Would like your help with choice of oil.

[doitmyself]

The OP asked if an oil analysis would be worth it.

Your engine won't tank with any of the choices listed. If you choose one of the "lesser" oils (dino/syn. blend), an oil analysis with TBN will either give you peace of mind or it will give you information to cause you to consider another product.

Dilemma solved. Plus, its kind of fun to do an oil analysis annually or semi-annually to keep track of goings-on.

 

[mechtech2]

With 'no towing or heavy loads' in it's future, it makes me wonder why you bought this particular vehicle.

Dodge's recommendation of 6,000 mile on dino oil is too long, IMO.
Sure, it can be done.
I'd knock it down to 4-5,000 - this would ensure success, not flirt with it.

 

[Marchboom]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
With 'no towing or heavy loads' in it's future, it makes me wonder why you bought this particular vehicle.

Dodge's recommendation of 6,000 mile on dino oil is too long, IMO.
Sure, it can be done.
I'd knock it down to 4-5,000 - this would ensure success, not flirt with it.


You won't believe this but the wife kept telling me to buy a truck. Our Camry would have trouble sometimes getting up the driveway when we would get heavy snow (like the last 2 record setting years. So I get the truck last Aug and we have only received 6-8 inches of snow this year). So a 4WD was the answer. And although I won't be hauling heavy loads, I do need a veh to haul large items like plywood.

 

[silverrat]

Originally Posted By: Marchboom
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
With 'no towing or heavy loads' in it's future, it makes me wonder why you bought this particular vehicle.

Dodge's recommendation of 6,000 mile on dino oil is too long, IMO.
Sure, it can be done.
I'd knock it down to 4-5,000 - this would ensure success, not flirt with it.


You won't believe this but the wife kept telling me to buy a truck. Our Camry would have trouble sometimes getting up the driveway when we would get heavy snow (like the last 2 record setting years. So I get the truck last Aug and we have only received 6-8 inches of snow this year). So a 4WD was the answer. And although I won't be hauling heavy loads, I do need a veh to haul large items like plywood.


Top quality snow tires would be the answer.

 

[Marchboom]

You won't believe this but the wife kept telling me to buy a truck. Our Camry would have trouble sometimes getting up the driveway when we would get heavy snow (like the last 2 record setting years. So I get the truck last Aug and we have only received 6-8 inches of snow this year). So a 4WD was the answer. And although I won't be hauling heavy loads, I do need a veh to haul large items like plywood. [/quote]

Top quality snow tires would be the answer. [/quote]

We had snow/ice tires but sometimes they just were not enough. Believe me, I tried to make it work. We just couldn't depend on the car getting up the driveway and not going sideways. And that was the only place where the snow tires didn't work. Plus, we live in the "snow belt".

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Marchboom
With a new motor where the oil and filter (and the air filter) will be changed at regular intervals, is there any chance of sludge buildup with dino oil vs. synthetic or semi-syn?


With your driving regiments, any dino oil would be good for 6k/6mo OCI's and 10k/12mo with syn oil. I would visit the sub-forum "Rebate, Sale and Promotions" once in a while to see if any oil + filter are on sale to stock up.

All of my oils and filters (oil and air) were bought on sale plus rebate, my cost for conventional oils such as Chevron, Havoline were only $0.49/qt or less (some were free after rebate) and synthetic such as Pennzoil Platinum, Valvoline Synpower ... were $1/qt or less.

 

[CATERHAM]

A 5W-20 dino should prove just fine.
If you want to go with a synthetic, to get the maximum benefit go with a 0W-20 grade.