What brand of oil and viscosity does everyone use ?

[Engine_Mapper]

Originally Posted by Alexxn 00 Si

What brands and viscosities does everyone use in their 4.3 and why ?

Thanks !

About which oil to use: I've researched that and here goes:

I just found out the answer to that question: Chevron Delo 400 Synthetic 0W-30 if you live north of Texas, and Mobil 1 0W-30 if you live south of Texas (southern states only).

Why? Almost half your lifetime engine wear occurs during cranking (confirmed by several engineer friends and also by Mobil Oil Company), so a 0W-30 is the right weight to cut wear down. The "0W" part means the oil gets up and gets going to the bearings the fastest during engine cranking at start-up. Therefore, a "0W" is the best. (A "0W-30" can be used where the manufacturer recommends a 5w-30.)

But why Chevron Delo Synthetic 0W-30 for anybody who lives north of Texas? Taking the "Dragnet" approach, "Just-The-Facts", look at the incredible technical spec sheet at http://bestsyntheticoil.com/dealers...une-17-2003.pdf and notice that Chevron, employing some of the best engineers and having some of the best labs in the world, have come up with a synthetic oil that has a Pour Point of -76 degrees below zero. BEST THERE IS. That low number means that their Delo Synthetic 0W-30 oil resists the bad effects of cool temperatures, indicating that it is going to flow better when the weather is simply below freezing as well. By the way, the Chevron oil's Flash Point is still OK at 419 degrees (any number over 400 is good).

South of Texas (any southern state), its fine to use Mobil 1 0W-30, since its Pour Point is almost as good as Chevron's Delo Synthetic, and Mobil 1 has a slight edge on high temperature Flash Point.

Also, Mobil 1, like Chevron Delo Synthetic, is produced by world-class, well-funded engineers with some of the best labs anywhere. This means Mobil 1 or Chevron synthetic have proper additive packages in addition to having oil that flows at cooler temps and hangs in there at high temps.

One note: If racing or pulling a trailer, you might want to use Chevron Delo Synthetic 5w-40 weight or Mobil 1 synthetic 0w-40 weight. However, the 0w-30 weights in both brands of oil would probably do just fine there too. One more note about racing: Using Mobil 1 0w-20 may be the best for racing, since the lower-viscosity "20" number means it takes less horsepower to run the oil pump, giving you slightly more horsepower available to drive the wheels! Slight horsepower advantage with the thinner "0w-20" Mobil 1 synthetic, but possibly less engine life. Again, the Mobil 1 "0w-40" would make the engine last longer in racing, but it soaks up more horsepower than the Mobil 1 "0w-20" --- you choose which is more important when racing!

Chevron Delo Synthetic 0w-30 may only be available at trucking supply stores. Mobil 1 is available everywhere.

I don't work for Chevron or Mobil. I am an engineer (Mechanical/Aerospace/Computer) and I think you've got to go on the facts without ANY marketing hype.

It may be noted that Chevron sells the Delo Synthetic to trucking fleet managers who they know will see the numbers, so marketing hype is not going to suffice. That might be why Chevron has the best Pour Point while some other more heavily consumer-advertised oils don't.

For higher mileage (more than 75,000 miles) it may be good to go to Mobil 1 0W-40. Again, stick with the "0w", but in this case make the top number "40" to fill the larger clearances in older engines. I'm not completely sure about whether you really have to go to the 0w-40, and if it was me I would stick with the Chevron Delo Synthetic 0w-30 for any car in states north of Texas, and Mobil 1 synthetic 0w-30 for southern states, as in the analysis above, even for older engines.

On oil filters ---- Don't Use Fram --- Here's Why:

I've got some good info: Oil filters that are good are Purolator, AC, Bosch, Wix, Mobil 1, NAPA,... pretty much anything but FRAM. Ban Fram and you'll be fine. The details are at: http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html if you'd like to read all that. By the way, beware of oil filters that merely put a new label on an actual Fram filter. Compare the way the filter looks from the opening end if you aren't sure if it is really a Fram-filter-in-hiding.


good luck

[Engine_Mapper]

Originally Posted by mjohn

If you get 2mpg from Mobile 1...the mpg are in your mind only...sorry this I cannot believe...

I agree. Gas mileage boosts are almost entirely due to a viscosity DECREASE, meaning that if you switch to Mobil 1 0w-20, you will see a gas mileage boost, but using Mobil 1 0w-30 or 0w-40 will have about the same gas mileage as a regular motor oil of around 5w-30 weight. Higher viscosity means lower gas mileage.

[hfx_guy]

hi guys fram filters DO SUCK. i have just found out about several oil delivery problems with them. but my biggest beeeeef is instead of being made in canada or the US most are made in israel!!! no wonder they are cra* please avoid these parts. i work on atv's as well the fram filters for those are more money than stock o.e.m honda stuff(honda bikes and quads are assembled in the us) they can take out an engine slick as snot. DO YOU THINK ITS THIER PLAN?????????? have a nice day and buy american or canadian, later jj.

[Engine_Mapper]

Originally Posted by hfx_guy

hi guys fram filters DO SUCK. i have just found out about several oil delivery problems with them. but my biggest beeeeef is instead of being made in canada or the US most are made in israel!!! no wonder they are cra* please avoid these parts. i work on atv's as well the fram filters for those are more money than stock o.e.m honda stuff(honda bikes and quads are assembled in the us) they can take out an engine slick as snot. DO YOU THINK ITS THIER PLAN?????????? have a nice day and buy american or canadian, later jj.

In 1985, a new Fram filter stopped oil flow on my new pickup truck, forcing me to immediately shut the engine down. But thats not really enough evidence (only 1 incident). Other people have had problems, as shown above, so the jury has returned a verdict. I think the best evidence of Fram's Suckee-tude is at http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html for anybody who wants more evidence.

[frankjc]

Ok, no more Fram filters for me.
I usually go with the OE filters, but the past few oil changes I haven't.
I should know better, I work in a dealer.

[stubbornmike]

Castrol GTX 10-30 My first choice
chevron,havoline,Mobil 1 and valvoline are all great oils!

Penzoil IS CRAP LIQUID BALL BEARINGS MY ASS!
penzoil turns in to sludge and leaves your valve lifters/your whole engine with this sludge build up.
"IF YOU DONT BELEAVE ME PUT A TABLE SPOON OF EACH ABOVE A TORCH SEE HOW PENZIOL GUMS UP!"
its chewing gum for your engine!

[mjohn]

I too have seen the brown Penzoil crap out in the Bardahl...test from years ago...

Have you heard of Bardall...sp could be wrong...?