Okay, so before I found this site 2 weeks ago, I was just another "change the oil when I get to it, with whatever is cheapest" kind of guy. Now, thanks to the information and opinions of many BITOGers who through trial an error have found the secrets of the oil universe, I can't stop fiddling with the fluids in my cars! The lady at the Walmart returns desk knows my first name, Pep Boys never saw me before a week ago and now has my name on their rebate list, the watercooler talk with my work buddies now centers around the latest oil swap I did at Wally World, WON'T SOMEONE HELP END THIS MADNESS! My story is as follows.....
We recently bought 2 new cars, an 04 Neon and an 02 PT Cruiser. I wanted to treat them right, so I Google up the term "Supertech oil reviews" and guess where I landed. I determined after some searching that the Supertech Synthetic and oil filters were adequate for both cars, as well as the 92 Cherokee I already had. Now that I had the BITOG infection after 2 days of reading posts here, I stocked up on enough Supertech products for 3 complete oil changes on all 3 vehicles. But Nooooo, unfortunately I kept reading. From many other posts I found that the Supertech was only a lousy Group III synth, so that just wouldn't do for my new babies, and besides the Jeep was just not sounding right after putting in the synth. Then, I found out in the Oil Filter forum that Supertech's have the new E-Core, and that is not a proven technology so I just can't have those allowing some nasties into my engine. So everything get's thrown in the trunk, and back to Wally World we go. I get in and plop the 6 unused 5 quart jugs of Supertech Synth, and 8 unused oil filters on the returns counter, and head back to get me some Mobil 1 love. I pick up 4 5 quart jugs for the new additions to our family and I'm figuring on 6k OCI, and stock up on 4 5 quart jugs of Supertech HM for the Jeep and plan for 5k OCI's on it. After doing the exchange, I head over to Pep Boys to get some Purolator Premium's with rebate for the Jeep, and stock up on 4 Mobil 1 filters for the Mopars. The weekend comes, I change em all out, and figure I'm done. But Nooooo! I go out and start up the Cruiser, and the sucker is making valve noise for about 3 minutes until the oil get's warm. Well surely, I can find the answer on BITOG, so back to the forums I go.
After some searching, I find out this is not uncommon on certain vehicles with the Mobil 1. Of course no search for information on BITOG is that simple, so I also find out in the process that MaxLife may be the only Valvoline product worth the money, which get's me thinking about the Supertech HM I just put in the Jeep. As well, I find out that I have to do 3k OCI on the Neon to keep the warranty good, and start figuring I may as well go dino due to the short OCI, and the valve noise in the Cruiser.
So this morning I pack up the oil stock again, and head back to Wally World. The lady looks at me funny at the return counter, cause I was just there a few days ago, I have no receipt (because my last choice was the right one with the Mobile 1, so who needs to keep the receipt?) and I want to return 8 5 quart jugs of oil all at one time. I make up some story about getting the wrong stuff, and she agrees to a gift card.
So I head back and pick up 8 5 quart jugs of Havoline 5w30 dino and 4 5 quart jugs of 5w30 MaxLife for the Jeep. I figure the Havoline has shown great UOA's on short OCI's, and the MaxLife is highly regarded for older vehicles. Then off to Pep Boys to stock up on Purolators for the Mopars and I'm all set.
So to summarize, pre-BITOG I would just head to the local AutoZone on Saturday and get the cheapest oil and filter I could find after running many miles over the 3k I should have been changing my oil at. Now post-BITOG, I have enough oil and filters in my garage for 4 oil changes on all 3 cars, I know that Havoline is a great dino for short OCI's, MaxLife show's great UOA analysis for most users, and Purolators are a pretty good filter for the money. The downside is that all my couterparts at work think I'm nuts to even talk about motor oil, my wife goes in the garage and just shakes her head wondering if I have gone off the deep end, and I can't stop dreaming about the next "secret" I might learn from this site! 2 weeks ago I didn't even know what an OCI, UOA, or dino oil was, now it is just part of my everyday language! Won't someone help me!?!
All kidding aside, thanks to everyone who contributes on this site to provide insight to keep these expensive monsters running a little smoother and longer, and I guess since I have an actual "oil supply" in my garage now, I can consider myself a member of the community. I am ruined for good!
We recently bought 2 new cars, an 04 Neon and an 02 PT Cruiser. I wanted to treat them right, so I Google up the term "Supertech oil reviews" and guess where I landed. I determined after some searching that the Supertech Synthetic and oil filters were adequate for both cars, as well as the 92 Cherokee I already had. Now that I had the BITOG infection after 2 days of reading posts here, I stocked up on enough Supertech products for 3 complete oil changes on all 3 vehicles. But Nooooo, unfortunately I kept reading. From many other posts I found that the Supertech was only a lousy Group III synth, so that just wouldn't do for my new babies, and besides the Jeep was just not sounding right after putting in the synth. Then, I found out in the Oil Filter forum that Supertech's have the new E-Core, and that is not a proven technology so I just can't have those allowing some nasties into my engine. So everything get's thrown in the trunk, and back to Wally World we go. I get in and plop the 6 unused 5 quart jugs of Supertech Synth, and 8 unused oil filters on the returns counter, and head back to get me some Mobil 1 love. I pick up 4 5 quart jugs for the new additions to our family and I'm figuring on 6k OCI, and stock up on 4 5 quart jugs of Supertech HM for the Jeep and plan for 5k OCI's on it. After doing the exchange, I head over to Pep Boys to get some Purolator Premium's with rebate for the Jeep, and stock up on 4 Mobil 1 filters for the Mopars. The weekend comes, I change em all out, and figure I'm done. But Nooooo! I go out and start up the Cruiser, and the sucker is making valve noise for about 3 minutes until the oil get's warm. Well surely, I can find the answer on BITOG, so back to the forums I go.
After some searching, I find out this is not uncommon on certain vehicles with the Mobil 1. Of course no search for information on BITOG is that simple, so I also find out in the process that MaxLife may be the only Valvoline product worth the money, which get's me thinking about the Supertech HM I just put in the Jeep. As well, I find out that I have to do 3k OCI on the Neon to keep the warranty good, and start figuring I may as well go dino due to the short OCI, and the valve noise in the Cruiser.
So this morning I pack up the oil stock again, and head back to Wally World. The lady looks at me funny at the return counter, cause I was just there a few days ago, I have no receipt (because my last choice was the right one with the Mobile 1, so who needs to keep the receipt?) and I want to return 8 5 quart jugs of oil all at one time. I make up some story about getting the wrong stuff, and she agrees to a gift card.
So to summarize, pre-BITOG I would just head to the local AutoZone on Saturday and get the cheapest oil and filter I could find after running many miles over the 3k I should have been changing my oil at. Now post-BITOG, I have enough oil and filters in my garage for 4 oil changes on all 3 cars, I know that Havoline is a great dino for short OCI's, MaxLife show's great UOA analysis for most users, and Purolators are a pretty good filter for the money. The downside is that all my couterparts at work think I'm nuts to even talk about motor oil, my wife goes in the garage and just shakes her head wondering if I have gone off the deep end, and I can't stop dreaming about the next "secret" I might learn from this site! 2 weeks ago I didn't even know what an OCI, UOA, or dino oil was, now it is just part of my everyday language! Won't someone help me!?!
All kidding aside, thanks to everyone who contributes on this site to provide insight to keep these expensive monsters running a little smoother and longer, and I guess since I have an actual "oil supply" in my garage now, I can consider myself a member of the community. I am ruined for good!
