Is Chevron Supreme really that good?

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GMC_Z71

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Hey all. I have a 04 GMC Sierra with the 5.3 that I plan on keeping for a long, long time. I have been using Chevron Supreme 10w30 for the past couple of oil changes and it makes the truck run smooth and good. But does Chevron hold up as good as big brand oils (Pennzoil, Castrol)? I do mostly highway driving right now, but I could see some city driving before long. But does it hold up as well as say Pennzoil or Havoline? Just really want to ensure that the oil thats in there is protecting my engine to the best. (I really can't afford synthetics, since I don't have the time to change my own oil)

I coming up on my next oil change and it will probably be my last in the area that I now live in. I don't think Chevron is aviable in the central texas region and I would like to know if I should switch now or try to find some Chevron when I get to Texas in about 4 months.

But if I had to switch, it would be to Pennzoil. Does anyone run Pennzoil in a GM 5.3 and still have a chatter or knock (piston slap) when cold or just idling while using Pennzoil? Or does it run quiet and smooth?

And experience in this area will be appreciated.
 
Chevron makes very good oil. If you want to verify your application, do a UOA.

It may be worth noting that everywhere I've been in the West, Chevron oils and lubricants tend(ed) to be among the more expensive brands (apeaking of conventionals, not synthetics) when priced in drums or bulk shuttles from the distributors. Perhaps tanker-loads are cheaper. That their Supreme line of gasoline engine oils happens to be supremely inexpensive after rebate from the auto parts chain out here is not indicative of poor quality, just a lucky break for us resulting from a marketing tie-in of some sort.

The point is to say that Chevron is NOT a discount brand. It is a very high-quality product that happens to be available to some of us at a very low price.
 
I would say that for OTC dino oil that Chevron SUpreme and Havoline are the best buys! They give you a product that is and has been for a long time all G II+ fluid with a good additive package! I do not think that Castrol or Pensoil dino products are as good in terms of base stock or additive package. They definately are not priced as well (barring rebates). Chevron is a bigger company then Castrol is and actualy makes their additive package and their base oils in house. Castrol is just a blender and does not own their own refinerys or their own additive company last I knew! Pensoil,Rotella and Quaker State are all owned by Shell.
 
quote:
But if I had to switch, it would be to Pennzoil. Does anyone run Pennzoil in a GM 5.3 and still have a chatter or knock (piston slap) when cold or just idling while using Pennzoil? Or does it run quiet and smooth?
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I've run Pennzoil 5w30 and 10w30 dino with excellent results in my 2000 4.8l V8.

No knock and real smooth. Also the UOA was better than Mobil 1 that I ran for the same time frame.

I'm running Chevron right now and it's a excellent oil.

Take care, Bill
biggthumbcoffe.gif
 
I have a 2002 Chev. Cavalier with nasty piston slap when cold. I'm running Pennzoil 5w30 in it right now, and it hasn't helped at all. On Wed., I will be changing the Pennzoil out for Q-S 5w30. I'll see if that helps at all.
 
quote:
Originally posted by JohnBrowning:
I would say that for OTC dino oil that Chevron SUpreme and Havoline are the best buys! They give you a product that is and has been for a long time all G II+ fluid with a good additive package! I do not think that Castrol or Pensoil dino products are as good in terms of base stock or additive package. They definately are not priced as well (barring rebates). Chevron is a bigger company then Castrol is and actualy makes their additive package and their base oils in house. Castrol is just a blender and does not own their own refinerys or their own additive company last I knew! Pensoil,Rotella and Quaker State are all owned by Shell.
Click to expand...
You need to do some research. Castrol was bought by BP back in 2000 While what you say may be corect in that Castrol itself does not own any refineries, however, BP does own quite a few refineries globally, including the second largest in the USA. I will disagree specifically with one thing you said. I believe Castrol has the best additive package of the dinos. BP also has some of the best cracking units in the USA. Some google searches will bring you up to speed.

On topic though, Chevron Supreme uses good basestock. I belive their website says the oil comes from their California refinery. With such a good basestock their add pack doesn't have to be "overkill".
 
quote:
Originally posted by JohnBrowning:
I would say that for OTC dino oil that Chevron SUpreme and Havoline are the best buys! They give you a product that is and has been for a long time all G II+ fluid with a good additive package! I do not think that Castrol or Pensoil dino products are as good in terms of base stock or additive package. They definately are not priced as well (barring rebates). Chevron is a bigger company then Castrol is and actualy makes their additive package and their base oils in house. Castrol is just a blender and does not own their own refinerys or their own additive company last I knew! Pensoil,Rotella and Quaker State are all owned by Shell.
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Actually, JB is pretty much on target with all his statements.

The term "blender" is probably accurate for Castrol, since neither Castrol nor BP have a base oil plant in the US.

Do not confuse gasoline hydrocrackers and refineries with a base oil facility.

The heavy residuals left over from gasoline hydrocracking are commonly used for asphalt and are not suitable for base oil production.

As periodically reported here at Bitog, Petro Canada is a base oil source used by Castrol.

And Castrol Syntec is blended & packaged at the old Kendall refinery, now run by ARG, in Bradford, Pennsylvania.
 
I'm happy to hear you guys talking about CS. I use this oil in my Buick, and it keeps it running smooth and quiet. I should probably use it again on my next OCI, but being the promiscuous motor oil freak that I am, I'll probably still try something else.
pat.gif
 
quote:
Castrol is just a blender and does not own their own refinerys or their own additive company
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Castrol, as said, is owned by BP, and BP is huge world-wide. Only Chevron (Chevron Oronite) and ExxonMobil & Royal Dutch/Shell (Infineum) own additive makers. The other large additive makers are Lubrizol, Afton, RohMax--not owned by oil majors. Most makers of finished lubes do not own their base oil plants, either.


Ken
 
Oreillys carries CS 10w30 here. It's difficult to compare brands b/c formulations are propriatory. CS has had excellent performance in UOA here at this site.
 
Hey GUys we are compareing dino oils here not synthetics! I am not talking about Castrol Syntec as it would not be an apples to apples comparison to Chevron Supreme. Rember in the origanal post Chevron Supreme 10W30 was named specificaly. All of the responces though have been excellent so do not take my above coments as anything but a reminder of the topic.

I would think that most would be hard pressed to find a Chevron Supreme UOA that did not look great! In almost all cases they UOA from it are outstanding. Unless Castrol GTX has changed alot in recent months it has always had a decent but lack luster additive package.

I would recomend that the end user let UOA be their guid.
 
The only place around here to buy Chevron oil is at the gas stations. $3+ a quart. I called a Chevron distributor in the town next to where I live. $19 and change for a 12 quart case. Makes it well under $2 a quart.Not as good as some places out west where it's about a nickel a quart before the rebates but I'm really tempted...
 
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