Motor oil and filters for our cars - I have finally come to my senses and become practical in my old age

[Ματθιας]

When I was responsible for fleet maintenance, I was told to follow the GE capital severe service interval - oil changes every 3,000 miles. The loaded trucks were doing city driving, highway driving in all conditions, dusty environments with different driving styles and at high altitude. NM summers are hot, too! Some ran 18 hours a day and horse beaten. At 3,000 miles, the oil was still clean.

Amsoil was used, but the filters were AC Delco. Just shy of 200,000 miles, they were wholesaled. Never had an engine failure.

I change my oil at 4000 miles and I use high milage synthetic dino blend on my 70s F150. Ford does my Crown Vic so whatever they use.

To me, it's not rocket science, I follow the severe service interval in the manual.

 

[ACORN]

Just for the record Wix was bought by Mann-Hummel. Wix packages NAPA Gold filters.
Check where your NAPA and Wix filters are made. USA, Germany, China, or who knows where?

 

[M1A4ME]

My old 86 IROC Z28 has the TPI 5.0 V8 and 700r4 automatic.

Oil (was Valvoline till I got that diesel and changed to Castrol and the last few years I used Castrol in it, too. Bought the Delco filters for it. Oil/filter change every 3,000 miles. Ran it pretty hard quite often. It's sitting in my garage with just over 186,000 miles on it. Still fun to drive.

My 435iX gets the Castrol oil BMW recommends and Mahle oil filters. Change it every 6,000 miles. I run it pretty hard fairly often. Only a little over 112,000 miles on it.

My Genesis Coupe (3.8 Trak with the 6 spd. manual) gets Mobil 1 and Hyundai oil filters. Changed every 6,000 miles. It is still fun to put the pedal down on.

Would the oil/filters run longer? I'm sure they would. But these are my cars and I take care of them. People think I clean my guns more than needed, too. But they are my guns.

Your property. Used what you will and take care of how you will. It's yours. You enjoy them while they run good. You have to pay for it if they break.

I actually grinned when I type the section on the Genesis Coupe. Still puts a smile on my face after 14 years. Don't get me wrong. The BMW is a good running car, too. Just different with the twin turbos and the automatic transmission.

If they weren't fun, why would have them?

Oh, I use Mobil one on my guns, too. No filters though. And it gets changed a lot more often.

 

[madmikeb]

I spent 34 years as the parts manager at a Toyota dealer. I use oem parts for pretty much everything on my cars and bikes including oil filters. There are a few things that I will use aftermarket parts for but not many, experience has shown me that you can't beat oem for fit and quality.
As far as oil goes I use Pennzoil Platinum synthetic. I'm not as fussy about oil, but I won't use bulk oil at dealers because there are to many chances for contamination.

 

[The Big D]

This forum is just like all of the forums (there are not many) I frequent. Chock full of folks who "know" much more than the manufacturers who built AND WARRANTY their rides.

I have two high performance vehicles. Oil change for one is at 10k; the other at 20K. The manufacturers are waaaaay smarter than I am.

BTW, I performed scores of oil changes for my vehicles when I was young. Way past the days when I did.

 

[bobsguns]

I went back to changing my own oil and filters three years ago precisely b/c I wanted to use Penzoil ultra Platinum w/o paying an arm and a leg. Have used K&N filters, but will definitely take a look at Mobil 1 on your recommendation.

Speaking of recommendations, I'd think twice about putting 0W-anything in my engines. Even though it's a manufacturer's recommendation on many cars, that seems to have had more to do with improved gas mileage and less to do with the life of the engine. 5-20 is as low as I'll go.

I think it's more to do with much, much closer tolerances in engines. Overhead cams, higher comperession, etc all need thinner oil to get in there & do its job, IMO.

 

[bobsguns]

Another option to Amsoil is Royal Purple. I use it in my zero turn as I don't want to buy a new $4K mower!

In my Nissan truck, I use regular Mobil 1 with a Mobil 1 oil filter.

An auto parts store I used to go to once sawed a Fram filter off at the mounting plate & shell. One could lift the shell & see the media. It was a freaking joke, IMO. I wouldn't use Fram filters on my bicycle.

 

[eb07]

I have 361k on my 1992 Dodge Dakota v6 and I change the oil every 3k with whatever 10w30 dyno oil is on sale in 5 gallon jugs and a cheap fram filter and is still ticking.

