What Motor Oil Do You Use?

"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol) 02/17/2017 at 16:23 • Filed to: Oil

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What brand, in what car, and why do you like it?

I run pennzoil platinum in my s2000. I have no idea why I run it. I suppose it’s because I haven’t heard anything bad about it.

As far as the Mazda 3 goes, I think it gets whatever castrol’s full synthetic is.

E90M3 > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:25

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Unicorn tears.

Nerd-Vol > E90M3 02/17/2017 at 16:26

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That looks expensive.

crowmolly > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:27

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Mobil 1 in new stuff, VR1 in anything with a flat tappet.

Echo51 > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:27

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Castrol’s FST in the Ford Escort with a silvertop Zetec. Specifically has to be 5w30 because a 10/40 or such will make these engines rattle like shit on cold starting

CB > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:27

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I’m a big fan of Mobil-1 with Lime. Goes down smooth.

... wait, I don’t think I did this right.

Urambo Tauro > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:28

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Valvoline “MaxLife” synthetic blend. I get it from the local Walmart for about $18/jug.

HammerheadFistpunch > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:28

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It starts out kind of gold ish, then comes out black. that kind.

vicali > CB 02/17/2017 at 16:29

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Castrol Edge

E90M3 > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:30

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Oh, I can assure that it is.

CB > vicali 02/17/2017 at 16:30

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I mean, the green on the 0w-20 means it’s lime flavoured, right?

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:32

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Mobil 1 0w-40. Walmart sells them for $25/5 qt jug and it meets BMW’s LL-01 specification. I used to use Motul 8100, but that got really expensive once I started doing 600+ miles a week. I switched to the Mobil 1 and lowered my interval to 10k miles to keep my wallet from screaming.

petebmwm > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:33

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bmw put castrol in mine when it was new, so i stick with that, in my m3 i’ll use redline or amsoil.

Tripper > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:33

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Whatever brand of 10w-60 BMW is slangin’ these days for $15 a qt in the M3, and I don’t know in the Audi, because they change the oil still.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > CB 02/17/2017 at 16:33

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Salt or sugar on the rim?

jimz > CB 02/17/2017 at 16:33

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comes out smooth too.

Jcarr > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:33

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I’ve used Mobil 1 in everything for the last 15 years or so with no troubles.

Die-Trying > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:34

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for the old stuff that i own, its diesel oil. shell 30wt (i run loose clearances in my junk), with zddp add ins, and a good shot of marvel mystery oil, a good mobil1 filter, a quart extra in the pan, and a lucas zinc add in too.

the stuff that has roller cam guts, its just the 30wt, and marvel with the mobil1 filter. i run loose clearances, so it stays oiled just fine.

pennzoil is about the worst stuff i have seen........

DipodomysDeserti > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:34

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I’ve run Rotella full synthetic in everything from forty year-old motorcycles to turbocharged Subarus. Only thing I didn’t run it in were my newer BMWs.

CB > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 02/17/2017 at 16:34

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I’m a fan of salt, personally.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:34

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I use the brand that on sale

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:36

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The M3 always got Mobil 1 full synthetic because that’s what BMW recommended.

The S10 gets whatever full synthetic is on sale or Castrol Edge Syntec because that’s what’s on the pumps at work.

jimz > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:36

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factory fill for the Ranger, Motorcraft 5W-30. Yamalube 10W-40 in the XV250. Royal Purple 20W-50 in the Harley.

Nibbles > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:36

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Mobil-1 in the Volvo; has been since day one

The truck gets whatever I feel like pouring in it at the time. Not like it matters because most of it will be on the highway shortly afterward

Autofixation > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:38

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Mobil 1 High Mileage, because it is recommended for many high performance applications by the manufacturer. It has served me well thus far in 225k and 250k mile cars. I use it with Mann filters.

Xyl0c41n3 > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:40

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Mobil 1 Extended Performance. 5W-20.

TrickJos > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:42

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Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30. For my 1994 Saturn SC2, 2012 Camaro SS, and 2004 VW Beetle.

I’ve been running Mobil 1 in my Saturn since I bought it 13 years ago. The engine still runs perfectly so I figure the oil is doing its job very well. And I don’t really follow an oil change schedule with that car. The odometer is broken so when I think it’s time to change the oil I let it go another month or so. The Beetle and Camaro are on a strict schedule.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:43

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Mobil 1 religiously.

Urambo Tauro > Urambo Tauro 02/17/2017 at 16:43

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I’ve been a fan of Valvoline for a while now, without having any real reason for it except that it’s a “name brand”.

