My experience with Motor Oils and my Saturn

[PrestonIII]

I have a '94 SL2 HCE with about 70K miles on it.

Since my car is 25 years old, I KNOW that this 0W-20 weight oil that every oil change shop uses is NOT the oil for my car! I'm pretty sure that my car was supposed to have 10W-30 when new 25 years ago. And since Saturn's are known for their oil consumption, it likely needs something a little heavier now due to it's accumulated miles.

The local Chevy dealer had a $14.99 oil change special to be had with an appointment and free inspection. So I set up an appointment.

Once there, I told them I wanted a high mileage oil because my car was 25 years old. The service writer substituted Mobil Delvac 10W-30 or 15W-40, whatever, and charged me an additional $20 for the substitution. This was acceptable to me. $37 later, I left.

Over the next 3000 miles, I put 4 more quarts of oil in the car to make it to the next oil change.

Here's the rub: I normally use Rotella T5 oil in all my cars. It's a synthetic blend DIESEL oil 15W-40, and the recommended oil change is 50,000 miles in a DIESEL! The newest car I have is a '94, so they need the extra protection of an older, higher mileage car. And I figure putting 6000-9000 miles between oil changes isn't a problem as long as I change the oil filter around 5000-6000 miles.

On my most recent oil change, I went back to the Chevy dealer, but supplied my own Rotella T5 to change it with. The oil cost me $16 at Walmart, and the oil change was something like $!7. So I saved a whole $4 (sarcasm).

BUT, it's been nearly 1200 miles since that time, and my oil has not dropped down on the dipstick AT ALL.

My Saturn doesn't burn Rotella, but it drinks Mobil Delvac.


And the service writer at the Chevy dealer complained that, since I was using my own oil, he wasn't making any money by selling his oil!!!! Um? Duh? My thoughts are that he made 100% profit on his oil, because I paid for it (the 0W-20 included in the price of the oil change), but didn't use it, and he didn't put it in a container for me to take with me! All he did was supply the GM oil filter, and the labor to do the oil change. And I actually watched him put MY Rotella in my car.

[bumpdraft]

The 15W-40 sounds too thick, but if it seems to be working...
I use T5 in my lawn mowers only and change it when it looks dirty.
R.I.P. Rotella T
My SC2 uses AmsOil HD Diesel 5W-30 and I change it at 3000 miles.

[OldNuc]

The 15w-40 will run with elevated oil temperatures that can lead to oil breakdown. SOHC would be less of a problem.

[fdryer]

If you're ok with sluggish starting this winter with 15w40, keep using it. Just be aware of slower starter turnover with thicker oil in freezing weather. 0w20 is perfect for winter use.

[98_Gold_Uranus]

Call me old school, but I've always been the "change the oil and filter every 3k miles" type... I use the cheapest dyno oil in my 98 Saturn (5w30), my 04 Blazer (5w30), and my 2010 Elantra (5w20), although the Blazer gets a high mileage formulat since it's pushing 220k miles; the Saturn only has 70k and the Elantra has about 110k. Ironic that my oldest vehicle has the less mileage... But even on my newest truck I've ever owned, a 2010 F150, purchased new, Ford claimed the oil change interval to be every 5k miles. But even with using Mobile 1 in it, I still did routine 3k oil changes.

It hasn't failed me yet, so that's what I'm sticking too. I still check the level every other gas fill up or so, mostly because I'm OCD lol. My Elantra doesn't burn or leak a bit, the Saturn might loose 1/2 quart between oil changes, and the Blazer, well it's an old Chevy, it just leaks everywhere lol, it usually eats about 1.5 quarts between oil changes.

[PrestonIII]

0W-20 isn't thick enough to fill the gaps opening up in the engines of an older high mileage car. Most Saturns already have oil consumption problems due to ring wear. A heavier oil wont creep past the rings like a lighter one will. A heavier oil will fill the gaps between the crankshaft and rod and main bearings better than a lighter oil thus extending the life of the engine. That is the purpose of "high mileage" oils. And older cars were designed with more loose clearances between engine components than new cars. It was the technology of the day; looser fit and poorer alloys than today's cars.

0W-20 is for new engines with new alloy metals that aren't worn the way our older cars are. If you're using it in an older car, or a high mileage car, you're likely headed for blue smoke and excess oil consumption.

[PrestonIII]

I had a girlfriend who bought a brand new Saturn Ion back in 2007 with the Ecotech in it. It has Onstar that transmits engine diagnostics back to GM so they track engine condition and needed maintenance.

Every month, she got a letter from GM about the condition of her engine and perceived maintenance.

On that car, that letter told her every month about how much life was left in the oil, IE: 75%, 63%, 32%, etc.

GM finally told her to change the original "break in" oil at 13,000 miles! So, she took it to the dealer and had the oil changed.

I don't know what oil was in that car from the factory, or what the dealership put in it, but it was what we all want to use!

She still has that car. It's 12 years old, and has 35K miles on it. She still pays something like $15/month for the Onstar service, and still gets the letters in the mail.

It's too bad she can't drive without bumping into things. That car would be a great car to own. LOL, but it's got bumper tag marks all around it. (and I've put 2 passenger side mirrors on it - J.C. Whitney)

[454cid]

Originally Posted by PrestonIII

She still has that car. It's 12 years old, and has 35K miles on it.

