Roadster90 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Hi Folks, I live in Richmond Va - is it OK to use 5w - 30 Bio-Based Full Synthetic Motor Oil instead of 10w - 30 oil like Mobile please?Thanks,Nic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wws944 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 (edited) Not sure what they mean by "bio-based".There are two different techniques for making synthetic motor oil. One is to form it from methane (e.g., natural gas). This is, in many peoples minds, the 'right' way to do it. Others start from crude oil, but use an advanced hydrocracking process to get a better product than the normal refining process. There was actually a lawsuit a few years ago between Mobil (who represented the former camp) and Castrol (representing the latter) about whether you could call the latter 'synthetic' or not. Unfortunately the lawsuit went in favor of Castrol. And some synthetic brands then quietly switched to the less expensive hydrocracking process. So you have to look carefully to see what you are getting when you pay for 'synthetic'. Edited June 11, 2012 by wws944 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadster90 Posted June 11, 2012 Author Share Posted June 11, 2012 Geeeze - everthing complicated these days ....Question please...I am reading that the methane method is best, but how does one know which - how is it labeled or whatever please?Thanks,NicOh, is 5 w 30 ok in my temperature range area (usually above 30*) please?Nic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadster90 Posted June 11, 2012 Author Share Posted June 11, 2012 <TABLE class="article " border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=copy vAlign=top>Current Deal I found >>>>>>>>>>>>>>Posted 8 hr 44 min ago More Automotive Advance Auto Parts Coupons</TD><TD class=uinfo vAlign=top>Hotness: Share: Report an error</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class="article last" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=image vAlign=top></TD><TD class=copy vAlign=top>Green Earth Technologies offers (four quarts total) for $0 after this . (This rebate will credit up to $26 of your purchase.) That's among the best deals we've seen for this "green" oil, which purportedly features the highest biodegradability rating available. (However, we saw five quarts for $0 after rebate in April, since expired.) Note that G-OIL is frequently carried by . Deal ends August 7.Posted 12 hr 45 min ago More Automotive</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wws944 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 (edited) Each motor oil company is going to tell you theirs is best. Truth be told though, all synthetics are premium products and are pretty good. Remember than our Reattas were designed for SF grade oils. Even 'rock gut' conventional oils are far beyond that today.I just buy Mobil-1 and be done with it. It is a lot less expensive than Redline or Royal Purple, but still a great product. Good enough that Porsche has been using it as factory fill in their cars for the past 20 years. (Yes, it is a marketing relationship. But they would never put an inferior product in their cars.) Walmart has 5 qt jugs of M-1 for, relatively speaking, a decent price. A six-pack at Costco is also a better buy than at a FLAPS. If you like having Jiffy Lube or someplace similar do the dirty work for you, just tell them you have customer supplied oil and they will knock a couple of bucks off the price.Owners manual has the proper grade of oil for your climate. I'd think 5W-30 would be fine. Edited June 11, 2012 by wws944 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanR Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 It has been my experience to not use ANY synthetic in ANY older GM model car unless you don't mind oil leaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Harness Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 It has been my experience to not use ANY synthetic in ANY older GM model car unless you don't mind oil leaks.I've been using synthetic oil in the '89 for ten years, and I've never had any leaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadster90 Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 I went to the wonderful Wal Mart in Richmond last night to buy my G Oil with the free rebate to find out that the Richmond Stores do not stock the substance - I will have to suffer and continue with the conventional oils - I may be better off . Thanks for the replies folks...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Corvanti Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 It has been my experience to not use ANY synthetic in ANY older GM model car unless you don't mind oil leaks.i've been using synthetic oil in all my "important" vehicles for over 15 years. (except my '40 Studebaker which had no oil filter - used 30W non-detergent, changed every 1,500 miles, or 3 months). the only reason i can fathom of any leaks from using synth-oil, is it cleaned all the crud & sludge, permitting the oil to leak around bad gaskets! i'm a little farther south than "Nic", but still put 5W/30 synthetic in the reatta after i purchased her... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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