2 different vehicles, hoping I can find one oil

[snowflake]

Hello BITOG

I have been a long time lurker and finally decided to make an account since I couldn't find an answer that I found all covering for my questions.
I have 2 vehicles, 89 Isuzu Amigo, with a 2.6 that has 196,000 miles on it, it is my daily driver/off road vehicle, it mainly sees short trips (about 8 miles to the college and back)every day and many hours in 4 wheel drive. The only "possible" issue is there is a tick at about 2650 rpms that persists until it is warmed up, I'm not sure what it is as this engine doesn't have hydraulic lifters, I was told it was possibly a worn rocker, although I think the sound would persist regardless of engine temperature.
Its current fill is Valvoline Max Life Synthetic (silver bottle) 5w30 with a wix filter
I have no idea what the manual recommends as I have no documents for the vehicle.
I change it every 2,500-5,000 miles, lately its been towards the 2500 as its all just 8 mile trips. It should be noted that I have tried lots of different oils, mobil 1, royal purple, rotella t, castrol 10w30 high mileage, in this engine.

The other vehicle is an 89 F150 5.0 with 105,000 on it. This is mainly going to be a highway truck, I'm a dirt bike racer and travel all over the southwest. Its current fill is Chevron Supreme High Mileage 10w30 with a FL1A motorcraft filter. No issues that I know of, manual recommends a 10w30.

So, do you guys have any recommendations? does anyone know what viscosity should be in the Isuzu? I would really like to simplify this and have one oil for both vehicles that way I can buy by the case. How often would you recommend changing the oil in the ford?
The isuzu gets revved alot, its called whimpy 4 banger with 31's

Any help is appreciated, sorry if I left anything critical you guys need.

 

[05Blazer]

Id put the Chevron in both cars. That is a great oil and usually cheap to get!

 

[JohnathanDm]

Originally Posted By: 05Blazer
Id put the Chevron in both cars. That is a great oil and usually cheap to get!

Ain't the Chevron Oil havoline?

 

[snowflake]

I have thought about this,since I got it for cheap for the Ford when I recently put it back together since the local Oreillys is no longer going to stock it, its been a while since I looked, but the only other place I've seen it is Pep Boys. And its for that reason that I got the high mileage formula, they already sold out of 10w30 in the non-hm formula. Its been my experience over the years that 75,000 miles is not high mileage, considering I've seen plenty of 300-400,000 mile cars/trucks, most notably an old Ford U-haul (i'm a road side assistance provider for them) with the v10 that had 250,000 miles on it, raised on whatever uhaul could buy in bulk!

I forgot to mention climate, usually pretty dry, with temps as low as 5*F in the winter and temps as high as 107* in the summer.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I`d use Maxlife 10W30 in both.

 

[JohnathanDm]

Originally Posted By: snowflake
I have thought about this,since I got it for cheap for the Ford when I recently put it back together since the local Oreillys is no longer going to stock it, its been a while since I looked, but the only other place I've seen it is Pep Boys.

I forgot to mention climate, usually pretty dry, with temps as low as 5*F in the winter and temps as high as 107* in the summer.


dang I remember! when it went for 40 cent's each. Oil Left the Store faster then Roaches in a Spot light! pep boys may still have stock piles of it.

 

[Bandito440]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I`d use Maxlife 10W30 in both.

That sounds like a plan, although I'd probably use 5w30 if you see starts as low as 5 degrees.

 

[snowflake]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I`d use Maxlife 10W30 in both.

That sounds like a plan, although I'd probably use 5w30 if you see starts as low as 5 degrees.

in the winter, I have no objection to changing it with the seasons if it protects them better

 

[spasm3]

rotella t-5 10w 30

 

[Bandito440]

Originally Posted By: snowflake
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I`d use Maxlife 10W30 in both.

That sounds like a plan, although I'd probably use 5w30 if you see starts as low as 5 degrees.

in the winter, I have no objection to changing it with the seasons if it protects them better

If you're changing it frequently and the vehicles don't have any issues, there's no harm in running 5w30 year-round. Plus, you can stock up on one oil like you wanted to.

 

[Kuato]

From Amsoil.com ... I think most on here agree that their charts are usually correct and often from the manufacturer.

For your 89 Isuzu:

Above 0 F......10W-30
Above 19 F......20W-20, 20W-40
Above 41 F......30
Below 19 F......5W-20
Below 59 F......5w30

With that chart, and the use you put on the Isuzu, a 5w30 will do great for you. (IMHO at that many miles I don't know that I'd go to a 20w.)

