Synthetic Blends vs HDEO, and PYB vs VWB

[JCCADILLACMOBILE]

Synthetic Blend Oil.. Top Contender for me - Valvoline MaxLife, comes in Synthethc Blend AND Full Synthetic Flavors (I like Blend now, its 30% Synthetic) vs. "HDEO" (I dont even know what that is.. "High Detergent" or "heavy Duty" - like 15w40, API CF.. ?

.. Out of the above two.. Which would you prefer as an Oil to choose and stick with Long-Term, if Starting on an Engine with Unknown History with 150,000 miles or More *For all you know, owner NEVER Changed Oil, or Car "Sat for more than a year" (As mine has,) or grade, or ???

I choose MaxLife, as its 1) A High-Mileage Oil (Same as SynPower in Blue botte, but with different Addy pack..) and 2) it comes in Nice, Old Fashioned "10W-40" and 20W-50" (90% of Cars DONT need 20W-50.. I happen to have one that LIKES it, but owners ALSO run 10W-40, as i am, with 20W-50 included in the Blend.. Im sure SoCal or Miami people also LOOVE 20W-50 and/or Mobil 1 15W-50..

But, ok, ok.. Which would YOU like, an "HDEO" or Synthetic Blend, i will choose MaxLife as the Contender? it gets EXCELLENT Reviews...

And, on an Old-Fashioned note.. Pennzoil conventional (The Board'S Favorite Oil? , PU comes in Black) vs Calvoline White Bottle ("ASE Technicians choose Valvoline.. i choose MaxLife.." Lol!?)

Im making this a "General" Question for the Board, too... Not just my car, ill be using 10W-40 OR 20W-50 Synthetic Blend, with or without MMO and SeaFoam, ill have to see, until Winter, then its 5W-50 to keepi it Valvoline, for the XJ6...

#2

 

[addyguy]

That is a bit of a tough one. As you said Maxlife is an excellent oil, with a very robust and all-encompassing add-pack (high moly, calcium and sodium for detergency, and some boron), and some seal-swelling agents to keep engines nice and dry.

In a warmer climate (like Indiana) I can't see a reason why ML 10W-40 wouldn't be the perfect year-round oil.

On the other hand, HDEO's are great oils as well - very shear-resistant, and lots of detergency to keep an engine clean. I especially think that SYNTHETIC HDEO's (5W-40's and 0W-40's) are good oil b/c they add in the ability to be good in cold weather - you get a better viscosity spread.

Also, HDEO's have higher Zn and P amounts, which may be a consideration for some engines.

For your car, I honestly would go with a 5W-40 HDEO like Rotella 'T6' - I don't know if Jag's of that vintage have flat-tappet cams, but I'd still want good protection for your DOHC setup.

Like I said in another thread, if you like Valvoline, try to find some Valvoline 'Premium Blue Extreme' 5W-40. Excellent oil!

 

[casper]

Im in the same style of situation.

just purchased 98 ford explorer 4.0 sohc.

Previous owner did little to no MX on the entire vehicle, while the owner prior to that was quite good with MX. So for roughly 4 years my new-old vehicle has been running basic oil changed with god knows what oil and filter combo.

Changed over to 10w40HM and that helps with some of the timing chain rattle that I have but am unwilling to spend money on to fix. Seems happy with the HM in it and the upgraded P1 filters all around.