Oil Advice

[Snowman1000]

Ok im looking at switching my 96 s10 over to synthetic oil maybe Amsoil or Royal Purple after some searching. Is there any negative effects of doing this on a motor with 101000 miles 2.2 4 banger. Doesnt burn oil, runs good ,I just want something that will help extend its life. Suggestions anyone...?

 

[Cornfield creations]

Nope, shouldn't hurt. modern synthetics are way better than their older counterparts. The only thing I would see that would hurt is if it cleaned up the engine to the point that carbon deposits blocking leaks cause a leak. But if you have been changing oil regularly it shouldn't hurt at all. Enjoy a cleaner engine!

 

[owenst7]

I switched my 96 5.7L over at 164k. It never burned a drop in it's life, but I had to go to 10-30 when I went to synthetic. It had been changed every 2500 miles it's whole life though.

I'm getting a bit better gas mileage too now with RP.

 

[dhcomp]

Truthfully, Synthetics are Way better than conventional oils.....but not sure if its worth the cost in a basic DD. In a high performance/custom motor, yes, definitely. It definitely won't hurt anything....but I would have a hard time justifying the cost.

But in a GM 4 banger? Unless you are going to extend your service intervals with the synthetic, i have a hard time thinking it will be worth it. Run a good quality conventional motor oil, change regularly, and that 4cyl will live a good long life.

Don't get me wrong, i run Mobil 1 full syn in my 540i, and change every 5.....and it comes out pretty clean. I just don't' see it being worth the cost in what you mention.

 

[Thunder]

The only thing it will hurt is your wallet. But i just dont see where the added cost is worth it.
Dino oils have worked good so far. Why change to some really high priced stuff now?
We have a fleet of 4 banger S10s where I work. We hot shot freight out to the mines. We use the S10 for light packages under 500lbs which makes up most of our runs. Our customers usually have a piece of equipment not running and need the stuff we haul ASAP. So These trucks are run hard. Typical trip is 200-400 miles miles with a lot of dirt road driving.
All of our S10s have well over 200K miles on the orginal engines none have been rebuilt. The little truck I usually drive has 370K on the clock and still runs pretty strong. Altho it does use about a quart of oil every 1000 miles. All our trucks have been fed nothing but a steady diet of Regular old Shell 10-30 Rotella.
It does the job very well, and is way cheaper than syn oils.

 

[Snowman1000]

What kind of oil do you recomend I have been running wolfs head 10w-30 since I have owned it and changed it every 3-4 thousand miles I bought it with 68000 or so not sure what the p.o. ran brand service ect. I have heard that these motors generally dont last to awful long I was just hoping to squeak more life out of it I dont beat on it really, nice little truck, just dont want bad things to happen to it I just paid it off.

 

[76zimmer]

before you throw all the $$$ oils at it, consider doing an oil analysis at your next oil change....it will tell you how healthy your engine is inside.

 

[Snowman1000]

Where would one get this said oil analysis. I dont mean to make it sound like it isnt running right or something cause it runs fine its not a racecar im aware but its peppy (guess thats the word) for a 4 banger just kinda hums right along

 

[76zimmer]

Do a search online....there are many services.....fleet operations like to use them.

 

[xCaliK5x]

was synthetic around when the small block was engineered, no. Did dino oil work great for years? Yes. People also use to watch football on black and white 15" screens................. Synthetic is far superior in regards to viscosity at varying temps (hot hots and cold colds), build up of sludge (none) and not degrading and breaking down due to heat and age. I have used it in ALL of my cars, my K5 too. It will not burn anymore then it does now, will not leak anymore then it does now. Not only do I use it, but have been using it and swapping it older BMW's and Porsches for years and Mobil 1 is all we used in GT3 cup cars. My 96 GTI I sold didn't use any oil, or leak when I sold it 3 years ago at 160K, the guy who owns it now, same thing, at almost 190K (I almost bought it back!). Thats my experience and opinions dealing and using it, info gained from BMW and Porsche engineers and racing. Well worth the money.

 

[xCaliK5x]

Forgot, as far as brands, Castrol is what I run, or Mobil 1. Good enough for a cantankerous $60K BMW engine with pressure controlled variable cam timing and three oil pumps (one at 1K BAR IIRC), turbos, etc, good enough for a Chevy!