4342bob@homxb.UUCP (R.DEMARCO) (02/18/86)
What is the difference between different motor oils? Are certain ones better for certain cars or particular driving situations? I have mainly used 10W30 and 10W40 in the past but I know there are more types. (SAE30, 20W50, etc). Which should be used when and why? Thanks, ...homxb!4342bob
olds@ihlpa.UUCP (Mondeville) (02/18/86)
> > > What is the difference between different motor oils?
gene@uicsl.UUCP (02/19/86)
Here is the experience on one who has owned many older used-cars (probably
more than 2-dozen): No doubt ALL oils have improved greatly over the last 2
or 3 decades, but who has an extra life-time to check out all advice &
advertising claims? I presently own 3 high-mileage old cars...all of them
were using a fair amount of oil at 60,000 80,000, & 110,000 respectively,
i.e. something like 1 qt/500mi. All were full-size v-8's. (I had been using
Mobil 10W-40 which appeared to be quite satisfactory insofar as no sludge
build-up).
Then without doing mechanical work on any of the cars, I simply changed
over to MOBIL-1 (SYNTHETIC OIL). Surprisingly, in all three cases they be-
gan to gradually use less & less oil...not to mention running very well
and an obvious improvement in spinning over while cranking in sub-zero
weather. It probably is more stable at high temperatures also because one
of the cars is a 74 Olds-98 which I use only for pulling a 21-ft travel-
trailer in hot summer-time.(has had Mobil-1 for the last 20,000 mi). A 73 Dodge went from 1qt/500 to 1qt/1200mi.
I hear some talk of seals beginning to leak, but I've had Mobil-1 in
these cars for at least 3 years and non of them developed any oil leaks.
(The 70 Ford Stat. Wgn now has 123,000 on it and has never had any sig-
nificant mechanical work....still purrs like a kitten)
One must use his own judgment if he thinks there is risk in putting
different oil in a dirty engine....I always do the "flush" routine before
changing....I have switched over in 6 cars and had no problem.
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Gene Gardner {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!uicsl!genegene@uicsl.UUCP (02/19/86)
I forgot to mention that the Mobil-1 used above was 5W-30 weight.
However, I probably will try the other option (20W-50 I believe)
in the Olds used only for trailer-pulling in summer.
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Gene Gardner {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!uicsl!gene