My father was never one to be brand loyal to one brand - still isn't. While I do see a lot of people mentioning either that their fathers were brand loyal to one, or chose whatever was the cheapest, I think my dad didn't (and doesn't) fit into either category. He's a bit like me in that he sometimes will have a flavor of the year thing, or when he's not in the caring mood will just buy whatever fits his needs. By that I mean, sometimes he will go out of his way to buy something specific, but other times if he's at a store getting something else and remembers, "oh I need such and such, I'll just grab this." Basically, he's used a little bit of everything over the years, except niche stuff like Redline and Amsoil.
What I explained is basically what he told me: I don't remember, but I've used most of the brand names at least once, and sometimes generic if I was low on cash. So, Havoline, Valvoline, Pennzoil, Castrol, Quaker State, Peak, and Supertech... etc.
One thing he has been consistent on, though, is going by the books. Many of us BITOGers don't always use the exact grade of oil that their car/truck manual specified. He pretty much always has done so. If it says 10w-30, he uses it. If it says 5w-20, he uses it. He's never questioned "is that too thick?" or "is that too thin?" He trusts the manufacturer to know what their vehicle's engine needs, and follows their instructions.
However, ever since I delved into the oil scene here on BITOG and learned about stuff, I've taught him about the differences in grades/weights, and also about aftermarket products (like oil filters). He probably never would have come to use High Mileage oils had I not told him it would benefit him since his vehicle have been pretty high in mileage and probably burn more than he may have realized.
Click to reveal..