I think a 5w30 would be a great year round choice for both. Back in the late 80s the 5w30s were pretty weak, but that has changed; putting a thinner oil in at startup should do good things for your engines.


OCI for the Ford? What's recommended and what have you been doing? Without that info I'd think that any dino or synthetic will easily go 5000 miles, even with the towing.

 

[snowflake]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
From Amsoil.com ... I think most on here agree that their charts are usually correct and often from the manufacturer.

For your 89 Isuzu:

Above 0 F......10W-30
Above 19 F......20W-20, 20W-40
Above 41 F......30
Below 19 F......5W-20
Below 59 F......5w30

With that chart, and the use you put on the Isuzu, a 5w30 will do great for you. (IMHO at that many miles I don't know that I'd go to a 20w.)

I think a 5w30 would be a great year round choice for both. Back in the late 80s the 5w30s were pretty weak, but that has changed; putting a thinner oil in at startup should do good things for your engines.


OCI for the Ford? What's recommended and what have you been doing? Without that info I'd think that any dino or synthetic will easily go 5000 miles, even with the towing.


Well, oddly I didn't find anything in the manual as far as a recommended OCI, I haven't put enough miles on it to have to change it yet, its been sitting since 2007 due to a burned up transmission, I changed the oil when I put it back on the road.

 

[snowflake]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Originally Posted By: snowflake
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I`d use Maxlife 10W30 in both.

That sounds like a plan, although I'd probably use 5w30 if you see starts as low as 5 degrees.

in the winter, I have no objection to changing it with the seasons if it protects them better

If you're changing it frequently and the vehicles don't have any issues, there's no harm in running 5w30 year-round. Plus, you can stock up on one oil like you wanted to.

this is all horribly interesting to me, I'm a bit precautionary about this as I've always been told that a thicker oil, like a 10w40, was recommended because of our heat. Of course, I also held on to the old wives tale that Penzoil caused gunk and sludge and that has since been disproven. I guess worst that can happen is its noisier, and if I don't like it put it back at 10w30, but I'll certainly try it considering I have no scientific evidence to say it wouldn't be fine

 

[Clevy]

Whatever 5w30 you can find on sale at the time is perfect. Whether its Mobil 1,PP,PYB,castrol,valvoline or whatever. If your going to use conventional change it in the 5000-6000 mile mark and 10k for syns such as Mobil 1 and pennzoil platinum or ultra

 

[SS1970chrysler]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
rotella t-5 10w 30


Seconded.

 

[jorton]

Originally Posted By: SS1970chrysler
Originally Posted By: spasm3
rotella t-5 10w 30


Seconded.

This would be a good one if either vehicle burns too much regular 5w30.

Originally Posted By: snowflake
Hello BITOG

89 Isuzu Amigo, with a 2.6 that has 196,000 miles on it, it is my daily driver/off road vehicle, it mainly sees short trips(about 8 miles to the college and back)every day and many hours in 4 wheel drive.
The isuzu gets revved alot, its called whimpy 4 banger with 31's
.

Severe service oil change schedule is a good idea. That is probably 5000 miles with current formulations.

If you like a smooth, quiet running engine try Quaker
State in the green bottle, or Pennzoil Ultra or Platinum synthetic.

 

[LeakySeals]

I've found engines to be like people. Some like broccoli, some don't. Engines experience different conditions and maintenance by each owner. The result is different wear and different mechanical issues with age. Engines from the same manufacturer may show similar mechanical issues with age, so one brand of oil could work. But the same oil in an engine from another manufacturer may not work as well. This is indicated by UOA's on here. My 2 cars as an example: Grand Prix (GM 3800)- M1 shows higher copper, iron and lead. The Camry (I4 2az-fe)- shows beautiful UOA's with M1. So..Each of my engines gets its own oil. IMO a one oil choice for both means your settling in the middle rather than picking the best possible for each engine.

Just my opinion. But you will hear otherwise from shop owners that profit from the sale of bulk universal "meets every spec" oil.

 

[toneydoc]

For ease of oil stockage, I think I would follow Banditos recommendation and use 5w30 year round.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: snowflake
in the winter, I have no objection to changing it with the seasons if it protects them better


If it were me, I'd be tempted to run the MaxLife 5w30 in both year round.

 

[snowflake]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: snowflake
in the winter, I have no objection to changing it with the seasons if it protects them better


If it were me, I'd be tempted to run the MaxLife 5w30 in both year round.

silver or red?

I'm tickled to death with synthetics even though I realize their only real big advantage is cold starts although I'm cautious to pour it in the f150 as everyone has told me that it will cause leaks and burning on an older engine like that one.