Dino, Semi-Synthetic, or Synthetic

 

Shell Rotella T6 full synthetic. Was a great deal at a Walmart.

 

Shell Helix Ultra full synthetic.

 

Oh boy, here we go again, lol!

Lots of threads and threats on the subject here!

Nothing gets us going like a good old fashioned oil brand loyalty fight.
Vector

 

This. I've been running 5w-40 T6 in my Jags since I bought them. The VDP since 2002 and the XJR since 2006. Both north of 100K miles on them and nary a lubrication problem. Part of the reason is it's pretty hot in TX, so I wanted something heavier than 10W or 5W-30 and the other part is T6 still has zinc. Change interval is every 5000 miles. Always have used Wix filters.

I've run T6 in an E36 BMW M3 on the track as well, but now that car gets Brad Penn 20W-50.

A factor on the T6 is it is easy to get at Wallyworld.

YMMV, but IMO, the most important thing is to keep up with the maintenance - it wouldn't surprise me if the oil itself doesn't matter.

-Mike

 

Bang, there you go, this thread can be closed, the wisest thing said on oil, ever ...

 

"it wouldn't surprise me if the oil itself doesn't matter"

Think about how unlikely it is, that the lubricating properties of a lubricant are unimportant to the job of lubrication.

A better statement might be : "the exact oil itself, as long as it is of sufficient quality and appropriate grade, doesn't matter"

 

Oil does matter, but often the differences are not recognized on some change intervals and duty cycles.

I do 3-5k mile changes in my Jaguars, I use Mobil 1/Castrol Syntec/Pennzoil Platinum/Shell Rotella T6/Quaker State Synthetic in 5W30, 10W30, or 10W40 variants. I use NAPA Gold filters. I've done this on plenty of cars and never had a lubrication related issue. You can definitely run longer intervals, but at the speed I put on the miles, this is fine given I do a lot of short trips at low speeds (work site is about 1 square mile) and when in the open I drive hard. It's 1 or 2 oil changes a year. So really $75-100 a year when you shop smart for the oil.

 

Since i have quite a few cars and trucks, I'm using an "universal" oil, namely Mobil 1 10w30

 

Mobil one Synthetic.
5W30

Just changed it over the weekend.

 

I think the Rotella T6 represents a bargain at Walmart. It's $21.36 a gallon right now. For a top-quality synthetic, that's not expensive. So buy 2 gallons, and that's $42 for an oil change and topping-of for 5,000 miles.

I like the fact that it's a 5w40, as I think my 140,000 mile engine will benefit from a higher hot viscosity than 5w30.

 

Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5w-40 synthetic.

 

I just meant what kind. As in regular or synth etc. Not brand or viscosity.

 

Many years 10W-60

 

Castrol Edge Extended Performance Advanced Full Synthetic - 5w-30

 

Seeing as everyone mentioned regular or synthetic in their posts, what exactly are you complaining about?

 

*grabs popcorn*

"Synthetic blend" a lot of the time is more of a marketing gimmick... Since my car's been sitting for a few years, I'm going to do a few short-interval (2k mi) changes with the cheap stuff to soak up any crap that's in the system, then move onto full synthetic for the regular changes.

 

The OE fill was reg 5w-30 w 10k change interval -- remember the car holds 8qt's. So most got reg oil for the first 40k (free maintenance) ... I normally use full SYN now.

With many cars, mine don't get a lot of miles -- SYN can stay in for 2 year. Mine normally takes 2 years to hit 10k. I use the OE filter

 

Shell Rotella T would be good for that. High detergent, so great for cleaning the gunk, and inexpensive.

 

I'm saying people don't need them get in an argument over what brand is best.