Ultimate Motor Oil Thread or Why we hate CJ4/SM oils

[RWebb]

surely a big burg like Vancouver, BC has some good oils available(?)

[Steve@Rennsport]

Originally Posted by woywitka

Hey Steve,

the reason I mention the GTX 20W 50 Diesel is it makes a claim that it meets all manufacturers requirements for Gasoline engines, and foaming at higher revs is not unique to only Porsche gasoline engines. This oil also meets the requirements on the first page.

I'm no fan of Castrol products due to long-term personal experiences so I don't take their marketing nonsense seriously. Their credibility is quite suspect and IMHO, there are decent enough alternatives that eliminate the potential issues.

I think the hardest thing for many people is understanding that the FLAPS is no longer the best place to find a quality lubricant for their car and the convenience factor may be gone. Its going to get worse in October when the new standard API-SN takes affect.

Its just me, but given the financial consequences of a bad choice and what I've seen, I have no issues with mail ordering oil (or anything else for that matter).

[dshepp806]

Same here,..budget it (cheap, relatively speaking) and go the mail order route if not conveniently available right down the road.


Doyle

[sancho]

I don't know how available it is in the USA, but Penrite HPR15, is 15w60 with semi synthetic formula specially designed for older engines and has a zinc content of 0.110% which is more than enough for a full protection and it is mineral based with semi synthetic formula.......

I have been using it for years and my car does not smoke on the startup since i started using it, I don't know if that has got anything to do with it or just a coincidence. we have a climate similar to California.

[drb930]

Subscribed!

[AlfonsoR]

Originally Posted by woywitka

This is not a question of saving money, this is a question of availability. I want a reasonable oil that is locally available and acessible.

I have that concern/condition as well. That is why I use Mobil 1 20w-50 V-Twin formula. Is this not available at your local auto parts store?

[SAM DACOSTA]

Originally Posted by AlfonsoR

I have that concern/condition as well. That is why I use Mobil 1 20w-50 V-Twin formula. Is this not available at your local auto parts store?

That's an excellent point and one I never considered when changing to Brad Penn. I was heading to the track a few weeks ago and needed extra oil and could not source any Brad Penn. I contacted them and they recommend a local dealer but he had none in stock. I had to buy 3 qts. off a local Porsche shop.

If I'm unable to source a good, ready supply them I'm switching back to Mobil 1, which as you rightly said is available at local parts stores.

[HarryD]

Valvoline VR-1 should also be readily available at your FLAPS and Kendall GT appears to be a good alternative as well.

[tchanson]

Originally Posted by SAM DACOSTA

That's an excellent point and one I never considered when changing to Brad Penn. I was heading to the track a few weeks ago and needed extra oil and could not source any Brad Penn. I contacted them and they recommend a local dealer but he had none in stock. I had to buy 3 qts. off a local Porsche shop.

If I'm unable to source a good, ready supply them I'm switching back to Mobil 1, which as you rightly said is available at local parts stores.

Agreed. The current formulation Mobil 1 15W50, which has fine ZDDP numbers, is available at thousands of Walmarts across the country.

Additionally, Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 is always available at any local AutoZone or Advance Auto Parts store, among many others.





Tim

[AlfonsoR]

I need to find a good oil for my wife's 2003 530i. It takes 10w-30. I've switched over to Royal Purple, but i prefer the brands that actually manufacture the oil as opposed to boutiques, i.e. RP, red line& amsoil. I think i'll try the mobil 1 mxt 10w-40.

[brads911sc]

Just about any brand oil will be fine for a 2003. Mobil is good. As is Valvoline VR 1, which comes in 10w30 and is available at autozone.

Originally Posted by AlfonsoR

I need to find a good oil for my wife's 2003 530i. It takes 10w-30. I've switched over to Royal Purple, but i prefer the brands that actually manufacture the oil as opposed to boutiques, i.e. RP, red line& amsoil. I think i'll try the mobil 1 mxt 10w-40.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by AlfonsoR

I need to find a good oil for my wife's 2003 530i. It takes 10w-30. I've switched over to Royal Purple, but i prefer the brands that actually manufacture the oil as opposed to boutiques, i.e. RP, red line& amsoil. I think i'll try the mobil 1 mxt 10w-40.

Unless you car has some type of special race build, it (like all cars after the mid-90's) has roller tappets which are ok with the newer formulations. Pick a brand you like and "don't worry, be happy".

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by HarryD

Unless you car has some type of special race build, it (like all cars after the mid-90's) has roller tappets which are ok with the newer formulations. Pick a brand you like and "don't worry, be happy".

Absolutely, and you don't want a high ZDDP oil in that car. "Regular" Mobil 1 10w40 is fine and available everywhere.

[AlfonsoR]

Brad,

I'm in the Houston area as well (missouri city) and just got my car, an 89 coupe, 2 weeks ago. Do any pelicans and r-listers get together for coffee around here? Need to get the inside scoop on DE and 911 events too.

Alfonso

[AlfonsoR]

Originally Posted by GaryR

Absolutely, and you don't want a high ZDDP oil in that car. "Regular" Mobil 1 10w40 is fine and available everywhere.

Why not? I love ZDDP!!

[brads911sc]

Because it will destroy your Cat and those are expensive on that car.

Originally Posted by AlfonsoR

Why not? I love ZDDP!!

[brads911sc]

Yes there are four cars and coffee events every month. You a member of the Lone Star Region of the PCA?
The main one is Uptown Square. There is also one at Starbucks at 290/Spring Cypress and one at the Starbucks at the Marketplace by the woodlands mall and one at paradise coffee in clear lake as well.

Cheers and welcome!

Originally Posted by AlfonsoR

Brad,

I'm in the Houston area as well (missouri city) and just got my car, an 89 coupe, 2 weeks ago. Do any pelicans and r-listers get together for coffee around here? Need to get the inside scoop on DE and 911 events too.

Alfonso

[AlfonsoR]

I had a 2000 528i with 190,000 miles and have a 1988 635 with 210,000 miles and have been using oils with higher ZDDP content....no issues at emissions testing. I had been using 20w-50 in the 528, but as stated earlier, wanted to use the recommended grade 5 or 10w-30 oil with higher ZDDP content in the new-t0-us 530. I figure a cat is much cheaper than engine rebuild.

[grizzfan]

SAM DACOSTA says:

That's an excellent point and one I never considered when changing to Brad Penn. I was heading to the track a few weeks ago and needed extra oil and could not source any Brad Penn. I contacted them and they recommend a local dealer but he had none in stock. I had to buy 3 qts. off a local Porsche shop.

If I'm unable to source a good, ready supply them I'm switching back to Mobil 1, which as you rightly said is available at local parts stores.

I bought a case of Brad Penn off Amazon.com for $66.20 shipped to Montana where nothing like BP is available.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by AlfonsoR

I had a 2000 528i with 190,000 miles and have a 1988 635 with 210,000 miles and have been using oils with higher ZDDP content....no issues at emissions testing. I had been using 20w-50 in the 528, but as stated earlier, wanted to use the recommended grade 5 or 10w-30 oil with higher ZDDP content in the new-t0-us 530. I figure a cat is much cheaper than engine rebuild.

I give you alot of respect for that. It is good to hear someone with mechanical sympathies. Good going on keeping the BMW engine healthy when so much of BMW maintainance is "run it into the ground, then replace" nowadays.

However, if the contact pressures in the engine are not extremely high, then the ZDDP will not be degraded as fast and therefore you can get by with less zinc and phosphorous. At a point, more is not necessarily better and it can actually start being worse in extreme concentraions.