Which oil would you never use?

[cjhepburn]

The top ten synthetic oil thread got me thinking.
More importantly than which oil is the best. What oil would you never use?
For me it's Castrol GTX because my car died using that oil with 3-4k mile OCIs. The car was a piece of junk and it probably lived as long as it was designed to but the rings cracked and the oil was guilty by association.

 

[Colt45ws]

Accel oil at WalMart..or any other ancient Pre-SL oil.

 

[Pablo]

When I was in China they seemed to have these "oil stores" as I called them. Retail outlets with nothing but lubes. Some very interesting motor oils.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Wouldnt accell SA oil be good as a top oil introduced into the fuel system given it is /supposed/ to have no detergent ADDS? Would not this oil be a group II as a minimum? Other than that i can think of no use for it - I get my chain and bar oil from early dumps or unused bits and bots laying about.

 

[Colt45ws]

I dont know, maybe. It might clog up the system more than it helps though. I believe it is probably a Group I. Same with their Pre-1988 10W40 "SF" junk. I know of a oil change place around here that buys that [censored] by the pallet from WM to do their oil changes with.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

The worst recent run (a couple years ago) was a bottle of oil with Danica Patrick on the label: Peak. "When you 'peak' you win" she says; a game I have played before. She was prob as dissapointed as I was ...

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
I dont know, maybe. It might clog up the system more than it helps though. I believe it is probably a Group I. Same with their Pre-1988 10W40 "SF" junk. I know of a oil change place around here that buys that [censored] by the pallet from WM to do their oil changes with.
All speculation - though I would tend to agree. I would think it would not be group I as there is prob not much bulk automotive made that way and available in the ststeside. Could be So.Am import though, suppose. Any way it not cheaper than Esso or fauxsyns with coupons; just saying that its special w/o any additisation and mught be good for topoff or top oil.

 

[bepperb]

There's a VOA for dino supertech. I try not to read too much into oil analysis, but 400 ppm of zinc/phosphorus put's it on my list.

 

[StevieC]

Nothing without the proper specifications as required by the application.

Also never would I use Castrol. I don't like their crazy marketing and they are far too expensive for the product you get. I really don't know how they are still in business.

 

[artbuc]

Holy Smokes! I've been using Castrol GTX for over 30 years thinking it was one of the best dino oils out there. I am now officially in the market for a new oil.

 

[StevieC]

It's a good oil but for the money you can get much better choice out there like Pennzoil Yellow Bottle.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: artbuc
Holy Smokes! I've been using Castrol GTX for over 30 years thinking it was one of the best dino oils out there. I am now officially in the market for a new oil.


Let's see;

Over THIRTY years of service with a product that has not given you any problems vs TWO internet posts?

Facts are hard to find.

If that makes you need to look for a new oil, you'll NEVER find one that is acceptable.

GTX is a good oil and performs just fine. If you like it keep using it.

30+ years would answer if you like it in my book.

Good luck!
Bill

PS: If your post was sarcastic I did not get it... Hopefully it is.

 

[Mustang2008Z]

Any SA/SB oil. That classification was for cars built before the 1930's or thereabouts. There is a report done by SAE/API or some other organization that compared SA/SB to SL oil, and the SA/SB oil was a gunky mess/sludge making oil. A few manufacturers still make it, but export it out of the U.S.

A few manufacturers were caught by California State authorities with SA/SB oil on the shelves of some retailers that did not have warning labeling or clear labeling that SA/SB oil will damage modern engines.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: artbuc
Holy Smokes! I've been using Castrol GTX for over 30 years thinking it was one of the best dino oils out there. I am now officially in the market for a new oil.




Over THIRTY years of service with a product that has not given you any problems vs TWO internet posts?

PS: If your post was sarcastic I did not get it... Hopefully it is.


It has to be sarcasm. I guess the new BITOG is not going to change, newbies just need to learn how to interpret the writings here. It's like the guy who posted the "top 10 Syns" - he hadn't actually used any of the oils, but by God he has a list of the top ones........based on what he sort of cursorily read on BITOG. Scary [censored].

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: cjhepburn
The top ten synthetic oil thread got me thinking.
More importantly than which oil is the best. What oil would you never use?


Anything with a non-recognizable name on the shelves at a hardware store or quickie-mart.

I would have to really gird up my loins to ever buy Castrol Syntec (the first to ruin the distinction between sythetic and conventional) or Edge (because of the p*ssant advertising). I have used GTX as a breakin and first-OCI oil on engines with very good success though.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: artbuc
Holy Smokes! I've been using Castrol GTX for over 30 years thinking it was one of the best dino oils out there. I am now officially in the market for a new oil.




Over THIRTY years of service with a product that has not given you any problems vs TWO internet posts?

PS: If your post was sarcastic I did not get it... Hopefully it is.


It has to be sarcasm. I guess the new BITOG is not going to change, newbies just need to learn how to interpret the writings here. It's like the guy who posted the "top 10 Syns" - he hadn't actually used any of the oils, but by God he has a list of the top ones........based on what he sort of cursorily read on BITOG. Scary [censored].


Agree Pabs... the "factual"

info that is being spread here lately has been amazing.

Everyone knows that brand xx and yy is much better than brand zz.

Esp in a 3000 mile OCI in a modern vehicle.

 

[artbuc]

No. I wasn't being sarcastic! I used the infamous orange Fram filter for 25+ years based on a test report (can't remember the source) which said Fram were the best. Then I discovered on this forum a couple years ago that orange Frams are now considered one of the worst. I now use only NAPA Gold. I was concerned that Castrol had taken a similar nosedive and I just didn't know it. After I made that post I read some of the UOA results which showed Castrol GTX to be performing very well. I'll keep reading.

PS I have two vehicles - 1999 Lexus RX300 (99k) and 1999 Toyota Avalon(95k). Both have the same V6 engine. I change oil & filter evry 3k or 4 months. This is the interval I have always used. I know I could extend but these engines are subject to sludge anf I want to be good to them.

 

[StevieC]

Nothing wrong with Fram Filters or Castrol oil and it will serve you well at your low OCI's but there is better oil and filters for the money you are/were, IMO, wasting on Castrol and Fram.

Like Pennzoil Yellow Bottle and Napa Gold etc.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: artbuc
No. I wasn't being sarcastic! I used the infamous orange Fram filter for 25+ years based on a test report (can't remember the source) which said Fram were the best. Then I discovered on this forum a couple years ago that orange Frams are now considered one of the worst.


Again.

TWENTY FIVE YEARS PLUS of FACTUAL use with NO problems and then you are going to take the words of OBVIOUS NON-FACTUAL internet posters to change the FACTS?

I've used Frams more that miles than most people DRIVE in their lifetime with no problems. Cut open each and every one for over THIRTY years and they performed fine in over 100 degree temps and well below zero.

I don't use them now because of cost and I can get good filters for less money. But calling a Fram filter what is has been called here is just a joke.

Facts are hard to come by. Less and less of them are showing up here at BITOG.

Take care, bill

 

[BigJohn]

I am not 'into' drinking the coolaid of marketing, but I also believe you get what you pay for. So as long as I have a choice, I won't use the generic oils or the discount oils.

But, can anyone here ever really say NEVER? What if you are a quart low....out in BFE.....and the trashy truck stop only has some [censored] in a bottle you have never heard of and its been on the shelf for 5 years. Do you run your vehicle or bike with a low level, or do you pour in the [censored]? Me, I am pouring the [censored].