If I go synthetic, would use Mobil 1 due to availability.Suggestions on which grade??

 

[Jelly]

Mobil 1 0w-40
Regular Blue AcDelco Filter

 

[oilpan49]

I think synthetic would be beneficiary to you. Up here in OH land 0* is not too uncommon but it is something we talk about so to speak. Those 1/2 mile trips to work are killer on your oil due to the vehicle not being driven enough to fully heat up the oil and your engine.

However with those 70 mile round trips, that gives more than ample time to burn off any excess moisture that may have build up in your engine during your daily short trips. Mobil 1 5w30 or what Jelly suggested using the Mobil 1 0w40 should work nicely for you. Or even GC 0w30 should work great too,,,,,AR

 

[427Z06]

Kinda' depends on what OCI you prefer. If you are going to change your oil & filter every 3K-5K miles you might consider one of the new GF-4 oils like Motorcraft, Mobil Drive Clean, etc, 5w30 which you can find at Walmart. If you want to extend your OCI to 6K-10K miles, then the Mobil 1 starts to look more cost effective.

 

[Jelly]

quote:

---

Originally posted by 427Z06:
Kinda' depends on what OCI you prefer.

---

You're right.

 

[kd3yt]

The extended OCI would be a great help!

 

[doitmyself]

So, what's the answer guys. In past posts regarding this topic, many said that short trip driving was death to motor oil (fuel dilution, etc.) and "short" OCIs with conventional oil was best.

Will synthetic handle the short trip problems better AND allow longer OCIs?

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

---

Originally posted by doitmyself:
Will synthetic handle the short trip problems better AND allow longer OCIs?

---

Sorry, I don't have a definitive answer, but my understanding is the synthetic better handles acid and other fallout from short trips. I am trying it in my wife's Aerostar which goes about 5000 miles in a year with a lot of 4 to 8 mile grocery runs in the mix. Hoping for a one year OCI. But I am only 300 miles into the OCI so it will be a while ...

 

[pitzel]

If not synthetic, then definitely a diesel-engine-rated oil. They are much better suited to handling the acids and soot that is created when engines are run at low temperatures.

Otherwise, Mobil 1 5W30 in the winter, 10W30 in the summer if you change oil twice a year. A 0W30 HDEO like Esso XD-3 0W30 probably would be fairly ideal (but not available in the USA).

 

[Gary Allan]

To another Pennsylvanian!! Your climate probably is similar to my friend's in Scottdale or my daughter's in Lock Haven.

Reread his driving habits. He's got a fairly mixed bag there. I would think a 6 month OCI with a synthetic would work. If he goes M1 ..he can swap between 0w30 and 0w-40 (or whatever for the summer) and have it work well.

I would have suggested a 5w-40 year round just for the add pack ..but that 1/2 mile trip scene points clearly to a lighter weight ..at least in the cooler OCI.

Keep in mind guys, kd3yt wants KISS and as few service intervals per year as possible. I think 6 months fills that requirement ...which a proper synthetic should be able to handle without too much trouble.

I looked a little through the used oil analysis section and it appears that a 0w30 or a 5w30 is the oil of choice for this engine. No one oil showed too much distinction over another though.


Don't anyone suggest GC.

He'll never find it.

I can't even find it if I had too and the guys at AA and Walmart know me by name (yes, the oil guy at Walmart knows me as does the local account rep for the regional Pennzoil distributor)

 

[mikemc]

If you want to extend your intervals, syn may be for you. Your very, very short trips tell me that Mobil 1 5w30 is your best bet. The 0w30 would also work, but may not be available in the economical 5 qt. jugs. I am a through and through dino man, but the $20 jugs of Mobil 1 at walmart are a good value for anyone who wants a good G-IV syn.