Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old October 27th, 2009   #1
Senior Member
 
Richard D's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Miami, Fl.
Posts: 683
Need high mileage oil advice

Hello all, My 90 coupe now has 141,500 miles on the clock and I change the oil about every 3,500-4,000 miles. It can take five months to get that much mileage, car is driven every day. The dip stick shows no difference at 4,000 miles, no leaks or tranny leaks. I have been using Pennzoil W10-30 here where it is always above 60 degrees and Pur-One filters. Should I switch to the new High mileage oil now available? For you engineering types is it a different oil or marketing hype? I keep thinking, if it's not broke don't fix it, but if it is a better oil for high mileage engines..... catch-22 HELP!
Many Thank's
Richard.
__________________
1990 Reatta Coupe, 1971 Buick Skylark Convertible
Sunny Miami FL.
Richard D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 27th, 2009   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: maryland
Posts: 803
Re: Need high mileage oil advice

decide for yourself.......

Guys:> after viewing this link you will find you know less about motor oil then ever.......ken

All About Motor Oil. link is on this thread:> Dino Oil vs Synthetic (Multi-page thread 1 2).......page #3
__________________
D.K. Watson Sr.

Last edited by kennyw; October 27th, 2009 at 22:06. Reason: link didn't come through
kennyw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 28th, 2009   #3
Many Carpets
 
padgett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Orlando, Florida: where rust must be imported.
Posts: 8,571
Re: Need high mileage oil advice

Dunno but for a buck a gallon extra am willing to try.
__________________
Two of these were made in Pontiac, Michigan.
We take in orphans.
Web home:http://www.6007.us
Notary Sojac Y'all


padgett is online now   Reply With Quote
Old October 28th, 2009   #4
Wanted a Reatta BUT would
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Yardley Pa.
Posts: 624
Re: Need high mileage oil advice

Why look for trouble?
You have no leaks!
You are using a good oil and filter.
I would just continue what you have been doing.
My 2 cents
__________________
Wanted a Reatta But would not work with 2 Kids, a 1989 Riviera worked better. Today a Supercharged 1999 Riviera and the 1989 just for FUN!

Last edited by CHAS1; October 28th, 2009 at 08:48.
CHAS1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old October 28th, 2009   #5
Senior Member
 
JZRIV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Near Pittsburgh PA
Posts: 265
Re: Need high mileage oil advice

High mileage oil is too general of a term for me and all cars with higher mileage can't be painted with the same brush.

Consider the difference in internal engine wear with a 140,000 mile car that has had regular oil changes at or before the recommended interval, a higher percentage of highway miles vs city driving, as well as not being driven in extreme cold or hot climates compared to another 140k engine that has had oil changes exceeding the recommeded intervals, a higher percentage of city driving or short trips vs highway miles, and all in a hot or cold climate.

I think you have to evaluate each car and how it was driven when deciding whether or not to change to a HM oil. Common sense tells us one oil would not perform equally in an engine with considerable wear vs an engine with factory new clearances. There is some merit to using an oil formulated for an engine with assumed higher clearances due to high mileage. So at some point when clearances reach a certain level from wear (extensive testing would need done to determine this) a HM oil would provide better protection. Then the question becomes would it be so much better that you would keep the car long enough to realize any perceived benefit?

Considering the condition of your engine, I would not change the type of oil.
__________________
Jason Zerbini
(Near)Pittsburgh PA
ROA 775 / BCA 29707
JZRIV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 28th, 2009   #6
Senior Member
 
Richard D's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Miami, Fl.
Posts: 683
Re: Need high mileage oil advice

Thank You to all who took the time to answer my question. I am not worried about the extra cost, it seems that tolerances are still tight and within spec. I am going to send a sample of 4K old oil out for anlaysis. That should tell me if there is any bearing wear or any reason to use the high mileage oil. In the meantime I will keep the same oil/filter regiment.
__________________
1990 Reatta Coupe, 1971 Buick Skylark Convertible
Sunny Miami FL.
Richard D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 28th, 2009   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 126
Re: Need high mileage oil advice

One thing that high milage oil includes is an extra dallop of seal sweller. If you have no leaks, why give your seals a punch in the nose (which results in swelling) if they do not need it?
sfair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 28th, 2009   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 185
Re: Need high mileage oil advice

I would add to this that unless you started using synth oil early on, it's not a good idea to switch to it. Synth oil will clean out any deposits left inside the engine by the dyno oil, which can cause you to develop leaks. This is even though you have been keeping the oil changed, it's just the nature of the beast. I don't like seeing anyone switch from dyno to synth past 75K miles, and really don't suggest it once you hit 6 digits. Usually the time to go from dino to synth is around 10K miles, as rings seat better with dino. It's not guaranteed that the leak problem will develop if you switch to a synth at this time, but this is the norm.

I'd just keep running what you've been running, it's obviously doing the job well.
Telco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 28th, 2009   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: maryland
Posts: 803
Re: Need high mileage oil advice

If anyone took the time to read my oil link they would find DINO oil can now be refined so well it can be called synthetic. MOBIL lost a court case on that one. You will find that you know very little about oils of any kind. It is an eye opener...........ken
__________________
D.K. Watson Sr.
kennyw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 28th, 2009   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Maryland
Posts: 334
Re: Need high mileage oil advice

Is this the link you were referring to KennyW

All About Motor Oil

Here's another one some might find interesting from the Antique and Classic Car Club of Canada

http://www.acccc.net/index.php?optio...ance&Itemid=37
__________________
1988 Reatta
Mike_s is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
High Mileage 3800 C.F.Massie Buick Reatta 9 October 3rd, 2006 10:24
High Mileage rebuilds DeeBee Buick Reatta 11 July 26th, 2006 13:44
Crazy high milage/mileage cars F14CRAZY Buick Reatta 10 March 8th, 2006 10:59
High mileage Reatta record? F14CRAZY Buick Reatta 59 September 26th, 2005 11:00
What is high mileage anymore? lancemb Buick Reatta 7 September 17th, 2000 23:46


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 20:24.