I also don’t know anything about oil chemistry, but I once heard someone say that conventional oil actually has positive attributes that full synthetic does not, and therefore a blend of the two is ideal.

Now that I think about it, it’s awfully ignorant of me to just go on word-of-mouth like that. The only thing I have any right to say about it is that I’ve never had any problems with Valvoline or synthetic blends.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:44

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In my high performance Italian sports car

and

in my british luxury car

Captain of the Enterprise > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:48

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Mobil 1 full synthetic 5w30. Sometimes with the high mileage. 2005 Corolla le 1.8 vvt because it’s supposed to be good

404 - User No Longer Available > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:55

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Kristin (‘06 Solstice) any GM6094M 5W30 I find on sale, currently it’s Pennzoil Platinum.

Valka (‘12 328i) think the indie BMW shop used Total Quartz 5W30, but I stocked up on some Castrol 0W40 I found on sale during last Black Friday. Only one I found in big box stores that meets BMW LL-01.

TL;DR, whatever’s synthetic, on sale and meets spec.

rillweid - Now with more TRD and less TDI > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 16:56

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I used to run regular(non synthetic) Penzoil Yellow Bottle 10w-30 in the XJ. I put whatever full synthetic dealer oil in the TDI.

MoFinWiley > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 17:01

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I have had good luck with Mobil 1 full synthetic in my turbo GTO. Other cars I usually do whatever...

I have the dealer maintenance for my Ecoboost Explorer. I’m not quite sure what they put in...I will have to find out.

carzcarzcarz > DipodomysDeserti 02/17/2017 at 17:04

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Hear hear, I do the same in everything I can.

Guess they recently changed the look of the bottle.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 17:07

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Rotella 15w40 in the e38 year round.

Walmart 10w30 and 5w30 for the 04 silverado and joop

Tazio, Count Fouroff > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 17:07

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For M3, Valvoline Racing *Synthethetic* (tough to find tho) 10W30 cuz she purrs like a fat cat with it, also >150K and uses no oil

For the older E36 and E32, Shell Rotella T 10W40 because the viscosity-temp profile covers ATL weather well. Always add 1 quart of VR Synthetic (20W50 in warm weather, 10W30 in cool) cuz someone wrote that even 1 quart of synth gives pretty much the same protection as all synth and these cars too old for all synth

PowderHound > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 17:07

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I also run pennzoil platinum full synthetic in my WRX for about the same reason as you. Side note: never go on the Internet to see what oil subarus tend to like more.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Urambo Tauro 02/17/2017 at 17:10

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The only positive attribute of regular I can think of, is that there’s a point where a seal will hold in regular oil, but not synthetic. I can vouch for that because I put full synthetic in my old Civic and it leaked like crazy, put regular in and it didn’t leak at all.

Contrary to popular belief it’s not dependent on the car’s age, it’s the age/condition of the seals that matters.

Urambo Tauro > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 02/17/2017 at 17:16

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Oh, that old myth. Yeah, I hate seeing that old “synthetic causes leaks” still lingering around. Synthetic just exposes leaks that are already there.

I should probably wander over to Bobistheoilguy to find out if there’s any truth to conventional oil having any real advantages, but I don’t know if I’m ready for the answer. Every time I visit that site, I find myself way in over my head with (good, but wordy) technical stuff. What I need is an “ELI5”-type of thing.

Takuro Spirit > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 17:17

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Whatever’s in the tanks at work. Which is Pennzoil. Regular old 5W20 in the 3, and 0W20 synthetic in the CX-5.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 17:22

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How to get 20 different answers out of a group of 15 people...

I run Rotella T6 5w40 in my everything, er, two Jeep 4.0's and the Niva, for the simple reason that 40-weight makes them sound smoother than the recommended 30, and the 5w synthetic is much better for cold starts (seriously cold starts, like, -40). I do sometimes cheap out and go with the Rotella conventional 15w40 in the summers. The diesel oil is recommended by the Lada community and a subset of the Jeep community due to its ZDDP content, and it’s cheaper to buy everything in bulk. I can even use the Jeeps’ oil filters on the Niva.

The reality is though that as long as you stick to the manufacture’s recommended weights and change intervals, you can run almost whatever oil you want and cheapo filters, and still get decent life out of the engine. Using higher quality oils is only going to extend that.

gmctavish needs more space > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 17:24

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The Subie gets Total, the Blazer got Pennzoil or Shell, whichever happened to be cheaper. All my old BMWs got Castrol

pip bip - choose Corrour > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 17:33

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as long as it’s 20W-50, i don’t use one brand.

