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Hey Doc! Need your thoughts on engine oil?

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Bret

Bret

Yoda
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Hey Doc, need you to shine some light on an ongoing debate over in the P-car world about engine oils. There are several groups that circle the wagons whenever the subject comes up but I’m still kind of new at this so I was wondering your thoughts on this.

Here are the major players:
Mobil 1 5w40,
Castrol Synthetic 5w50
Valvoline “Racing” Oil 20w50
A few Redline holdouts as well as a hand full of guys (one real racer) who swear by Amsoil 20w50.

There are a number of guys who add a qt of Lucas oil treatment with each oil change too.

The one guy who regularly campaigns his shark swears he’s never had an oil related engine failure whereas the Mobile One & Valvoline guys are notorious (according to him) for engine woes related to oil.

Now personally I’m not planning on going to the track anytime soon so my car will see mostly normal duties. So I’m not so sure I’d have anything to gain from using 20w50 and am leaning towards the 5w40s or 5w50s I just cant make up my mind on the brand.

Also what are your thoughts on Dino vs. Synthetic?
 
I've stayed with dino carcass derivatives but I'll be accused of bein' old. The Castrol has always been my first and last choice. I s'pose the synth-for-breakfast crowd has their reasons but I have mine, too. Mostly experience and superstition. Not gonna get into all the argie over it. Engines I've yanked apart have had no evidence any of 'em played a part in either keeping the things running longer nor caused any premature failure... but LACK of oil HAS in some cases.

I'd say pour in the Castrol and drive on. Change it regularly at 3~4K and you'll be fine. <shrug>

If it was good enuff for Dr F. Porsche, I suspect it'll be good enuff for one more shark. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Ok Doc, is that you talking or the P-car mechanic? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Also 5w40 or 5w50?
 
Hard to separate 'em, Bret.

5w50.
 
I'd like to reommend you do a search on Lucas.

Somewhere in the depths of my computer's memories is a site that shows Lucas oil additives as cavitation prone, non effective pressure resistant formulas. Kinda like why Dyson vacuum cleaners are so expensive, to pay for their advertising.

Smokey Yunick(who I consider to be one of the finest automotive engineers ever) wrote an article for Circle Track somewhere around 10-15 years ago on synthetics versus nonsyntheti oils. If you can find that article, it might have an influence on your opinions on oils purchased.

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/videos Okay, can't go right there, so I didn't write the link down. But go to bobistheoilguy.com web site and you should be able to find the link to look at the videos. Very interesting.
 
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