Motor Oil survey

[StinkyCheese]

I got wind of this site today : http://www.bobistheoilguy.com . I kept reading until I realized the guy was insane, but it got me thinking. What is the best motor oil for my 40 year old Z? I've had a couple of high-mileage cars. I'm pretty good about getting oil changes and I've had several cars hit 200k without engine problems/smoking/losing power/etc. But I've always just bought the cheapest motor oil I could find. Maybe I just got lucky? Does oil matter? Maybe my motors last because I change the cheap oil often?

When I was in college I had a '72 Z whose engine started "clunking" at idle. I was putting 5W-30 in it and a friend suggested 40W oil. So I put in the 40W and the clunking went away. I haven't even read the manual to see what weight I'm supposed to be using. :stupid:

Also, I've always had a overgrown sense of skepticism about motor oil commercials on TV. I'm fond of dismissing their claims as BS. "Use this oil for your high-mileage car". BS. "This oil has special scrubbing bubbles that make the inside of your engine as clean as unicorn tears." BS. "This oil coats your piston sleeves and makes them smoother". BS.

Or am I just an idiot? (I've been accused of such before).

[SteveJ]

Look at the FSM or owner's manual. It will have the minimum specifications for oil. Newer specifications are supposed to be backward compatible. The main difference is the reduction in phosphorous, typically as ZDDP. Lots of people have opinions. Few people have facts.

[bpilati]

What about ZDDP?

[Gary in NJ]

It's just oil people. Can we get past the most over-hyped subject on the internet. It's just friggin' oil.

[black gold man]

[Arne]

Ha! Oil should be added to politics and religion as being taboo forum topics.

Seriously, just use whatever you are comfortable with. Because for every opinion you hear, there will be others that are polar opposites.

[sblake01]

エレファント　フォーミュラ: レース, ラリー あるいは高速ツーリグ用にチユーンアップしたエンジンには特にフォーミュラの使用をおすすぬいたします。

Formula brand of those Elephant oil recommends use to Race and Rally and Touring and tuneup engine.

もちろん一般市街地にも適用するよう十分配慮がなされています。

Of course they apply even street use enough.

ありがと

[Mike]

Super high-class. Is there any other way?

[SteveJ]

What about ZDDP?

It's part of the opinion. There are people who say old engines need more than what current oil contains. I haven't come across any studies, just anecdotes. Therefore, it comes across as opinion.

[FastWoman]

high in ZDDP and high in detergent -- heavy duty stuff for trucks and racing. Some synthetic content is good too, as synthetic oils don't drain completely off of metal surfaces when the engine is stopped. However, I don't think a straight synthetic gets you much more than a blend.

[Travel'n Man]

I'm using the oil that Dave Rebello with Rebello Racing recommends.........

[Carl Beck]

In my personal experience - synthetic oil {Mobile 1} reduced my engine operating temperatures by 15 degrees here in Florida. That's a big difference when it's 90 degrees plus outside. Nothing else was changed other than the oil.

Secondly - with my 70 SS 396 El Camino - when left sitting for 60 to 90 days - the lifter clatter at startup would scare you. Switched to Mobile 1 - end of lifter clatter. Same story with my 69 428 Super Cobra Jet in the Cougar Eliminator. {both have been sold several years ago}.

I don't have heat nor lifter clatter in my Chevy 2500HD Pickup - so I run Valvoline dino oil and change oil and filters every 6K miles. {Factory recommended service}.

Our 2009 M/B E-350 runs Mobile 1 - per the factory recommendation, if you want to keep the warranty intact. Oil and filter change once per year or 12,000 miles.

With the carb's and the use of chokes on start up - an overly rich mixture can dilute the oil in the crank case with gasoline. All my Z's get oil and filter changed every 4,000 miles.

In my opinion the bottom line - for certain issues - the synthetics are well worth the money. Also one has to wonder how much wear or how much increased HP you get when you reduce friction enough to reduce engine temperatures by 15 degrees.

FWIW,

Carl B.