Switching to synthetic

[dgpretzel]

I recently bought a used '03 Chevy Astro w/ 29K miles. I think probably at least a fourth of that mileage is highway. I think the rest is just local driving. Don't know how it was driven by previous owner, but I speculate not agressively. Our own style is very conservative. No off road; no spirited driving.

We keep our vehicles "for the duration". (Our last vehicle was an '86 Astro that we just "retired" at 210K miles after owning for 16 years.)

First thing I did with the "new" van was take it to garage and do an oil change. Used Mobil 1. Didn't do any cleaning or flushing. Perhaps, I should have(?).

I recently decided to use Amsoil 5w30 in the vehicle. I intend to use it on a 5K - 6K oil change interval.

Should I:

a) Do a short OCI on my current M1 (treating the M1 as a "cleaner") and put in the Amsoil?

b) Run the M1 to normal 5K and then do some kind of cleaning (Auto-RX?) and then put in Amsoil?

c) Do nothing special-- run the M1 for the normal 5K, then just put in Amsoil at next oil change?

d) None of the above (something else)?

I welcome any suggestions.

Thank you.

DG

 

[Pablo]

29K? The answer is..........C)

 

[dgpretzel]

I should add that I don't know that the previous owner didn't use synthetic.

 

[dgpretzel]

Responses on this board are amazingly fast and helpful.

Thank you.

DG

 

[simple_gifts]

Which Amsoil 5w30?

 

[CBDFrontier06]

Is there something in particular that has caused you to choose Amsoil versus continuing to use Mobil 1?

 

[dgpretzel]

Simple,

The "cheap stuff". I think it's called Extended Life. The 7500 OCI stuff.




CBD.

No particular reason. I had used Amsoil a little in the past, and it was available in a case lot for roughly same price as M1.




DG

 

[mdocod]

You have to ask your self the question: why get rid of a vehicle with only 29K on it? what if they realized they didnt do any oil changes that entire time and decided they better ditch it while they still can?!?!!

that'll keep you up tonight eh! (maybe reconsider the arx? lol)

 

[hsdfcu]

Quote:

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29K? The answer is..........C)

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I agree

 

[Nebraskan]

I agree with Pablo, C but I would use the 5w30 Heavy Duty motor oil up there in Alaska. The XL stuff doesn't have the pour point (meaning flow at low temps) that their regular oil does. The 7500 mile OCI Amsoil is NOT the same as their other oils and for cold winters I would really consider it or the German Castrol. I have read that GC had a pour point of -71F, but I can't substantiate that with any links, just what I've read on here. However, the 5w30 Amsoil regular has a pour point of -58 F.. that I do know.

And, by the way.....

 

[Patman]

Quote:

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You have to ask your self the question: why get rid of a vehicle with only 29K on it?

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I've gotten rid of a few new vehicles over the years which had that amount of mileage or less on them, and did regular oil changes on every one of them, as if I had planned on keeping them. I just ended up wanting a different car.

First I bought a 93 Sunbird new (as a daily driver to keep my Mustang in mint condition) but I only kept it for 18 months and only put about 20k on it. I traded it for a 94 Grand Am GT. I only kept that for about 18 months and only put about 25k on it. I traded it for a 95 Trans Am. I only kept that for 2 years and only put about 30k on it. I traded it for a 98 Formula. I owned it for 2.5 years, put 27k on it, and stupidly traded it for a 97 GTP. (one of the biggest car mistakes I ever made, that Formula was awesome)

So whoever got my cars, was super lucky because each one was in mint shape, each one of them got synthetic oil changes every 3-4k (keep in mind this was my pre-BITOG days when I was still being brainwashed by the oil companies)

 

[Nickdfresh]

If your heart is set on Amsoil, I think you'd be better off using the 0W-30 Series 2000, at least in the Alaskan winter...

 

[daman]

What wrong with the M1

,it's a VERY good oil?????