I just changed my oil to Valvoline Dura Blend synthetic oil. What is the best oil to use as far as synthetic? What is the difference in the wts also. I used 5w 30. Which is standard.

The full synthetic oils most used by members are Mobile 1, Amsoil and Royal Purple.

I've been using Mobil-1 5w-30 since my second oil change. :thumbup:

I'm a HUGE Royal Purple fan. I've run it in all my street cars as well as my RX-7 that I would race. Great product!

I haven't seen RP in stores. Where do you get that at? Well my Mada seems pretty happy with the oil change. It was my actual 1st one I did for her myself. Usually someone else does it. I save alot of $. I did 2 cars for the price of one. So it's good to stick with 5w-30 right and not 10w-40?

....So it's good to stick with 5w-30 right and not 10w-40?
Yes!!! When you start changing viscosity, you're taking a chance of building sludge that becomes evident later like around 100k miles. I learned my lesson the hard way. :rolleyes:

Thanks Pops. From now on it's 5w-30

this might be a damn question, but i'll ask anyway. how often do you change oil when using synthetic oil? someone told me he uses synthetic on his bmw and he changes oil every 15k miles..

It depends on which Synthetic you get. There's 5k, 10k, 15k, ??..

I get the regular Mobil-1 (used to be the Blue Cap but is now the Blue on Label) and I still change mine every 3k-4k. Everyone tells me that's too often but I don't care, I'd rather change too often than not enough.

Keep in mind that the Filter is a factor also. You cannot throw the 15k Synth oil in with a plain Fram Filter and expect to wait 15k because the Filter will not hold up to it, there are better grade oil-filters for that.

Matrix, something about the Valvoline Durablend that you're not happy with? Otherwise, IMO there's no real compelling reason to switch from what you're doing to a full synthetic.

It depends on which Synthetic you get. There's 5k, 10k, 15k, ??..

I get the regular Mobil-1 (used to be the Blue Cap but is now the Blue on Label) and I still change mine every 3k-4k. Everyone tells me that's too often but I don't care, I'd rather change too often than not enough.

Keep in mind that the Filter is a factor also. You cannot throw the 15k Synth oil in with a plain Fram Filter and expect to wait 15k because the Filter will not hold up to it, there are better grade oil-filters for that.


that's what i thought.. 15k not replacing oil and filter is a long time.. like what you said it's better to change often instead of not enough..

my other question is can you tell the difference with regular and synthetic oil?

No noticeable difference except your valves are much cleaner when you reach 100k and decide its time to change your valve-cover gaskets. :D

The company I work for has a large fleet. Fleet changes oil every 6000 miles, keep in mind that we use oil & filter supplied by the lowest bidder. Never synthetic. I have seen and driven many 3/4 T trucks and SUV with over 200,000 miles. We replace vehicles when they are paid for or become a maintenance issue.

My observations for 200,000 miles

GM-you will replace/rebuild the auto transmission 3 times minimum in each vehicle that reaches this mileage.

Dodge-Has ongoing problem with suspension and frame.

Ford-Ignoring the problems with the 6.0 Diesel. We don't have many problems from Ford.

Bottom line. Cheap filter and cheap oil every 6000 miles OK.

Matrix, something about the Valvoline Durablend that you're not happy with? Otherwise, IMO there's no real compelling reason to switch from what you're doing to a full synthetic.
ShadyJC, no not actually, I was just wondering about how good it actually was since I hear alot about the PR and other types. So far I gotten much better gas milleage and I'm alot smoother on acceleration.

The company I work for has a large fleet. Fleet changes oil every 6000 miles, keep in mind that we use oil & filter supplied by the lowest bidder. Never synthetic. I have seen and driven many 3/4 T trucks and SUV with over 200,000 miles. We replace vehicles when they are paid for or become a maintenance issue.

My observations for 200,000 miles

GM-you will replace/rebuild the auto transmission 3 times minimum in each vehicle that reaches this mileage.

Dodge-Has ongoing problem with suspension and frame.

Ford-Ignoring the problems with the 6.0 Diesel. We don't have many problems from Ford.

Bottom line. Cheap filter and cheap oil every 6000 miles OK.

Could not agree more, the only thing I do different, is I change every 5k miles - easier for me to remember divisions of 5...10, 15, 20...

If you really pay attention and listen carefully to the actual wording to the Castrol synthetic oil TV Ad, the one with the two Dodge Chargers on the dyno, the commercial is VERY misleading. Good for them($), bad for us.
Because of the dramatic visuals and statement made by the actors, you are left with the impression that if you don't run synthetic your engine will blow up, because Dino oil, according to them, supposidly breaks down 29% sooner.
You could also deduct from their statements that if you change your Dino oil 29% sooner than you would have changed a synthetic oil there will be no difference. I've got an old 4Runner with over 200k (run hard & put away wet)and it has never had anything but whats on sale in its crankcase and it is ready to go another 100k, just change it every 5k and IMHO you will most likely never have an oil related problem, dino, synthetic, blend or otherwise.

My 04" Armada has 50,000 miles and with the exception of the factory oil which I dumped at 3,000 miles, I have used either Mobil 1 or Royal Purple, and always a Mobil 1 oil filter. My Armada has never skipped a beat, and I change the oil every 10,000 miles. I also have a 03 Nissan Altima with 139,540 miles and the same gig. Every 10,000 miles and the Altima doesn't use oil, nor does it leak oil. I had trouble in the begining going from dino oil to synthetic and keeping a critical fluid like oil in the crankcase for 10,000 miles since I was raised via my father that you change oil every 3000 miles. In my later years I got involved in Auto racing, and things I have seen with my own eyes clearly proved to me that there is no substitute for synthetic oil! It is clearly worth the extra money in every way and Superior in every way! Mobil 1 or Royal Purple? I give the nod to Royal Purple, but if you use a Brand name Synthetic, use it and call it a day. Your doing your car or truck a favor!

:)

Well that sure is a relief to hear that synthetic wouldn't have to be changed every 3k. I hated that. Now all my vehicles use synthetic oil. Maybe next time I'll use the Mobil1.

M1 10W-30 (I live in FL) with either M-1 Filter or Napa Gold which is the same as the WIX brand. I change my oil every 7500 miles. Honestly it is a waste of money to use M-1 with the standard 3000 mile interval. Keep in mind those interval became the "norm" due to stealerships and quicklube business marketing. The only diffrence between 5w-30 and 10w-30 is the cold flow properties. If you live in a cold climate 5w-30 will flow somewhat faster upon start-up where most engine damage can occur due to friction.