What oil do you use and why?

I was running Mobil 1 until I found out they had switched to group III. I still think it's the best oil for the price and you should use nothing less. However, I've switched to Royal Purple to see how that works out, I'll be find out on the next oil change. I put 10w40 in my Stealth and 10w30 in the GTC. The transmission in the Stealth is going to get SyncroMax while I'm just going to use straight 10w30 in the GTCs transmission. The t-case and the rear gearbox are getting MaxGear. As for filter, anything but Fram, but I tend to stick with Mobil 1 or K&N filters.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I use Mobil 1 because I like to pay full synthetic price for an oil that's not really really a full synthetic anymore.



Haha, I do the same thing. Im going to switch to Valvoline syn on the next oil change.



This, however, is full syn:



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Mobil 1 5W-30 full synthetic in my 95 Vette, and I let the Toyota dealership worry about what goes in my 04 4Runner, I know it's a conventional oil. I don't see the need to run a synthetic in an engine that doesn't call for it.
 
I agree with the post from Manicrodder



I also use RLI BioSyn 5W-30 vegetable oil in my GS400. I do a lot of stop and go driving and this oil is remarkable at reducing fuel dilution. If you do any oil analysis you will find this oil to be pretty much remarkable in every respect.
 
reaper34 said:
I know mobil 1 just came out with a new 0w something synthetic, it's got a green cap and being marketed as a their new fuel saving oil. I saw it at wal-mart tonight. don't if that's the one you mean or not but they got a butt ton of it.



Setec Astronomy said:
Well...back some years ago Mobil realized that their standard M1 (full synthetic) would meet the 0W spec in most of their grades, and thought that it might give them a marketing edge when Castrol was allowed to label their Syntec as a synthetic, even though it was technically a different chemistry than the M1. I remember talking to M1 tech support on the phone (can you even still do that?) and they told me they were going to phase out all the 5W and 10W oils because the 0W encompassed the spec of those oils, and they were going to market it on the improved cold start up and fuel economy, yada yada.



The public didn't understand and was frightened by the 0W designation and it was a flop, so I guess they decided if they couldn't beat Castrol they would join them. The BITOG guys can explain it...I think M1 used to be a Grp. IV, now it's a Grp. III, like the Syntec, or something like that.



But anyway, the 0W's aren't new, they had 0W-20, 0W-30, 0W-40. When they went SM they dropped the 0W-20 for a while, but it's back, that may be the green cap one you saw.





Ha ha, I just saw an ad for the new green-cap, M1 AFE (Advanced Fuel Economy) oil. When we first discussed this (above) the M1 site said nothing about it, but after seeing the newspaper ad, I went back to the M1 site and the 0W-20 and -30 are now "AFE", so I guess Mobil finally found a marketing angle that might work for the 0W's.
 
Motorcraft 10w30 for the mustang and 5w20 for the Fusion UOA look good for the mustang and the Fusion will get one after the next oil change.
 
XR5Turbo said:
I'm about to try Elf Excellium 5w30 unless someone has something bad to say about it.



IMO, ELF (now TOTAL) offers great oils. Just make sure you end up with the product that meets the requirements of your car.
 
Polygon said:
I was running Mobil 1 until I found out they had switched to group III. I still think it's the best oil for the price and you should use nothing less.



This myth just won't die! M1 has never been proven to be a group III oil. If enough people repeat something even when it is not correct many will join the bandwagon and blindly follow.



As a side note many of the Group III oils outperform the group IV oils, Penz Platinum comes to mind.
 
RTexasF said:
This myth just won't die! M1 has never been proven to be a group III oil. I If enough people repeat something even when it is not correct many will join the bandwagon and blindly follow.



As a side note many of the Group III oils outperform the group IV oils, Penz Platinum comes to mind.



What are you basing the PP outpeforming grp IV claim on? UOA at BITOG?
 
Yes. I realize a UOA is not the end all to how well an oil performs but it's a darn good indicator. Penz Plat is outperforming the vast majority of the others in that respect and I'm an M1 user.:(
 
Here's a quote I read on BITOG and was echoed by another. I've been reading that site so long my head's spinning! Many really liked Pennzoil regular oil, saying it had improved alot as of late. Lots of Amsoil, Mobil 1 and synthetic fans there too.



"Buy the best priced oil you can get that has API SM on it, game over."



API Motor Oil Service Classifications
 
Maybe I'm misunderstanding something over at BITOG, but I thought the SM standard requires lower levels of anti-wear additives to protect catalytic converters compared to SL? My primary concern is engine wear, as my lower mileage car has 175K on it and sees 6000 rpm regularly.
 
kpounds said:
Here's a quote I read on BITOG and was echoed by another. I've been reading that site so long my head's spinning!



"Buy the best priced oil you can get that has API SM on it, game over."



Yeah, that place makes my head hurt, too.



itb76 said:
Maybe I'm misunderstanding something over at BITOG, but I thought the SM standard requires lower levels of anti-wear additives to protect catalytic converters compared to SL?



I haven't been at BITOG much lately (see above), but last I read, the issue is that SM required lower levels of traditional anti-wear additives, the jury was still out as to whether the alternative anti-wear additives work as well.
 
Maybe I'm misunderstanding something over at BITOG, but I thought the SM standard requires lower levels of anti-wear additives to protect catalytic converters compared to SL?



It could be sir, I'm not an expert at this. I wouldn't change anything if you're seriously concerned about engine wear. I'd probably post at BITOG and ask what oil they'd recommend.
 
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