What have I become?

[bighead]

For some strange reason, I went to 2 different stores on my lunch break, tryin to check for oil deals...despite the fact I've got about 2 years worth of oil in my garage (unbeknownst to my wife of course

). Ok, so here's what I found:

SuperTarget had Castrol GTX for $1.99. Fair price I guess, but, Formula Shell was only $1.49, however it was API SL. Down the street at Sears Plus, the only "deal" they had was their in house oil (starts with an S and I swear I can't remember the name to save my life), and it was only $6.29 for a 5 qt jug. Not too bad I suppose for API SM/GF-4 oil. Thing I noticed was that on the back it said clear as day "Manufactured by Warren Performance Products", unlike ST which says it's made FOR Wal-mart, so at least you know for a fact who makes it.

Here are my 2 questions (finally lol):

1) Formula Shell- if it's SL is it ok for use in my 2 '04 vehicles (tried to search for this, couldn't find it). Also, with the differnt add packs required for SL vs. SM, which would be better and is getting SL worth $1.49 a qt?

2) Anybody have any clue as to the quality of the Sears house brand oil? I'm assuming it's probably no better or worse than ST, but it just "looks more generic". ST has a flashier label

...

Anyway, just wondering if either of these oils would be worth going back to the store to add to my already moderate stash...

 

[LouDawg]

I'll send my brother from Killeen over to look at it with you...maybe he can help!

 

[427Z06]

The SM rating requires more stringent testing, but that's no guarantee it better, just more likely. (There, that should mess with your brain a bit more.

)

 

[surfstar]

With a two-year oil supply, you should be looking for Free or near Free After Rebate offers. At least that's what I'd focus on.

$1.49/qt isn't a great deal. $.49-.59/qt is.

 

[vronline]

Agreed... You can get Castrol cheaper at WalMart anytime

Havoline and TropArtic are less all the time, so there's no need to rush to buy (at this point anyway).

...if price is your biggest criteria.

 

[bighead]

Well, I'm not rushing out to buy....not just yet anyway. I just keep reading about people getting oil for under a buck, and I wanted to see if I could be so lucky. I HATE trying to deal with rebates, so I'm pretty much gonna avoid those. I'd LOVE to find a $.49 or $.79/qt sale, but we don't have Costco's and whatnot...

 

[bighead]

quote:

---

Originally posted by vronline:
Agreed... You can get Castrol cheaper at WalMart anytime

Havoline and TropArtic are less all the time, so there's no need to rush to buy (at this point anyway).

...if price is your biggest criteria.

---

You must have the best WalMart ever because I was just there and Castrol was still over $2.50/qt...

 

[Jonny Z]

quote:

---

Originally posted by bighead:
SuperTarget had Castrol GTX for $1.99. Fair price I guess, but, Formula Shell was only $1.49, however it was API SL. Down the street at Sears Plus,

---

You are not by any chance shopping around the I35/Parmer Ln area, are you?

 

[bighead]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jonny Z:

quote:

---

Originally posted by bighead:
SuperTarget had Castrol GTX for $1.99. Fair price I guess, but, Formula Shell was only $1.49, however it was API SL. Down the street at Sears Plus,

---

You are not by any chance shopping around the I35/Parmer Ln area, are you?

---

Actually, I was

. I work at Dell over on Howard Ln, and got the oil itch on lunch break

 

[Jonny Z]

I thought I saw someone with a big head there.

 

[BrianWC]

Yeaoch, I haven't seen GTX under $2 since maybe New Year's at Wally World. TropArtic has stayed steady here at $1.48 but SuperTech has now reached $1.38 per quart. It will be hilarious if Supertech surpasses TropArtic.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

TropArtic is off the shelves in the Walmarts I have been in lately. Not clear if Walmart will re-supply, because the shelves are filled with other, more expensive oils. Settled for Havoline for $1.56/qt at Advanced Auto.

 

[bighead]

quote:

---

Originally posted by JayhawkRoy:
TropArtic is off the shelves in the Walmarts I have been in lately. Not clear if Walmart will re-supply, because the shelves are filled with other, more expensive oils. Settled for Havoline for $1.56/qt at Advanced Auto.

---

I just bought a case of Havoline the other day from Advanced myself

. I've got about 800 miles left on my current fill of Superflo before I try the Hav for the first time...

 

[bighead]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jonny Z:
I thought I saw someone with a big head there.

---

lol. It's just a name. I actually have a HUGE head

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

My 05 Accent GT specs SL, SM is made with less or no ZDDP, but more moly owing to thinner base metals on Cats, they don't want them to foul before the 120K warranty the EPA mandates. I can't believe the ZDDP in a motor oil used in a new car is enough to kill the Cat, but they're the smart guys, right? So goes the story, anyway. So, additive-wise, SL is "better". SM, if I read right, in SM trim, 5W20 has better base oil, GPIII? or more of it anyway. Haven't seen SL oils around at all, I just use the SM 5W20 myself, and throw a shot of VSOT in there..I'm a 5W20 convert, it makes no sense not to, these horror stories I don't believe for one minute. Folks just need to re-learn old habits as things evolve for the better. 5W20 is a step in the right direction. Wear's the same, economy is better, why not?

Enuff's enuff. And Big? Our Costco only seems to carry 10W30's and 40. And their prices aren't hat great anyway.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Nothing wrong with window shopping, even if it's motor oil.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Nope, I've never gone to Wally-World without taking that long hard walk through central Chinese Manufacturing to the Automotive section, just to see what's changed. The only consistent change is a bigger move toward turning the filter section into Fram-Land. ST is almost gone at Wally's here in No. Va (no great loss), and the Motorcraft stuff is gone, too. Funny thing is, the electronic filter directory they put in to reference Frams has been broken for at least 6 months. I have no idea how anyone buys a Fram that way. There's no way to look one up.

 

[BrianWC]

Hey! ST filters aren't too shabby! Fram's aren't THAAAAAT bad. Just not worth the silly prices on them. Now with Slick 50, a rubber coating, and a solar panel.

I have no trouble with 0 or 5W20 in the Honda. It could run on grape juice. But the saab's a horse of a different color.

 

[LouDawg]

quote:

---

Originally posted by bighead:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jonny Z:
I thought I saw someone with a big head there.

---

lol. It's just a name. I actually have a HUGE head

---

Hey Bighead, you never let me know if you want my bro from Killeen to help out...he's in Round Rock all the time! (hehehe)

 

[bighead]

LouDawg, just what do you mean by him helping me out?