Yet another "What oil should I use?" thread.

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Thought I would ask you guys for your opinions on what oil I should use.

The car is a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier I just recently bought and the first oil change I will be doing on it will be at 91,700 miles. Base model with the 2200 engine. Owners manual recommends 5w30 with the API starburst symbol, and oil changes to be done every 3000 miles during severe use and 7500 during normal.

My big thing is I live in Wasilla, Alaska, temperatures range from 80f in the summer to -20f in the winter at absolute worst. I drive the vehicle pretty easily, don't push it too hard. My daily drive is driving into wasilla and immediately back (24 miles roundtrip) twice a day, so 48 miles total a day. The drive there is pretty much 18 miles of 55mph low traffic driving with a couple of stoplights and then 6 miles of light city driving dropping down to 45mph. Occasionally go into Anchorage where there is a lot of city driving, about 160 miles roundtrip, maybe do that drive once every two or three weeks. Never really have a trip that is less than 10 miles out and 10 miles back.

No known problems with the vehicle, runs and shifts extremely well. I'm not too sure what oil is in it right now, just know it was put in at ~88,700. My biggest concern with this vehicle is making it last as long as possible, with as high mileage as possible and I know what oil (especially dino oil vs synthetic) can play into that, which is why I want to figure out what the best oil is for the conditions and vehicle is. Also curious as to what the best oil change interval would be with whatever oil you guys recommend is.

Thanks a lot in advance guys (and gals)
 
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Since most of your trips are more than 10 miles with few stop and go, you are under normal condition then you should stay with name brand conventional 5W30 in summer and change to 5W20 in winter. The oil change interval should be 6-7k miles or 6 months whichever is first.
 
I use RP oil in my car which is a true by definition synthetic and change it 4500-6,000 miles with 105hrs- 130 hrs IDLING time.
Car has 6,000 hours on it. ODO reads 211,067 miles. Motor is PERFECT! Yes, I have performed leak down and compression tests. Both are with 6% of top factory limits.
Royal Purple gets my vote
 
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im thinking if it were my car. i would run a 0-30 synthetic probably mboil 1 or pennz platinum. maybe 5w30 in summer though but since its so cold in the winter i think 0w30 is a better choice.
 
Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
I use RP oil in my car which is a true by definition synthetic and change it 4500-6,000 miles with 105hrs- 130 hrs IDLING time.
Car has 6,000 hours on it. ODO reads 211,067 miles. Motor is PERFECT! Yes, I have performed leak down and compression tests. Both are with 6% of top factory limits.
Royal Purple gets my vote


Only use RP if it is in your budget. It has proven not to be superior to other synthetics only just as good.
 
Originally Posted By: Deltantor
Thought I would ask you guys for your opinions on what oil I should use.

The car is a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier I just recently bought and the first oil change I will be doing on it will be at 91,700 miles. Base model with the 2200 engine. Owners manual recommends 5w30 with the API starburst symbol, and oil changes to be done every 3000 miles during severe use and 7500 during normal.

My big thing is I live in Wasilla, Alaska, temperatures range from 80f in the summer to -20f in the winter at absolute worst. I drive the vehicle pretty easily, don't push it too hard. My daily drive is driving into wasilla and immediately back (24 miles roundtrip) twice a day, so 48 miles total a day. The drive there is pretty much 18 miles of 55mph low traffic driving with a couple of stoplights and then 6 miles of light city driving dropping down to 45mph. Occasionally go into Anchorage where there is a lot of city driving, about 160 miles roundtrip, maybe do that drive once every two or three weeks. Never really have a trip that is less than 10 miles out and 10 miles back.

No known problems with the vehicle, runs and shifts extremely well. I'm not too sure what oil is in it right now, just know it was put in at ~88,700. My biggest concern with this vehicle is making it last as long as possible, with as high mileage as possible and I know what oil (especially dino oil vs synthetic) can play into that, which is why I want to figure out what the best oil is for the conditions and vehicle is. Also curious as to what the best oil change interval would be with whatever oil you guys recommend is.

Thanks a lot in advance guys (and gals)


The owners manual also recommends 0w30 for extreme cold IIRC. Try Mobil 1 AFE....
 
I only recommend things that are easily obtained and proven, one of the easiest things to get your hands on is 0w30 M1 AFE I ran it in my civic one winter for short trips and it worked well on those -5F MN mornings, it should do the trick in that climate.

If you want to splurge I guess RP will work, but honestly that motor wont be able to tell a difference, just when you sit on your billfold you will be leaning less to one side than before.
 
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Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
I use RP oil in my car which is a true by definition synthetic and change it 4500-6,000 miles with 105hrs- 130 hrs IDLING time.
Car has 6,000 hours on it. ODO reads 211,067 miles. Motor is PERFECT! Yes, I have performed leak down and compression tests. Both are with 6% of top factory limits.
Royal Purple gets my vote


You are asking for trouble with that post. Anything nice said here about Royal Purple will swiftly be met with hard criticism.
(PS: Congrats on using a great oil, and thinking for yourself!
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)
 
77665,
Yea, tig and overkill are going to gang up on me. The Mobil 1 CHEERLEADERS will be here soon.
 
RP HAS PROVEN in my car to be BETTER than M1. It has No consumption with RP, M1 it lost a quart every 5k. My UOA's are better with RP. RP WORKS BETTER IN MY CAR! PERIOD, END OF DISCUSSION
 
Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
RP HAS PROVEN in my car to be BETTER than M1. It has No consumption with RP, M1 it lost a quart every 5k. My UOA's are better with RP. RP WORKS BETTER IN MY CAR! PERIOD, END OF DISCUSSION


Calm down, Beavis.

You and Carnoobie need to get together sometime based on how y'all post.
 
If you're going to pay for synthetic I'd run a 0W30, Mobil 1 comes to mind. It's a good oil and is easy to get. You can run it all year in your climate.

BTW I'm no Mobil 1 cheerleader, just suggesting what will work well. I'm currently using nothing from Mobil.
 
Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
RP HAS PROVEN in my car to be BETTER than M1. It has No consumption with RP, M1 it lost a quart every 5k. My UOA's are better with RP. RP WORKS BETTER IN MY CAR! PERIOD, END OF DISCUSSION


Ha ha! You are going to cause several RP haters posters here to have a stroke!

Again, congrats on your independent thinking and superb choice of oils!
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What is so independent on doing something thousands of other people do?

Would it not be more independent on using something like City Star in your car? I am sure more people use RP than City Star. Now that is independent thinking. Also you are both from texas. Why not use some texas gold 30 grade. It looked suitable for a 30 grade oil with a slightly elevated Si rating but that will not cause any long term damage.
 
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