I tried Valvoline, Castrol GTX.........next time I'll try Penezoil..........opinion on which one everybody prefer......also I use oil treatment w/ every oil change-good or bad idea??? Also how do you change spark plugs-never done it before???????? 2002 Cavalier Ls Sport
your not going to get hp from oil. i use Castrol GTX 10w-30 since my car is at 83,000
never tired the oil treatment
im guessing on an Eco the plugs are under the cover that says ECOTEC
Im a Xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud of it!!
In general, an oil treatment shouldn't be necessary, as any oil sold these days is already very well "fortified" with a well engineered additive package. Adding other additives to this package may actually degrade the performance designed into that specific oil. That's probably why no car manufacturer I know of will recommend any type of oil additive. Your oil already requires a good additive package to meet current warranty requirements. The only problem is, to my knowledge, there is no governing body actually testing these oils to ensure that they actually meet the specs they have on the label. However, as long as you purchase one from a major manufacturer (any of the ones you mentioned should be fine), the odds are quite good that the oil is in fact of good quality.
I've probably used oil from almost every manufacturer going over the years, and to be honest, I can't say I've had any particularly bad experience with any of them. What I would recommend though, is pick a name brand and stick with it. Also stick with a regular change interval. That way all of the additive package in the oil can work as it's designed to. In general, most newer vehicles no longer require changes at the 3000 mile/5000km point, unless you do a lot of short trips in cold weather. With the engines running much more cleanly now, cleaner gasolines, and an excellent detergent package built into the oil, you can generally extend your intervals somewhat without causing any harm. If you really wanted to extend them, you would need to purchase an oil designed for that purpose (some synthetics), but you'll pay for the convenience.
Up to a few months ago I've always run 5W30 in my car with no problems. If you live in a warmer climate, then the 10W30 would be fine, but in cooler areas, the 5W30 will flow faster at startup, as well as increase your fuel economy marginally (1-2
. I'm located in Canada, and I've been running Amsoil 0W30 this winter, and I'm quite pleased with it. To get your money's worth out of it, you have to be willing to leave it in there for a while. It was quite expensive, but it saves me from crawling under the car in the snow (I can leave it in all winter). I just don't like other people working on my car, and I don't own a garage (yet).
I hope that this was at least somewhat helpful.
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I say Mobil 1 all the way, and a lot of other people on here will agree. Its by far the best oil on the market, especially in terms of price. It's factory fill in almost all exotic and high performance cars (Viper, Corvette, Porsche, AMG)- most even have
Mobil 1 written right on the oil cap.
I had Penzoil in my car the last time I changed my oil; this time I filled it with Mobil 1, and I could notice an immediate difference. The engine started up much quicker and easier, and was also quieter than it had been with the Penzoil. Sometimes I run it pretty hard, but I feel much better knowing that the engine is protected by one of the best Synthetic motor oils on the market
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Another interesting oil I've read about a bit is the "new" German made Castrol Syntec 0W30. Apparently it's quite impressive for the money, and it's
green. I'm tempted to try it just to check out the color. It's about the same price as the Mobil 1.
I agree that Mobil 1 is an excellent oil, if you're willing to spend the money for Synthetic. It is supposed to meet European specification for long change intervals, but Mobil still recommends sticking to the conventional change interval here. Probably to avoid lawsuits. That extended capability is good "insurance" to have though if you tend to be a little forgetful with your maintenance. That of course is only one of the benefits of running synthetic, but that topic could consume pages!
I've been running synthetic since about 52,000km, first Mobil 1 for 8,000km, and then I ran Amsoil 5W30 twice (averaging 20,000km each). I then decided to try their 0W30, which I've had in for 10,000km now, and it still looks like I just put it in. Even after 20,000km of driving on the 5W30, my oil was only down by one "hole" on the dipstick.
Of course, high quality filters designed for long change intervals are required for this. Amsoil says to change the filter at 6 months, and the oil yearly, but I'm too chicken to leave the oil in there that long. I've been changing both at 6 month intervals. The car's currently at 109,000km and running great, with excellent gas mileage, and almost all perfect "0" readings on its emissions test, so I must be doing something right. I'm aiming for 500,000km at a minimum from the car, so we'll see in a few years if this stuff lives up to its claims. Amsoil says that this 0W30 is supposedly good for 35,000 miles, but I'm not going to test that claim in MY engine!
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i would like to put my 2 cents worth in. i work for a major heavy equipment dealership as a oil analysis lab technician.
something that i would suggest to everyone is to ask around to see if there is a lab nearby where you can send a sample of your used oil. doing this will enable you to catch problem before they happen, such as antifreeze leak, or gas leak in your engine, bearing, and all the internal goodies.
something else is that different brands of oils will run longer in your engine then another brand. doing an oil analysis test will let you find which one wll run longer and cleaner and not break down an qucik. we have a test that will tell us when you have to change your oil or if you can extend your oil change interval.
i take a sample from my car every 5000kms to see how much life i have left in the oil and if everything is good, i leave it is an keep checking it everynow and then to see how well the oil is holding up
just my two cents worth. if you are near a Caterpillar dealership, they ususally have labs right on site and you will get your results within 24 hours for a small price
i dont really think there is a best brand just different grades, only commercials claim a difference
1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85
5W-30, end of story.
The regularity of changes is what is key.
A good filter, say Fram, is what is more important than the brand of oil, for stock, or close to stock engines at least.
A race, or highly tuned motor is a whole different animal.
Mobil 1, German Castrol Syntec, and oil analysis are all good ideas, if you're rich
Fram filters suck a$$$. Avoid at all costs. The $2 Supertech filters at walmart are way better. read www.bobistheoilguy.com for more info.
