I've only used Castrol GTX since my vehicle was new. Never any other brand. Would it be beneficial to switch brands to get a different add pack and maybe clean out something left behind from always using the same oil?
Would it be beneficial to periodically switch brands?
- Thread starter speedy341
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I don't really know the answer to your question but here is something I do clearly recall. Many years ago I was using VW Beetles (air cooled) I noticed the owner's manual stated to, "... select YOUR oil and then stick with it". This statement was included along with information on oil for its engine.
More recently I've switched several times in looking for the "right" oil for my application. I think I've settled on GC because of the immediate smoother and quieter idle for one of my '06 Civics I've put it into. I'm taking absolutely no noticealbe power loss. Even though it will take at least several months of careful record keeping to determine for sure, I cannot initially detect any noticeable MPG loss.
With this kind of improvement I doubt I'll be switching oils anytime in the forseeable future. I am very well pleased. The only possible caveat could be any appreciable loss in mpg and I cannot detect any yet. However, I'll be watching for this.
More recently I've switched several times in looking for the "right" oil for my application. I think I've settled on GC because of the immediate smoother and quieter idle for one of my '06 Civics I've put it into. I'm taking absolutely no noticealbe power loss. Even though it will take at least several months of careful record keeping to determine for sure, I cannot initially detect any noticeable MPG loss.
With this kind of improvement I doubt I'll be switching oils anytime in the forseeable future. I am very well pleased. The only possible caveat could be any appreciable loss in mpg and I cannot detect any yet. However, I'll be watching for this.
I think you should stick to a brand of oil that fits your application best based on how the car sounds, feels, drives, etc. and based on UOA's. Once you find an oil that your car likes, you might as well stick with that.
I try different brands all the time. I generally stick with one as my "main" brand, but if something is on sale, or a new product comes out, i'm always willing to try.
Whatever you decide to do, i dont think it will hurt anything as long as the oil you choose meets the specs listed in the owners manual.
My current car has tasted:
Shell
Exxon Superflo
Valvoline
Havoline
Motorcraft
Pennzoil
Castrol Semi-Synthetic
in 5w30 and 10w30
My old car liked valvoline best, but i'm still trying to figure out what this car likes the best
Whatever you decide to do, i dont think it will hurt anything as long as the oil you choose meets the specs listed in the owners manual.
My current car has tasted:
Shell
Exxon Superflo
Valvoline
Havoline
Motorcraft
Pennzoil
Castrol Semi-Synthetic
in 5w30 and 10w30
My old car liked valvoline best, but i'm still trying to figure out what this car likes the best
I switch around. I know I am in the minority, but I figure different brands have different strengths and weaknesses as far as detergency is concerned.
If I stick with one brand, it is conceivable that one particular type of deposit might build up because the oil's add pack was weak on that particular contaminant.
It also allows me to buy oils that are on sale.
If I stick with one brand, it is conceivable that one particular type of deposit might build up because the oil's add pack was weak on that particular contaminant.
It also allows me to buy oils that are on sale.
If I were you.....stock up when you see an awesome deal on oil. There is pretty much no GF4 SM rated oil that is bad.
Just buy what ever is the lowest priced oil, switching brands every oil change won't hurt an engine.
Just buy what ever is the lowest priced oil, switching brands every oil change won't hurt an engine.
Switching is recommended for diesels to get different cleaning packs.
IMO I'd still a few times of whatever you change to. I get good results and use Chevron and its even harder to switch from 49 cent qt oil prices.
You might want to try a moly dino.
IMO I'd still a few times of whatever you change to. I get good results and use Chevron and its even harder to switch from 49 cent qt oil prices.
You might want to try a moly dino.
so if oil "b" add pack removes stuff left behind by oil "a" and then gets a bad uoi (from cleaning the old deposits), does oil "b" get trashed when the uoi is reviewed? (noobie putting my nomex coveralls on here).
It's beneficial to periodically change your oil and oil filter. What brand oil you use is largely irrelelvant as long as it's the current API service spec.
I don't know if that would work or not. I just like the question b/c I have been trying unsucsesfully to commit to one brand for 5 years.
We can see oils do have different add packs. What we can't see is base oil formulations, which can also act/react differently in an engine. So your idea that one oil may clean up after another sure does sound valid.
If you try switching from dino to a full synthetic, good luck b/c sometimes that starts leaks.
We can see oils do have different add packs. What we can't see is base oil formulations, which can also act/react differently in an engine. So your idea that one oil may clean up after another sure does sound valid.
If you try switching from dino to a full synthetic, good luck b/c sometimes that starts leaks.
Going by the "Changing brands is good" theory: The 4.6L engine in my wife's Expedition should be as clean as a whistle on the inside; I use a different brand of oil every oil change. I believe, over the 5 years that we've had the Expy, it has only had two consecutive oil changes where we used the same oil.
"It's beneficial to periodically change your oil and oil filter. What brand oil you use is largely irrelelvant as long as it's the current API service spec."
I think I am in your camp, Ray. I would add only that certain engines (e.g. 1.8T) require synthetic oil and/or a tighter spec. than the current API service.
I think I am in your camp, Ray. I would add only that certain engines (e.g. 1.8T) require synthetic oil and/or a tighter spec. than the current API service.
I dont think the switching brands of oils would benefit, although periodically flush/fill with a FRESH NEW oil and oil filter would greatly benefit. The only thing i can think of switching brands that would benefit the engine is of quality gasolines. I read an article once on that but never took it into consideration if that was credible/scientific or not.
If you think about it, oil companies are always improving their formulaion and API standards change periodically, so you are techincally switching oil even if you use the same brand for years. That said, I doubt it matters. Just use a good dino every 3-5K and forget about it.
good point Mike.
I'm in the process of converting all my vehicles to a single brand of oil. Since I've joined BITOG, and after numerous UOA on my vehicles, I've learned that there is no "holy grail" and have quit looking. Besides I like the convenience of a single inventory of oil instead of keeping track of many different varieties when I need to finish a job or top off a vehilce, but that's just me.
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