synthetic abuse.

[QMartinez]

I have a 2001 pt cruiser has slowly been getting driven less and less each year. It gets driven everyday but much shorter trips. 90% of them are under 3 miles and most of those are under 1 mile. I have been using GC since purchasing it a few years ago and have been changing it yearly. This equates to 5-9000 miles. I changed the oil last september and have put 1800 miles of winter weather down to 0 farenheit, lots of idling, and short trips. The pt is usually started in the morning and driven a couple blocks and back. Then it sits for a few hours and is started again and driven a few blocks and back. There is a once a week trip to the grocery store which is 3/4 mile. Every other weekend it gets driven for longer periods up to 100 miles.

My question is should I change out the oil twice a year (fall and spring) instead of yearly with this kind of abuse. I usually buy my oil for 4-5 bucks a quart, but I am wondering if maybe I should consider dino oil and change it every six months. Or stick with the synthetic but change it out every six months. I used to buy the synthetic for the benefit of longer OCI's, but this is no longer the case.

Thanks.

 

[dgee]

I'm pretty sure the oil isn't getting to operating temperature which won't burn off the water that develops. I'd use a dino and change it out every 6 months. JMO

 

[QMartinez]

This is exactly what I have been thinking. I don't think I am getting much benefit out of the synthetic, but I don't want to leave it in a full year with this kind of abuse. Especially when I can get dino for less than half the cost.

 

[Steve S]

You could do a uaed oil analysis at oil change time to see if the oil is holding up.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: QMartinez
This is exactly what I have been thinking. I don't think I am getting much benefit out of the synthetic, but I don't want to leave it in a full year with this kind of abuse. Especially when I can get dino for less than half the cost.


I would use Motorcraft 5w20 or 5w30 [whatever your PT calls for] and change out every 6 months...Motorcraft is cheap enough to change out every 6 months.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: QMartinez
This is exactly what I have been thinking. I don't think I am getting much benefit out of the synthetic, but I don't want to leave it in a full year with this kind of abuse. Especially when I can get dino for less than half the cost.


I would use Motorcraft 5w20 or 5w30 [whatever your PT calls for] and change out every 6 months...Motorcraft is cheap enough to change out every 6 months.



+1

 

[hardcore302]

yeah man. total cost for my oil change (6 qts) is 15 bucks with mc. Filter is 3 bucks,

 

[mechtech2]

I not only approve of dino is similar situations, but I actually USE it, instead of synthetic.

 

[CATERHAM]

You're engine is operating most of the time below normal operating temperature.
A cheap 5W-20 dino changed often is one option to take.
If cost is less of a concern I'd go with a 0W-20 in the winter or a light 5W-20 syn like Castrol Edge (actually it's the only light 5W-20 syn).
Either way I would discontinue using GC.

 

[Herz]

Use a dino and change it out often, its cheap so you can get all those contaminants out of the sump. Those super short trips are probably doing a number on your oil filter and your oil.

 

[AuthorEditor]

Motorcraft 5W-30 would be great if you could get it somewhere. Anybody seen MC 5W-30 in 5 qt. jugs anywhere? It may be available in quarts at WM, but no 5-gallon jugs. Quarts are $2.70 each, so that's $13.50 for 5. At least around here, a better buy might be Mobil 5000 or PYB.