Beating a dead horse with an oil can

[NathanY]

I have a 1999 GMC Jimmy 4X4 that runs perfect. No knocks or pings, does not burn or leak oil. BUT, it has 105,000 miles on it. I have been very meticulous in maintaining this vehicle. <br /><br />I run Castrol 10w-30 in it. <br /><br />I have been reading that synthetics will make an engine run cooler, and more efficient due to less heat and less drag on the motor. Since this tows my boat, I want the best for it.<br /><br />Can I safely change to synthetic oil on this vehicle without any harm to it?<br /><br />

 

[cajun555]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

Nathan, I'm not an expert on oil but my last work van 95 astro, 4.6L, loaded to the hilt, half stop & go D/FW area half highway, had 235,000 on it. Used Havoline 30 wt. the whole time with no kind of oil failures. 17 to 18 mpg the whole time. One of our service techs bought it 3 years ago, close to 300,000 still using Havoline and runs great. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

105,000 miles on it

Almost got her broke in!!

 

[crab bait]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

this is a job for LUBE DUDE..

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

I answered last night, but just when I went to post it, I was disconnected from the internet and I just went to bed.<br /><br />You can change over anytime if you want to, as long as you beleive your engine is reasonably clean and it sounds like you have maintained this vehicle well. On the other hand you really do not need to unless you just want to go a little longer between changes. Mobil 1 is good to 7,500-10,000 miles without a filter change in between. Amsoil farther if you want to spend $20.00 for an oil analisis, but why not just change it.<br /><br />Cajun555 is correct in that your engine will live a long time with just conventional oils if serviced regularly. It all depends on why you want to change.<br /><br />Synthetics will protect in severe situations much better than conventional oils in every situation, but unless you are towing an ocean liner all the time, I would put my money on maintenance in your situation.<br /><br />If you want a great oil at a great price, then see if you can find Chevron Dello 400 in the 10W-30, Its sometimes hard to find. You could use the 15W-40 durring the summer, These are diesel oils, but they are hydrocracked petrolium and as close to synthetic as you can get without the price. (Very close to the Castrol Syntec), and actually all year round in your climate. Thats what I use when Im not running synthetic.<br /><br />I use synthetic in everything I own, But then Im a little Anal about lubrication. (Ya think)!

 

[Formula1974]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

<br /><br />This is the odometer from my 95 blazer. It rolled over about a week ago. Always ran 10-30 in it every 3000 (or so hehe) miles. No oil problems whats so ever. I would keep your money for when other stuff goes on it. (over 100000 start looking at your starter, alt, fuel pump, U-joints which mine are still the originals and I need to replace them soon,) I have been pretty lucky and most of the stuff broke when I was in the driveway (except for the fuel pump which I changed in a parking lot and before you ask yes im a redneck to drop a tank in a parking lot)

 

[jimr]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

at work we run 5w30 in a vehicle until the warranty is up and then swap them to 15w40 because i can tell you that no one checks oil in our fleet.we would get police cars in with about a cup of oil in the pan and what ever in the filter before we started swaping and haven't had that problem sense. and as a rule we dont have any engine problems. we also seem to swap brands everyyear thanks to "low bid"

 

[cajun555]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

Formula, I bet when the fuel pump went out, the tank was at least half full. Thats the only time I've had f/pump problems is when tank is at least half full

 

[Formula1974]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

my pic doesnt seem to be loading if you right click the little minus mark at the top of my last post you can click on view image. <br /><br />The tank was a little over a 1/4 full and I figuared it ran out of gas and the gauge wasnt working right. so I dumped 5 gallons in it before I realised that it was something else. Then I sat and thought a minute and listened for the fuel pump.....no buzz means hours laying in the rain in a parking lot with people driving by staring at me.

 

[DJ]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

Nathan,<br /><br />It won't hurt anything to change. However,I would say just keep doing what you are doing.<br /><br />If it has gone 100K, and is healthy, it will probably go 300K.

 

[CoachHolland]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

Changing from a dino oil to a synth on an older engine is a good idea IMO. Using a synth from the beginning on a newer one is an even better idea. There is a reason for this... however some will say to stick with whatever you've been using all along.<br /><br />When you're using dino oil for most of the vehicles life and then decide to change synthetics, you starting noticing problems that may not have been noticable before. You may develope an oil leak, perhaps a tad of a knock, stuff might start leaking past seals. Is it the synthetic that caused that?<br /><br />No, of course not. The deal is that synthetics don't have the build up and they will clean your engine better than the old stuff. Dino oil will mask some things by gunking up stuff, thus you don't notice the problems that will cost you a little bit now until it is too late and costs you thousands later.<br /><br />As far as what brand to use, I would say Castrol or Mobile synth/synth blends. If you are going to go synthetic, I understand that you should stay away from Pennzoil. They are not true synthetics, just more refined dino oil and not worth the money. Do a search on google and you'll find a few things about Pennzoil. Apparently, just because a oil says "synthetic" doesn't mean that it is anymore thanks to them.

 

[clanton]

Re: Beating a dead horse with an oil can

103000 on my Nissan, 15-40 delo 400 from new. Only a set of sparkplugs,brake pads,tires, and plastic cap for windsheild washer tank. The lable on the last case of delo 400 has changed, now says something about part synthetic.