oil change question

[ramonesfreak]

hi..i dont mean to start a debate about which oil is best, because i see thats been discussed alot..ive just got a simple question i hope.

planning to change the oil tomorrow for the first time since owning the car. the best i can tell, the owner always used mobile 1 10W-30 synth. He had it 7 years and i believe he used that each year. he only drove it about 8K miles.

i drive it ALOT because thats why i bought it. ill drive it only from sping thru fall, upstate NY (hot in summer). it does NOT drip a single drop of oil with the synthetic that is in it.

its got 94K miles on the original trouble free engine.

i guess my question is...what oil should I use given the various discussions ive read about mobil 1 recently. Im hesitant to use Mobil 1 10W-30 now

1) should i stick with synthetic
2) what brand (that i can get at the typical pep-boys type place)

any opinions? thanks!

[tonythetarga]

If the synthetic in there does not drip, then stick with synthetic. I think 10-30 is too light and maybe OK for winter, but also being in NY, and knowing the heat and humidity, you want more range.
I think Mobil 1 is no longer available in 15 -50 but a good oil in that range is better than the 10-30. I think replacement Mobil 1 is now a 0 -50 or 5 -50 or something like that.

[ramonesfreak]

thanks tony..im in rochester by the way...!

[GMR911]

I also live in upstate,NY. Utica area. I always used 20W50 oil. I just recently changed from straight dino oil to Valvoline Durablend semi-synthetic, 20W50. I drive my car from April to November, whether permiting, Jerry

[bmgmd]

+1 for the more viscous synthetic oils

[glenncof]

I lived in Rochester for 3 years so I know...

Now I'm in N. Cal running 20w50 all year, now at 180K miles did my first synth run. I've used 20W50 all it's life, driven daily and it consumes the 'normal' 1qt/800miles since valve guides are original.

There's lots to consider but let me suggest two season oil strategy. I feel so much better if a vehicle has clean oil during periods of non-use in cold weather.

A dino and 10W40 weight seems good even if you drive a bit during winter cycle. Consider how many miles during the 'on' season and OCI/oil/cost to come up with a plan.

[ramonesfreak]

ill have to give more thought to the future but for today, i chose castrol syntec 5W-50.
N. cali now huh, i envy you. enjoy

[azasadny]

Stick with the oil that's given you and the previous owner the 94k trouble-free miles!

[ramonesfreak]

i would follow that rule but, the po had it 7 years and didnt drive it much(only about 1,500 per year..ill do that in 2 weeks easily) and i think was using mobile 1 10w-30. seems i read somewhere that the fomula was changed. as for the 2 other PO's, I have no idea what they used.

[Miguel Antonett]

Mobil 1, even if it leaks...

[GrantG]

Originally posted by azasadny
Stick with the oil that's given you and the previous owner the 94k trouble-free miles!

That's no longer possible. All the Mobil 1 formulas are re-formulated to the new EPA standards - better for cat converter, but worse for engine internals. I'm switching to Swepco 15W40...