What Oil to Use?

bigmC993 · 11-05-2009, 04:30 PM

Anyone have an opinion on what oil I should use? I just bought a very high mileage(190,000) S-10 with 2.2 auto. I just put 1000 miles on it now and even though the oil still looks good I want to change it. It seems to be a good truck and I may keep it. I live in Houston and the weather is moderate. I was thinking of using the Castrol oil for high mileage vehicles. Any suggestions?

SonnyD · 11-05-2009, 04:43 PM

I'd definitely use the High Mileage oil. I just bought my 2000
2.2 auto with 181,000 on it, and put in High Mileage oil. The Lady I
bought it from had already been using High Mileage oil, so it just made
sense, plus it's what I would have used even if she hadn't. If you want
to pay a little less NAPA oil is made by Valvoline and bottled for NAPA.
It's a little less money then the Valvoline bottles, and you still get the
good stuff.......and Yes, I do work for NAPA

Regards Sonny

bigmC993 · 11-05-2009, 07:41 PM

Thanks Sonny! What do you think of the Castrol high mileage oil?

jc71corvette · 11-05-2009, 07:57 PM

you want more info? check out my thread, its a sticky about oil.

Bobthebiker · 11-05-2009, 08:01 PM

Personally I'd just run Rotella 5W40 synthetic, but I'm comfortable with that stuff, so yeah.

SonnyD · 11-06-2009, 01:30 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by bigmC993

Thanks Sonny! What do you think of the Castrol high mileage oil?

I think pretty much all quality oil is pretty equal. If it's not loosing or
using much then I guess the more expensive oil is ok. Mine makes about
a nickel size spot on the drive over night, and in the 400 miles I've driven
it since I changed the oil, it doesn't look like it's used any, but I'm still
using the NAPA/Valvoline stuff. I think it's only like 2.79 a quart for
walk ins, and the Valvoline and Castrol are about a buck more.
There is a service bulletin from GM about using Castrol, in the fact that
if you use Castrol and have a failure GM won't honor the warranty. I
don't know why it is, because I know a lot of people that swear by
Castrol and never had a problem. Of course that won't effect us that have
older high mileage vehicles. I bought my Saturn new in 99 and for the first
couple of years got free oil changes at the Saturn dealer and they used
Castrol. I use Royal Purple Synthetic in it now and have for the last 4 years,
along with using it in my bike too.
I don't know about switching to anything Synthetic in the 150,000+vehciles
though, if it lasted that long on Dino....it's probably still good to go on it.
Also as mentioned, there is Shell Rotella, in which I'd probably still just
use the Dino version. I get stuff cheap, so I can get Synthetic for about
what everyone else pays for Dino, but I just have a quesy feeling about
putting it in an engine with close to 200,000 miles on it. I'm by no
means an "oil guru", I just go with what seems natural.
100 people will probably give you almost 100 different answers on oil

If I can save a few pennies here and there by not going with more then
I need then I do. I bought my truck for 1800, so I'm not going to spend
a lot to keep it going. I've replaced 1 heater hose, and installed a new
fuel filter, It's getting a new Catalytic converter next week because the
one on it is busted up inside and I can't stand the rattling, but the truck
still runs fine.
I'm just doing this one "on the cheap".....famous last words huh

Regards Sonny

threehouse · 11-06-2009, 12:17 PM

I don't know much about differences between oil types. However between regular and high milage oil I say save the $$ and go with the regular. They pretty much work the same. I would say go with a better oil filter such as bosch or K&N though. The better filter will definitely help. I use 10w-30 in my 99 s-10 4.3L. ~203,00miles on it

I also have a 89 325i BMW with 230,000 miles on it and have owned it since 180,000 miles and my dad has owned it from 40,000 miles. I always used regular oil in it, one time I did try high mileage at 200k but never noticed a difference. I used 10w-30 or 10w-40 in that for winter/summer.

I usually go 4000miles between changes also. Never had any problems.

SonnyD · 11-06-2009, 04:08 PM

IMO, I'd still go with high mileage oil. Like I mentioned, I'm in no way an
Oil Guru, but the High Mileage oil has additives in it beneficial to a
High Mileage motor. I don't think any human can tell a difference
in the Regular and High Mileage just by driving, but I bet that motor
can tell! You won't notice the benefits that you get from going from
Dino oil to Synthectic. The High Mileage oil will do better on the seals
and gaskets and other internals. You can definitely use regular oil, but
I'm a firm believer in the benefits the engine will receive from the HM
oil.
Regards Sonny