IMO the best oil is Motorcraft 5W30 which is 50-75% synthetic blend and was only $1.42 a quart at Wally world, but they stopped selling Motorcraft. IMO no need to spend $5 a quart when you can get most of the benefit of synthetic for about $1.75 a quart at AutoZone for Motorcraft 5W30. ITs the same price or cheaper than non-blend GTX or Pennzoil. both of which are good oils and I use them sometimes, but why not get syn blend if its the same price?
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2005 Cadavalier
Synonyms for Cavalier--Cavy, Corn-alier, Crap-alier, Cadavalier, Domestic Rice,
Wheat Bread, Hamburger Bun, American Carbohydrates, French Fries,
Mashed Potato Cart with Giblet Gravy
There is really not a best oil. I use Valvoline Full Synthetic. I agree stay away from FRAM, i know from experience not to use FRAM. Right now i am going to use Mobil 1 just because Walmart didn't have any Valvoline in stock.
2004 Grand Prix GTP (Competition Group)
SOLD-->1999 Z24 5M-#30 to register on JBO
"You can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all the people'
all the time
Nothing wrong with Fram, used on all my cars, never blew a motor, tricked or stock.
All of my engines have been at least 160K, the rest of the car fell apart.
Oil and filter is simple, you can use ANYTHING, just as long as you change it on a regular basis, so you might as well save money and use the less expensive stuff, has never failed me, or anyone else I know.
Name brands are more because they have to make up the cost of marketing, whereas lesser known, or generic, are the same darn thing, sans marketing cost, which goes right into your wallet.
I can change my oil using the stuff I talked about for 10 bucks or less on most cars, and the person who spent three times that on synthetic, weell, they are no better off, just lost money.
Do the math, $.99 a quart, or $3.99 a quart, same results.
If anyone can prove me wrong, go ahead, I'd change if you can.
i use Fram oil filter myself. no problems with it depite what some may say
Im a Xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud of it!!
I used FRAM and each time they would leak, I even took it some where thinking i was doing something wrong till i went to a place and they said they will not use FRAM for than reason and others. Can you imagain me being on the highway loosing all my oil and killing my engine.
I was on a website last year that did some test on filters and their Filtration method. All I can say if FRAM was on the bottom and AC Delco was one of the highest. Puraltor was up there to I think Pure one gave to much restriction. From that test i figured why change from AC Delco when it is considered one of the best filters out there. This was not just one site. I thought they were Biased but a couple other site had FRAM on the bottom on the list of the very last one in terms of Filtration.
2004 Grand Prix GTP (Competition Group)
SOLD-->1999 Z24 5M-#30 to register on JBO
"You can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all the people'
all the time
I use anything
BUT Pennzoil.
<img src="http://www.webgraffiti.it/gif/smile12/smile197.gif"></img>
I've used fram for the past 60K miles of my driving. Which is all of it. My dads used them on his lumina either that or what ever the ford quicklane uses which is motorcraft or whatever. And the lumina has 220K miles on it. Its the car i learned to drive on. And believe me I ran the piss out of it. Oh also my dad uses regular oil and only changes it every 6K miles or so. Engine hasn't any major problems except for the PCV valve that had 75K miles on it probably locked up. And if thats not a testment to how good fram it. i don't know what is. But hey superstitions are superstitions. I know i have mine no matter how silly. Like never buy oil from wally world, or anything else for that matter even tho its the same thing, just the idea of it it, ehhh.
03ecols 5 spd wrote:Nothing wrong with Fram, used on all my cars, never blew a motor, tricked or stock.
All of my engines have been at least 160K, the rest of the car fell apart.
Oil and filter is simple, you can use ANYTHING, just as long as you change it on a regular basis, so you might as well save money and use the less expensive stuff, has never failed me, or anyone else I know.
Name brands are more because they have to make up the cost of marketing, whereas lesser known, or generic, are the same darn thing, sans marketing cost, which goes right into your wallet.
I can change my oil using the stuff I talked about for 10 bucks or less on most cars, and the person who spent three times that on synthetic, weell, they are no better off, just lost money.
Do the math, $.99 a quart, or $3.99 a quart, same results.
If anyone can prove me wrong, go ahead, I'd change if you can.
Well, if you are saving money on oil, then save yourself some money on the filter too and stop buying frams. The $2 supertech filters at walmart and autozone are BETTER than the $4.50 Frams. Fram is using cardboard parts in the filters when other filters are steel. Cut one open. Its www.bobistheoilguy.com that will convince you. I dont know how many times Ive read "orange can of death" or "orannge wall of death". IF you are going to spend $4 on a filter, get a purolator or better yet the AC Delco.
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terceltundra wrote:Well, if you are saving money on oil, then save yourself some money on the filter too and stop buying frams. The $2 supertech filters at walmart and autozone are BETTER than the $4.50 Frams.
I changed oil every month & half on my 96 Cav (about 3000 miles) & every 5000 miles on my wife's 01 grandprix. I use and recommend Walmart's SuperTech brand. They just raised the price but still lot cheaper. I'd paid about $4 per 5-qt oil and the filters were $2 each. If you read the label on the SuperTech, it acutally filters out more dirts than other brand-name filters. Whether the claim is true or false, the frequency of my oil changes make the brand choices insignificant.
I agree with "03ecols 5 spd" that the regularity of your changes is most important.
Has anyone tried the K&N oil filters?
The ECO uses a cartridge style filter, and I have not used fram on it yet, why?, too expensive. I've used them on other cars of mine as stated with zero probs.
With the ECO, I've used Delco, and Purolator, which cost about $4, while NAPA, and Fram are around $8-9.
MY point is, you don't need to spend a lot to get good engine care, they are basically all the same stuff, frequency is the key in this case.
