What's the best motor oil for our cars?
 

I read a post where someone mentioned that synthetic oil was harmful to flat six engines as the metal parts weren't sufficiently lubricated during engine start-up...

If I use regular oil, which brand is best? My car has 96,000 miles. Should I switch to a high mileage oil?

Thanks! :)

-Chike

In my opinion those high mileage oils are a marketing gimmick. I used regular Pennzoil 10w30 for a long time, recently changed to mobil one.

There is some discussion of synthetic use and boxers in the 'SVX Drip' thread. It looks like that is a myth. Well, sort of a myth. Apparently there was a bit of trouble with synthetics in air-cooled airplane flat motors.

On the other hand, Porsche uses synthetics (Mobil1) in their motors from the factory.

I say use synthetic. I like Mobil1, but there are a bunch of other great ones out there. Some peiople swear by Amsoil, Royal Purple, etc.

How many miles did your SVX have when you switched to Mobil 1? How many miles have you run thus far with synthetic? Any issues with leaky seals?

Thanks for your input! :D

-Chike

From at LEAST 20K miles till where it is now, Mobil 1 ONLY... NO leaks...

Hmmmm. I think around 15k with Synthetic, so that would make it 95kmiles when I started using Mobil1. I can see oil coming from the right side valve cover, but no visible drips on the driveway:) I had the same thing before I switched over. I imagine if I did the valve cover gasket I would have no leaks at all, but since it isn't bad, and I am lazy, I am not going to doit anytime soon.

I change the oil every 3k miles. I did 2k-2500 with the regular oil. It is a bit overboard, but I am anal. I also plan on driving this car to well over 200k so a few extra bucks here and there doesn't hurt. The synthetic comes out pretty clean at 3k, a nice golden brown, a little darker than new oil.

That's impressive for an SVX with 145K+ miles! :D

-Chike

95K when you started using Mobil 1? I may just give Mobil 1 a try at my next oil change...

-Chike

I started on Mobile 1 at 76K three plus years ago. The car now has 130K. Cam seals were replaced at 100K. I see a bit of dripping here & there, but nothing to make me spend a fortune to fix. I'd bet at least half of the owners here use synthetics.

Ron.

I started using Mobil1 at 90,000 (the mileage when I bought it). I now have 146,000. No leaks, no drips, no burning, nothing. I think my SVX was pretty well cared for though.....no constant beatings by some young kid. It doesn't burn or leak any fluids at all.





Dave

I have ALWAYS used Mobile1 "rallly formula" in my performance cars, because I KNOW it works!

Maybe other oils are as good or better, but that I DON'T KNOW !

Here in Sweden anyway, the "special" version "Rally Formula" is better that the "regular" type.



/Sonny :cool:

Whats the difference? Does anyone know if thisis available in the US under a different name? I've never seen it.

Having gotten 200,000 miles or better on each of my last three cars (two Subarus and a '68 Mustang) running plain, old Havoline 10W40, I'm of the opinion that frequent oil and filter changes have much more to do with engine longevity than the brand (or astounding claims) on the label. IMHO, paying four prices for a quart of oil doesn't make a great deal of sense.


dcb

Check out the following link: Mobil 1. Under Mobil 1 Products, checkout their racing formula. May be the same product that Sonar mentioned, but could be marketed in Sweden as a 'Rally Formula' as that racing is big over there! :D They state:

"Mobil 1 Racing 0W-30 is intended for professional and amateur "weekend" racecars, as well as modern high-output engines of all kinds. It is ideal for supercharged, turbocharged and high-revving, high-performance engines used in street applications."

-Chike

My mother-in-law who got 200K+ miles out of her ol' '87 Ford Ranger 4x4 swears by that as well. Any modern engine will last well over 100K miles if properly maintained!

I think it is the Mobile1 0W40 Synthetic which is called "rally formula" here.



/Sonny :cool: