so Ken, there is no one solution for all cars except maybe whatever oil you choose, change it often? 3000-4000 miles? or maybe 2-3 months if you don't drive much? maybe longer if you use synthetic?
Hank

Ken --

What b rand & weight oil do you use?

Short version.
Exxon Superflow 10w30.
The weight depends on the type and wear on the engine.
Synth can go longer between changes, unless contaminated by stop and go driving. Recommendations are from 3 to 6000 miles and 3 to 6 months regardless of low mileage. Very low miles could go once a year if driven for a while when they do run, to purge contaminates. Other wise, every 6 months.

Long version.
Keep in mind all of my engines a bit old and tired. But I don't think that will make much difference in my choice. They all are driven about 12 to 15,000 a year, except the Vette. If I modify the Vette later, but not rebuild it unless I have to (a bit more agressive cam). If I rebuild it I will probably use Mobil 1 after about a 5000 mile break in.

Right now I will use the same thing in my Vette as in my 89 Celebrity 2.5 L (my driver, more highway) and 92 Caravan 3.0 (wife's driver, more around town stop and go), and my last several cars. My Nissan Sentra was worn out and I patched it together at 138,000 when it was given to me as scrap. I didn't plan on keeping it. It went to 256,000 and 17 years (4 years with me) with an already worn out engine. All of these cars get a combination of highway and stop and go. Over the years I have seen inside many engines and I like the results. Exxon Superflow 10W30.
I am also very fond of Castrol, but the Superflow does as well, and cost less.

I also use Justice Brothers Engine Oil Treatment. It actually treats the metal. Once about every 30,000 miles will do it. I don't say it lightly, this stuff works. You can use it with any oil. Big factor for the Nissan.

There are some oils I WILL NOT use. And with good reason. I have seen those results also. I have delt with many oils over many years. My cars, family cars, customer cars, etc. If you want to know what those are you will have to send an E-mail. I don't want someone for those companies breathing fire. (There test show bleh, bleh, bleh) I know what I have seen, real world.

I'm going to drive the Celebrity until it does not make sense to keep it going, as I did with the Nissan. I hope to buy a nearly or new MiniVan in another two years. Budget allowing, Good lord willing and the creek don't rise. Due to the fact that it will be mostly driven around town, I will use the Exxon Superflow. It will get dirty due to stop and go, and need changed often to get the crud out. With the more frequent changes, I will lose some of the advantage of Mobil 1. Many new engines have narrower bearings and tighter clearances for more economical operation, and some are very high output ratings. Both of these conditions really stress the ability of an oil film to maintain lubrication. For those I would use Mobil 1 or other synth. Why Mobil 1? It easier to find than other synth oil, and it's a good one.

|UPDATED|5/18/2004 9:49:38 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Joe,

I've been using Castrol 20-50 and have not had any problems.

As I said. I like Castrol. For my cars the 20-50 is a bit much for cold weather operation. For warm weather driving and strong engines 20w-50 can be excellent. Some smaller new engines have smaller clearances and a 50 can actually cut lubrication. It can be too thick to get into tight clearances. Not to worry with our C3, the clearances are all large enough to handle it well. I would say that's a good choice.

I run castrol 20/50 during break in

then either castol or mobil synth thereafter..

i live in arkansas where the summer temps hover from 95-105... and it spends the winter in a heated garage..

it really depends on the climate for your wieght.

i did see a comsumer reports article on castrol... they replicated the test from the commercials.. they said it was true..

Tom -- I spoke to Dave (with the other '71 LS-5 from the Hershey parade -- he's also running 20W50. As he said . . . cold winter days are "not an issue." The vette rarely ever sees the temp below freezing.

Joe,
My vette (since I own it) has never been in temps below freezing! It had enough of that when it was sitting in the corncrib!

|UPDATED|5/19/2004 5:24:04 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Boy, if Ken Styeris is not a good enough reason to belong to this forum, what the hell is??? What a resource!

My experience with a 67 rag top I drove every day ( Hiway miles)and put aboput 160K miles on ther small block over 9 years, was to change oil and filter every 3 months, I used quaker state 10w-30.

I ran a 160 degree thermostat, and when I pulled the pan every other year, I found a suprising amount of sludge etc. Once I put the 180 degree tghermostat in, the amount of sludge dropped dramtically. I attributed this to the cooking off of the water and combustion by products due to the higher temps. So I stick to stock temp rated thermostats now.

My experience with Mobil 1 has been in my daily drivers, and my street bike, it has been my choice for the last 8 years. Supposedly, the reason it might make an older engine leak, as Ken has pointed out, is its more aggressive detergent package cleans the crap away / out of the seals, and they pass some oil.

Long story short, I am using Mobil 15w-50 1 in my daily driver, and will be using it in my C3 BB once its fully operational (real soon, I hope).

NJ BB Ken