I drive my vehicles about 14,000 miles per year and own simple basic sedans and minivans. I call them basic but I'm old, so a car with AC and power windows is loaded to me. Changing oil twice a year [7,000 mile OCI] I use the cheapest oil available that meets the latest API spec. I buy this oil where it's convenient, Walmart, Canadian tire, or even the grocery store. 9 times out of 10 it's a store brand, but if a brand name is on sale and cheaper, I'll buy it.
I keep cars until they are about 17 years old. By then the interiors are showing their age, maintenance becomes more frequent and more difficult, seized fasteners and minor rust becomes a pain and the paint fades. It simply becomes time to get rid of them, but the engines do not suffer through lack of lubrication in any way that I can tell.
What would I have gained by spending more on name brand oil? I change oil twice a year to avoid changing my own oil outside during the winter [snow] months. Spring and fall works for me. SAE/API oil specs have improved year after year and any engine I have seen built after 1990 out lives the car built around it.
As far as I know, the store brand oils I have purchased are usually made by Shell Canada or Warren. It doesn't matter, only the spec it meets.
I currently own a Hyundai engine that may not follow in the footsteps of previous engines I've owned.
I keep cars until they are about 17 years old. By then the interiors are showing their age, maintenance becomes more frequent and more difficult, seized fasteners and minor rust becomes a pain and the paint fades. It simply becomes time to get rid of them, but the engines do not suffer through lack of lubrication in any way that I can tell.
What would I have gained by spending more on name brand oil? I change oil twice a year to avoid changing my own oil outside during the winter [snow] months. Spring and fall works for me. SAE/API oil specs have improved year after year and any engine I have seen built after 1990 out lives the car built around it.
As far as I know, the store brand oils I have purchased are usually made by Shell Canada or Warren. It doesn't matter, only the spec it meets.
I currently own a Hyundai engine that may not follow in the footsteps of previous engines I've owned.