35K or 350K? 35K miles is like municipal usage were the vehicles is driven for specific tasks only and usually just sits.

[98_Gold_Uranus]

Originally Posted by 454cid

35K or 350K? 35K miles is like municipal usage were the vehicles is driven for specific tasks only and usually just sits.

my 98 only has 70k on it now, some people just don't drive much lol

[454cid]

Originally Posted by 98_Gold_Uranus

my 98 only has 70k on it now, some people just don't drive much lol

Yes, but he's bragging on the oil... 35K would mean the oil has ever been changed twice, ever @ a 13K oci.

[VUEmaniac]

For the Saturn DOHC, I always had good results with Rotella T6. It's a full synthetic 5W-40 oil available at any Walmart for about $20/gallon. I also used it religiously on Audi A4 1.8T, A6 2.7T, A8 4.2L, and now in my 485hp 6.4L Charger. Anyhoo....T6 worked great on the several SC2's that I owned over the years.

Best,

[hholbein]

Originally Posted by VUEmaniac

For the Saturn DOHC, I always had good results with Rotella T6. It's a full synthetic 5W-40 oil available at any Walmart for about $20/gallon. I also used it religiously on Audi A4 1.8T, A6 2.7T, A8 4.2L, and now in my 485hp 6.4L Charger. Anyhoo....T6 worked great on the several SC2's that I owned over the years.

Best,

+1 on Rotella T6 and a extra-large high-quality oil filter. Since I used it regularly over 40K+ miles, it gradually improved oil consumption from 1qt/1300 miles to 1qt/1900 miles. Seems to hold a lot of the soot in our engines in suspension.

[PrestonIII]

Why be so upset about 35K or 350K? This is a thread for conversation, not conflict. (It's actually 35K miles). And I doubt she's changed the oil 5 times in 12 years. She's one of those that, when she gets in the car, if it starts, then she'll drive it. And that means that it doesn't matter what kind of clicks, clanks, or clatter it makes.

[PrestonIII]

And my '94 SL2 HCE has only 69K miles on it! I bought it 2 years ago with only 49K on it from an estate sale from an older man's estate. Unfortunately,
I drive 70 miles daily round-trip to work. I bought it for fuel economy, and for the life of me, I can't get 30 mpg from it.

[Pitcher]

Originally Posted by PrestonIII

And my '94 SL2 HCE has only 69K miles on it! I bought it 2 years ago with only 49K on it from an estate sale from an older man's estate. Unfortunately,
I drive 70 miles daily round-trip to work. I bought it for fuel economy, and for the life of me, I can't get 30 mpg from it.

Huh. What all have you done to it to try to improve it?

NGK Plugs?
Wires?
PCV?
ECTS?
Air Filter?
Redline/Amsoil PI/Techron in the Gas?
Tire condition?
Exhaust leaks?

[Pitcher]

Originally Posted by VUEmaniac

For the Saturn DOHC, I always had good results with Rotella T6. It's a full synthetic 5W-40 oil available at any Walmart for about $20/gallon.

Nice. It's a bit thick, so I've recently gone with Rotella T5 Semi-Syn 10w-30 (Ok in warm SC...)

[alordofchaos]

Looking back on some threads. . . looks like I ran T6 all year (past winter and summer). Last changed the oil in April, so due about now.

I think I ran out of T6 about then, too, so make-up oil for several months has been Syntech 10w30 that I use mainly for the minivan. There's probably 30~50% Syntech by now.

I'm pretty sure that my car was supposed to have 10W-30 when new 25 years ago.

Surprised no one mentioned this, but the owner's manual says 5W30 is the recommended fill, but that 10W30 is fine if the ambient air temps will be 20F or higher.

[Sid]

Originally Posted by PrestonIII

I have a '94 SL2 HCE with about 70K miles on it.

Your car is still a low mileage car. I don't see a need for anything heaver than 5w-30 motor oil unless a previous owner didn't keep up with oil changes. My car is almost 24 years old with 110k miles on it and it works fine on 0w-30 motor oil. Oil consumption is the same as it was when new which is a quart in 3k miles.

[Saturn Night]

Originally Posted by PrestonIII

I had a girlfriend who bought a brand new Saturn Ion back in 2007 with the Ecotech in it. It has Onstar that transmits engine diagnostics back to GM so they track engine condition and needed maintenance.

Every month, she got a letter from GM about the condition of her engine and perceived maintenance.

On that car, that letter told her every month about how much life was left in the oil, IE: 75%, 63%, 32%, etc.

GM finally told her to change the original "break in" oil at 13,000 miles! So, she took it to the dealer and had the oil changed.

I don't know what oil was in that car from the factory, or what the dealership put in it, but it was what we all want to use!

She still has that car. It's 12 years old, and has 35K miles on it. She still pays something like $15/month for the Onstar service, and still gets the letters in the mail.

It's too bad she can't drive without bumping into things. That car would be a great car to own. LOL, but it's got bumper tag marks all around it. (and I've put 2 passenger side mirrors on it - J.C. Whitney)

13,000 miles on break-in oil is way to many miles for break in. Engine break in should be completed at 500 miles for a brand new/rebuilt engine.

[Pitcher]

Don't use Havoline PRO-DS 5w-30. Red Hot started using oil at that point.