Die-Trying > Takuro Spirit 02/17/2017 at 17:38

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pennzoil eh.........you ever pull the valve cover on either of them yet?........

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 17:38

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My S600 takes 9.5 quarts of Mobil 1 0w-40 full synthetic. The LS400 takes 6 quarts of Mobil 1 5w-30. Oil changes in the S600 are fun.

Tazio, Count Fouroff > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 02/17/2017 at 17:41

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(Yeah my big post above shoulda read “15W40" for Rotella, thanks)

Good to hear other E-30something owners and their cars like this too.

Our E36 with M50TU and E32 with M70 do great on Rotella 15W40

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Tazio, Count Fouroff 02/17/2017 at 17:46

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The M60s and M62 love that stuff. It doesn’t eat that much oil compared to the 5w30 BMW changed to and the engine is quiet except the 19F cold starts last year. Few leaks compared to synthetic. In general it’s a good oil for E3X chassis.

Takuro Spirit > Die-Trying 02/17/2017 at 17:46

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No but if FCA uses it in all their junk, its good enough for my junk.

Die-Trying > Takuro Spirit 02/17/2017 at 17:56

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i only ask, a lot of the engines that i have seen that had run pennzoil had heavy coking. might of just been the particular engines. and the fact that those were city cars that never had much time to burn off moisture. but a lot of the worst ones that i had seen, coked almost solid. would ask the owners what oil, and almost without fail.....pennz......didnt leak a drop.........this was years ago.

i just ask, in case you just so happened to, have opened a cover, what you had seen.

in no way trying to worry you.

Takuro Spirit > Die-Trying 02/17/2017 at 17:58

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I know it was an issue back in the day due to its high paraffin content, but I haven’t seen any issues in any motors here at work, and the 0W20 is cheaper here than I can find it ANYWHERE in any brand.

Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 18:09

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Scarlett , my Speed3 gets Rotella T6. Because science

I get a kick out of the pictures of tractors and backhoes on the bottle.

jsemerica > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 18:10

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Usually Castrol GTX for the rotaries and miata since it’s usually the cheapest non-store brand, and Idemitsu premix in the gas tank.

Die-Trying > Takuro Spirit 02/17/2017 at 18:11

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the last one i had seen was about 5 years ago? possibly...... it takes a long time for coking to get bad. but it had gotten bad enough that it finally clogged up the pickup tube. the engine starved itself of oil. it was the first time i had seen pushrods wear THROUGH rocker arms.

like i say though, these were mostly city cars, and they coke up more than other stuff to begin with. AND pennz might of gotten things mended by now.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 18:20

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PN 12345885 as recommended by GM for my ‘06 GTO

Tazio, Count Fouroff > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 02/17/2017 at 18:23

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Hey, that’s great to know. Thanks!

Especially ‘cause in this case the choice was kinda on hearsay from non-BMW owners and on the viscosity profile. One of those random things that turns out good

AestheticsInMotion > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 18:32

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Mobil 1 0w-50 for the Miata, the cheapest stuff I can find for the Outback 

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 18:51

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F350 Rotella because diesel

Miata conventional quaker state bc i change it often

Rx7 dunno yet. Engine hasnt ran since ive owned it.

My old dsm. Schaffers full synthetic race oil. Because my part time is a dealer for them

Sweet Trav > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 20:14

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I use motorcraft 5w-20 synthetic blend in the SHO as it is what Ford recommends (the advisor didn’t recommend full synthetic for some reason) and I use Valvoline VR-1 20w50 in the Monte because it has lots of ZDDP and is thick cause I have wiped cam bearings.

Sweet Trav > crowmolly 02/17/2017 at 20:14

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ZDDP to the rescue!

crowmolly > Sweet Trav 02/17/2017 at 21:20

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Yup. One wiped cam is enough.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 22:14

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Daily beigemobile: Pennzoil Plat in 5w-20 or Mobil 1

914 Brad penn 20-50

___ mobil 1 on 15-50 

hike > Nerd-Vol 02/17/2017 at 23:26

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I used Mobil 1 high mileage in the Infiniti last oil change. These days I typically recommend Pennzoil. I honestly don’t think there’s much of a difference between the name brands.

Nerd-Vol > DipodomysDeserti 02/18/2017 at 00:59

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Yes! My old Mazdaspeed 3 used to love that. Also I think I ran it in my NA Miata.

Good stuff.

DipodomysDeserti > Nerd-Vol 02/18/2017 at 01:11

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It’s high quality and cheap. My Jeep burns less of it than any other oil!

Nerd-Vol > PowderHound 02/18/2017 at 08:16

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Are there about 6000 different opinions?