I don't buy into the snake oil.

 

[Golddollar]

I had a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis that I bought from the local Lincoln-Mercury dealer, my very first brand new car. Being that girth and disposal issues made changing my own oil an impossibility and I took it back to the dealer for oil and filter changes, grudgingly waiting for 5000 mile intervals instead of the 3000 mile intervals I had observed for decades. I don't know what the dealer used (probably Motorcraft since it was in the Ford family), but I put 238,000 miles on that car and a Baltimore dealer came up and bought it at the Gettysburg Auto Auction, so whatever my dealer used must have worked.

 

[scattershot]

I went to the Amsoil website and ordered a kit to change the oil in my 2019 F150. I took it to a local shop and they charged me less than $40 to change and dispose the old stuff. I immediately noticed that the engine sounded quieter on startup. I was paying a little over $100 at the Ford Dealer to get my oil changed and not spending too much more with Amsoil. Even if I spend an extra $50 a couple times a year it is worth it. I got oil and a filter for my BMW K1600 and will try that myself. I am a cautious believer. Crazy thing, I have to get 5 quarts of oil for my K1600. My F150 uses only 1 quart more.

I used to go,to,the dealer (Ford and Toyota), but lately you have to make an appointment and waste two hours. I just won't do that.

 

[hyena]

Mobil One and AC Delco filter for my Silverado every 5K miles. Mobil One and Motorcraft filter annually for my Mustang, which doesn't get driven much. I have always used OEM filters on my cars, trucks, motorcycles, and Deere mowers.

 

[Oldengineer]

To me it's simple. The goal is to avoid engine localized welding (wear) that leads to poor performance and possible failure. Good Lubrication etiquette is very cheap insurance. Go with the good stuff that doesn't easily oxidize. Reading an oil analysis report for a trained observer would be "interesting".

 

[glenwolde]

I use Mobil One synthetic and buy an OEM filter from the dealer. I figure they designed it, they ought to know.

At least I don't have to change the oil on an F350 any more. Talk about expensive. 15 quarts. Filter was like $30 at the dealer. I bought one cheaper online but it was counterfeit. I showed it to the dealer and they wanted it to show customers so they traded me an OEM for it.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I just switched to Amsoil. Paid $100 for five quarts and a filter.

Because that's what Chief recommend a few months ago.

Now I'm second guessing myself.

Thanks a lot Chief!!!!

 

[chief38]

I just switched to Amsoil. Paid $100 for five quarts and a filter.

Because that's what Chief recommend a few months ago.

Now I'm second guessing myself.

Thanks a lot Chief!!!!

I STILL stand by Amsoil as #1 as do most of the people and engineers in the know. The only thing I rethought is weather or not #1 is truly needed in that #2 (Penzoil Ultra Platinum) is now so close to #1 it's truly hard to justify 3 times the price! This Penzoil product is relatively new - at least I only discovered it about a year or so ago.

 

[Bald1]

I bought a new F25O with 7.3 Godzilla. I've had it exactly 2 yrs now. It holds 8 qts. I'm a DIY guy. I enjoy working on anything mechanical. HOWEVER, oil and filter for my truck is over $70. I go to dealer and they change oil AND rotate tires for $100. They include a free wash coupon that I can use at my convenience. I also don't have to dispose of oil. I get early morning appointments and eat my fill of doughnuts and drink their coffee. And more importantly all the service is documented for warranty purposes……… before I retired I'd take 5 gal of oil at a time to a guy I worked with. He heated his work shop with it. Now it's a hassle. My 2 motorcycles 2 atvs tractor and mowers all get maintained by me

 

[diyj98]

Motor oil is about like gun oil. Everyone feels their choice is best.

 

[taz666]

Goes for wives and girl friends, too.

 

[IAM Rand]

I think the big difference is how engines are being made these days. Instead of making them simpler, auto manufacturers are tossing everything and the kitchen sink in them. I think some of it has to do with pollution control. Some of it I think has to do with building a better mousetrap. Sometimes I think they go toooooo far. If I have to spend an extra bill a year to make sure that my truck lasts a little longer then so be it.

I found this guy on Youtube. Seems pretty knowledgeable.

 

[Bald1]

Interesting video. It's what I've always said. But it would be interesting to see how the same oils compared after 5k mi everyday driving. I suspect results would be similar.