Best Dino Oil?

[coolpop]

Yeah yeah, I know most members here love synthetics like Mobil 1 or PP, I would like to hear from us members who stick with dino oil for the first year of life on our trucks.

I've researched viscosity index, flash points and pour points but still can't seem to find a consensus. Oils like Valvoline and Pennzoil seem to just be average, while Mobil Clean 5000 seems to have much higher ratings in those areas than the others.

Before I get flamed, yes, I have searched the site, no real answers here on that topic.

Thoughts from us who have OCD about our oil?

 

[Atlanta_man]

Bob is the Oil Guy

 

[<<<<]

Castrol GTX was what i used before going to syn.

 

[peter78]

Castrol GTX was what i used before going to syn.

That is what I use too, I have used it for years, (32 to be exact). I still use it on my 91 Previa. It is too bad Castrol decided to not make their Synthetic based on PAO. To me I don't think it is true syntetic, even though they won a court battle with Mobil 1.

I remember reading Consumer Reports and they couldn't really find any differences in regualr oil. Still, I use Castrol GTX and I try and change it often. Sludge is hard to build up if you change it often. I still go by the 3,000 mile change with regualr oil.

 

[toto]

I've used a few different brands over the years, and I haven't found much difference. I've never used a synthetic, as I just don't believe it's necessary as long as you change the oil and filter very regularly (3,000 miles or 6 months).

 

[peter78]

Speaking of Castrol synthetic, I notice a Superbowl ad where they are making a new product called Edge synthetic, maybe this will truly be the sythetic they should of made all along, we will just have to see.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I have used Pennzoil in all my cars for many years. I do not know why, just a habbit. I never blew up a motor in any off these vehicles or had any other engine problems. That said I do not think I would have had any problems with any other oil either. As long as you buy a brand name and change it regularly you will be fine. I would not worry about it. I have never used synthetic oil and probably never will.

 

[peter78]

As long as you buy a brand name and change it regularly you will be fine. I would not worry about it.

I think that should be the way you should look at it. Try and stay true to what you decide, try not to let the oil change slip away and you forget about it.

 

[JB.]

Yeah yeah, I know most members here love synthetics like Mobil 1 or PP, I would like to hear from us members who stick with dino oil for the first year of life on our trucks.

I've researched viscosity index, flash points and pour points but still can't seem to find a consensus. Oils like Valvoline and Pennzoil seem to just be average, while Mobil Clean 5000 seems to have much higher ratings in those areas than the others.

Before I get flamed, yes, I have searched the site, no real answers here on that topic.

Thoughts from us who have OCD about our oil?

I'm a dino guy who thinks buying the cheapest, certified, name brand oil available makes the most sense. That said, I still buy Pennzoil yellow bottle. It's a group 2 1/2 oil with some synthetic characteristics that's inexpensive. That's the justification. Truth is, it's probably a branding issue etched indelibly in my mind from long ago.

Bottom line: Doing the oil changes is such a dominant part of the equation, the other stuff is trivial, imo, but if spending a couple of bucks to get the oil they want makes someone feel good, it seems like cheap, harmless pleasure to me.

 

[pmrowczynski]

Could add "good for the environment" to the equation.

All the dino oil's seem equal as long as they're name brands (according to bobistheoilguy website and posters) but the Walmart brand SuperTech actually uses recycled oil and adds the required additives.

 

[GMZ]

BITOG is a wealth of info, I cruise through there quite often.

I like Castrol products myself, have always used them with great results. When I got my 4R I changed the oil @ 500 mi and 2500 mi with regular GTX, then went with Syntec Blend @ 5K, then to Syntec @ 10K.

Do you need a "synthetic" oil? Maybe, I drive a lot of trips that are less than 1 mile when I am on base so I think I need a little something more than dino. Also, with modern engines/filters/oils the 3K/3mo OCI is a little too OCD. With our engines (esp the V8)you can go 5K easily with a quality dino oil and Toyo filter in my opinion.

 

[Uneek]

I strictly use Castrol GTX in the 4Runner, same stuff the dealership uses. When I had my '90 Toyota pickup, they recommended Pennzoil. However, my supervisor says Pennzoil isn't a good oil and a friend's uncle who's engine overhauler says you can tell by the amount of excessive wax left when it engine has been used with Pennzoil. I asked the master tech at my dealer to be safe and what I've heard about Pennzoil is unsubstantiated. His recommendation was change the oil and filter every 5k and dino is fine, don't need synthetic.

I change my oil about every 4k, since many say 3k is a waste of resources. My logic behind it is, since Toyota recommends 5k and I'm doing it slightly earlier it should be the happy medium between every 3k old saying. I think in the end it's all the same, paying more to use a synthetic for the longer interval or paying less with dino and a shorter interval.

I've used a variety of oil in my Mazda before, had about 121k before I gave it away. It ran fine, I only changed the plugs once in that thing and oil every 3k. I've used Chevron, Pennzoil, Mobil, Valvoline, Quakerstate... about all the big names. I never used a no name or recycled oil, nor will I ever.

 

[coolpop]

Well, I've been using Mobil Clean 5000 and all seems to be fine. I guess I will just stick with that, unless anybody has heard anything negative about that oil.

 

[KP Texan]

Well, I've been using Mobil Clean 5000 and all seems to be fine. I guess I will just stick with that, unless anybody has heard anything negative about that oil.

That happens to be my preferred choice of Dino oil and I've done quite a few oil changes. I'd stick with the Clean 5000 if you don't want to go Synthetic.

-Wes

 

[wm69]

I use GTX as well. Got 340K out of my 93 Accord, with oil changes every 3750 for the first 120K or so, and every 5K miles after that (I figured that since all of our newer cars suggested 5K that it would be ok to do that with the Accord as well).

Car still ran like a top when I sold it, used no oil, and got 30mpg, so in my mind, the GTX did a good job of protecting the engine.

 

[jeober]

Any oil with API SM rating is going to fine. As evidenced by the diverse suggestions here, you have a lot of choices. Buy what's on sale. ( I use Walmart's super tech.)