Expensive engine oil or Cheap?

[01_Celica_GT]

What would everyone perfer more?

To use a synthetic engine oil that lasts a long time? (Amsoil = 8,000 miles)

Or to use a cheap oil but change it often? (Quaker State/Castrol = 2,00 Miles)

[LaYzIeNoY]

it genereally goes like this, keep using whatever has been used in the car, as changing it to a different type after a significant number of miles can create problems

also I don't trust the whole 8000+ mile oil changes espcially if you race, due to the extra wear caused by it

I use synthetic oil, my car is turbo

[nialusa]

Synthetic oil every time...I use Millers CFS 10w40 3 ester Fully synthetic, and wouldnt use anything less...cheap oil is false economy as it dosnt protect your engine as much as the expensive stuff.

[calicelica]

synthetics. do not go to 8k though. I use castrol's synth - change every 4k miles w/ filter. Runs smooth, never a complaint.

[01_Celica_GT]

so how much does that millers or that castrol synthetic go for? and where would a get millers?

I live in minnesota so I dont think I have ever seen it.

[nialusa]

Millers is expensive...I pay £40 ($70) for 5 litres, but its probably cheaper for you guys to buy as we get ripped off for everything in the UK.

[LaYzIeNoY]

another excellent brand is royal purple, full synthetic pricey though

the weight of the oil can depend on the area you live, and how hard you run the car, as for what i said about area its just that the hotter or colder it is can affect oil

[01_Celica_GT]

Where can I get the royal purple stuff? I went to their site and they don't sell it online. They only sell apparel.

[calicelica]

Thats true. Oil viscosity rating and choice of brand should accomodate your own driving style and weather condition...
I got castrol synth for $30 per 6qt. from Kragen. This is a bargain compared to royal purple/amsoil/miller. But I don't go over 6K rpm that often either, and I live in L.A. So this is appropriate enough.

[abrittis]

In my opinion - If you don't race the car - don't waste your money on super-expensive specialty motor oil.

A good rule of thumb - if you are willing to change your oil every 2500 - 3000 miles - use a decent conventional oil (i.e. Castrol GTX, Valvoline, etc.) and a decent oil filter.

If you would prefer to change your oil every 4000 - 5000 miles, use an decent synthetic oil (i.e. Castrol Syntec, Mobile One, etc.) and a decent oil filter.

If you drive your car like most average people, and you change your oil every 3000 miles or so, don't waste your money on specialty synthetic oil. There are several advantages of synthetic oil over conventional oil, but if you aren't hard on your engine - and you replace the oil frequently - these advantages probably aren't worth the extra money.

One main advantage of synthetic oil over conventional oil is it's ability to withstand high temperatures for prolong periods of time - AND over a longer lifetime - without breaking down. Once oil begins to break down, it will lose some of it's lubrication properties - and also cause sludge build-up. That said, a good conventional oil - changed frequently, and used under normal driving conditions should maintain it's properties just as well as the synthetic oils.

Personally, I use Mobile One or Castrol Syntec in all my cars - and change the oil every 5000 miles.

My dad - who is a big cheap-skate, always uses the cheapest oil and filters he can find at Walmart. He changes the oil every 2500 miles - and has been doing it for years. His 98 Camry has over 100k miles on the engine - and doesn't burn a drop of oil - and the car runs like a charm. I still drive his old 85 Celica - which has over 255k miles on it.

Anthony

[jwaj2002]

I use valvoline 10 w 40 in my truck, put the same thing in my 87 celica, use what you trust, and for the love of your car! DO NOT USE FRAM FILTERS!!!

[01_Celica_GT]

do not use all fram filters? oil filters? air filters?

[abrittis]

Originally Posted by jwaj2002

I use valvoline 10 w 40 in my truck, put the same thing in my 87 celica, use what you trust, and for the love of your car! DO NOT USE FRAM FILTERS!!!

Hmm... I'm curious, do you know something about Fram filters that I don't. I stopped using them in my 94 miata, because I noticed that they caused the oil pressure to run about 10 psi lower than the Miata filters.

Anthony

[jwaj2002]

ok if you want an idea of what the inside of a fram oil filter looks like, you could cut one open, the more expensive orange filters are the worst, they are know more the toilet paper rolls in a dressed up package, the cheaper ones are better but still crap, K&N is overpriced but much better, I prefer Wix personally, and even though it pains me to admit it, ford did get one thing right, they have the best oil filters on the market, their ford motorcraft filters have a fiberglass filter, with strings tied around them, CAT uses a filter designed after ford's because everything else is designed after Fram's pos filter, cut a few open and you'll see for yourself

[calicelica]

K&N oil filter is good. just stay w/ regular drop-in air filter if you're stock. Whichever brand doesnt matter, unless you're getting shortram, then go K&N again. Better yet go to ebay and find a real cheap one since you're washing it yourself once in a while anyway. Won't make a diff.