11-05-2009, 04:30 PM	#1
bigmC993 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 Location: User is: OffLine	What Oil to Use? Anyone have an opinion on what oil I should use? I just bought a very high mileage(190,000) S-10 with 2.2 auto. I just put 1000 miles on it now and even though the oil still looks good I want to change it. It seems to be a good truck and I may keep it. I live in Houston and the weather is moderate. I was thinking of using the Castrol oil for high mileage vehicles. Any suggestions?
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 04:43 PM	#2
SonnyD Registered User Age: 60 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 30 Location: Overland Park, Ks User is: OffLine	Re: What Oil to Use? I'd definitely use the High Mileage oil. I just bought my 2000 2.2 auto with 181,000 on it, and put in High Mileage oil. The Lady I bought it from had already been using High Mileage oil, so it just made sense, plus it's what I would have used even if she hadn't. If you want to pay a little less NAPA oil is made by Valvoline and bottled for NAPA. It's a little less money then the Valvoline bottles, and you still get the good stuff.......and Yes, I do work for NAPA Regards Sonny
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 07:41 PM	#3
bigmC993 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: What Oil to Use? Thanks Sonny! What do you think of the Castrol high mileage oil?
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 07:57 PM	#4
jc71corvette Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 440 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: What Oil to Use? you want more info? check out my thread, its a sticky about oil.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 08:01 PM	#5
Bobthebiker Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 573 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: What Oil to Use? Personally I'd just run Rotella 5W40 synthetic, but I'm comfortable with that stuff, so yeah.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 01:30 AM	#6
SonnyD Registered User Age: 60 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 30 Location: Overland Park, Ks User is: OffLine	Re: What Oil to Use? Quote: Originally Posted by bigmC993 Thanks Sonny! What do you think of the Castrol high mileage oil? I think pretty much all quality oil is pretty equal. If it's not loosing or using much then I guess the more expensive oil is ok. Mine makes about a nickel size spot on the drive over night, and in the 400 miles I've driven it since I changed the oil, it doesn't look like it's used any, but I'm still using the NAPA/Valvoline stuff. I think it's only like 2.79 a quart for walk ins, and the Valvoline and Castrol are about a buck more. There is a service bulletin from GM about using Castrol, in the fact that if you use Castrol and have a failure GM won't honor the warranty. I don't know why it is, because I know a lot of people that swear by Castrol and never had a problem. Of course that won't effect us that have older high mileage vehicles. I bought my Saturn new in 99 and for the first couple of years got free oil changes at the Saturn dealer and they used Castrol. I use Royal Purple Synthetic in it now and have for the last 4 years, along with using it in my bike too. I don't know about switching to anything Synthetic in the 150,000+vehciles though, if it lasted that long on Dino....it's probably still good to go on it. Also as mentioned, there is Shell Rotella, in which I'd probably still just use the Dino version. I get stuff cheap, so I can get Synthetic for about what everyone else pays for Dino, but I just have a quesy feeling about putting it in an engine with close to 200,000 miles on it. I'm by no means an "oil guru", I just go with what seems natural. 100 people will probably give you almost 100 different answers on oil If I can save a few pennies here and there by not going with more then I need then I do. I bought my truck for 1800, so I'm not going to spend a lot to keep it going. I've replaced 1 heater hose, and installed a new fuel filter, It's getting a new Catalytic converter next week because the one on it is busted up inside and I can't stand the rattling, but the truck still runs fine. I'm just doing this one "on the cheap".....famous last words huh Regards Sonny
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 12:17 PM	#7
threehouse Registered User Age: 23 Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 186 Location: Stonington CT User is: OffLine	Re: What Oil to Use? I don't know much about differences between oil types. However between regular and high milage oil I say save the $$ and go with the regular. They pretty much work the same. I would say go with a better oil filter such as bosch or K&N though. The better filter will definitely help. I use 10w-30 in my 99 s-10 4.3L. ~203,00miles on it I also have a 89 325i BMW with 230,000 miles on it and have owned it since 180,000 miles and my dad has owned it from 40,000 miles. I always used regular oil in it, one time I did try high mileage at 200k but never noticed a difference. I used 10w-30 or 10w-40 in that for winter/summer. I usually go 4000miles between changes also. Never had any problems.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 04:08 PM	#8
SonnyD Registered User Age: 60 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 30 Location: Overland Park, Ks User is: OffLine	Re: What Oil to Use? IMO, I'd still go with high mileage oil. Like I mentioned, I'm in no way an Oil Guru, but the High Mileage oil has additives in it beneficial to a High Mileage motor. I don't think any human can tell a difference in the Regular and High Mileage just by driving, but I bet that motor can tell! You won't notice the benefits that you get from going from Dino oil to Synthectic. The High Mileage oil will do better on the seals and gaskets and other internals. You can definitely use regular oil, but I'm a firm believer in the benefits the engine will receive from the HM oil. Regards Sonny
	[Reply w/Quote]