'nuther engine oil thread

**MusicMan** · 09-22-2009 12:53 AM

So I'm trying to make up my mind on what oil I'm going to use in the camaro from from the next change and into the future. It's a lightly built L36, click sig link for info if you're curious. My favorite oil is Mobil 1, I've read a lot of good things and bad things about it, but what makes me like it is that we ran it in our Bonneville from the day we bought the car brand new, and I did a little looking around when we replaced the UIM. The engine was clean as a whistle inside, 200,000 miles of mobil 1 and fram filter. But the Mobil 1 is expensive enough to make me second guess it, and I don't like running oil very long simply because I like to keep a good eye on things.

What I'm trying to decide on is low dollar synthetic with shorter change intervals, or premium grade oil with longer change intervals. I've been talking to a few engine builders, and they seem to have similar opinions. Buy inexpensive oil and a good filter, change the oil often. They aren't fans of "long lasting" synthetic oils, got crap loads of reasons why. I usually buy carquest's top line oil filters, and get my jug of oil at wally world, trying out wix filters for now but will go back to carquest stuff soon (gotta drive to portland to buy wix filters, carquest is local). I noticed the other day that walmart sells their own line of synthetic oil, really rather affordable. Walmart doesn't make oil, it's just another brand in a different bottle, it's sold under the name super tech. I've been working google a bit, and it seems to be a fairly popular oil, haven't read anything bad really about it.

My idea is this. Buy good filters, and wallyworld 10w30 synthetic, change it every 3500-4000 miles simply because it's cheap enough to do, and I can comfortably keep an eye on things. The other route is use a good synthetic like Mobile 1, but since it's so spendy I would have to stretch the change intervals past my personal comfort zone (I'm a wimp I know). One thing that everyone I've talked to agrees on is consistency, once you pick an oil, stick with it. I've got a brand new engine, time to make up my mind.

I don't want this turning into a dino oil vs synthetic thread. This is more of a cheap sythetic changed often vs expensive changed less often kind of deal.

**Google Adsense** · 09-22-2009 12:53 AM

**yankee-eight** · 09-22-2009 01:06 AM

I use Castrol or Valveoline conventional and a K&N oil filter, I change mine at 3,000 miles.

You should not run synthetic in a new motor with less then 5,000 miles on it, the oil is too slippery and doesn't allow for a proper break-in.

If your going to run synthetic, break it in with conventional then after 5,000 miles switch to your synthetic brand of choice.

I think the Walmart oil is Mobile one. But im only 70% sure on that.

**99Camaroman** · 09-22-2009 03:57 AM

Royal purple for the win.

**White94Bird** · 09-22-2009 07:21 AM

Meh, y'all and the expensive stuff, modil one is good stuff if you wanna run, I mean NASCAR uses it. But we run nothing but Castrol GTX and I just switched to a wix instead of fram..

**OneSlowL36** · 09-22-2009 07:21 AM

The oil you should use is: whichever your using - and STICK to the SAME kind.

Whatever you do. Do NOT choose a high quality and extend the intervals, thats the dumbest thing. You still need to drain all the debris and particles out of the engine regularly. If cost is a concern go with like a Castrol or Valvoline non-syn and a quality filter like A/C delco or Wixx. I use the A/C Delco PF52 (i believe) for a 4.3 4WD truck for more surface area. It clears my 30mm swaybar but if you had a Strano 35mm I would maybe reconsider.

Originally Posted by yankee-eight

You should not run synthetic in a new motor with less then 5,000 miles on it, the oil is too slippery and doesn't allow for a proper break-in.

If your going to run synthetic, break it in with conventional then after 5,000 miles switch to your synthetic brand of choice

Thats not true anymore. Maybe 50 years ago, but you can break an engine in on anything that meets or exceeds what the OEM standard was for it.

Think about it.... what do BRAND NEW Corvettes have from the factory with zero miles?

**FloydSummerOf68** · 09-22-2009 07:29 AM

I use mobil 1 in the C6 and any leading synthetic in the formula.

**OneSlowL36** · 09-22-2009 07:30 AM

wow took me forever to add to that post! lol

**MusicMan** · 09-22-2009 07:37 AM

My filter choices are limited, I don't like driving to portland just for a filter, so carquest's top grade filters are my best bet.

**OneSlowL36** · 09-22-2009 07:49 AM

That'll be fine

**FloydSummerOf68** · 09-22-2009 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by OneSlowL36

Thats not true anymore. Maybe 50 years ago, but you can break an engine in on anything that meets or exceeds what the OEM standard was for it.

Think about it.... what do BRAND NEW Corvettes have from the factory with zero miles?

Same thing with my dads 997 Turbo...they told us to break it in HARD to seat the rings properly and it came with full syn.

**FreakV6** · 09-22-2009 08:59 AM

I dont see a problem with sticking with a cheaper priced one and sticking to the oil change intervals. I dont know if you get on ls1.com a lot, but there is a guy (sarge) on there that pretty much devotes his life to oil. He swears up and down that RP is crap (has a lot of tests and such to back it up). He says Mobile 1 is an ok oil, but swears up and down by Amsoil. I've heard this from a lot of people, so if you were looking for the best option i might look into that.

**13secv6** · 09-22-2009 09:18 AM

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

**rhino2104** · 09-22-2009 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by MusicMan

My filter choices are limited, I don't like driving to portland just for a filter, so carquest's top grade filters are my best bet.

You do know you can order filters online right? Autozone.com or rockauto I think has them as well. Keeps you from having to drive to Portland. Also, you do know that you can buy more than one filter at a time right? Just makin' sure is all.