What's the best synthetic oil to use with the SVX ?

[sekler]

Hey guys !

first post here, eventhough I had read a bit on here before.

I got my '92 pearl white SVX back in october but I think it'd need an oil change. I already put 4000 km on it and don't know exactly the last time it was done (maybe another 5000 km ago).

What's the best synthetic oil to make sure the transmission and everything will last the longest ? Any better thing than the one suggested in the handbook ?

When the car is cold a bit, it doesn't run flawlessly, especially when going up steep roadswhile it runs good most of the time, it doesn't always shifts flawlessly (The transmission was rebuilt at around 150 000km and it's 206 000km right now).

While I'm fearing it could be the transmission, it's still been only 50 000km.

Anyone knows ?

thanks !

Simon

[ensteele]

Welcome to the site.

Is Mobil 1 available? That is the oil most use if they want a full synthetic.

[SVXtacy]

Royal Purple 10w-40 all the way!!

[Sov13t]

Just did an oil change this Sunday, Mobil 1 15W-50 by recommendations from svxfiles :D

[ssnsltd]

Good bit of research (and opinion) at http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ also on Oil filters, air filters grease, etc.

[STORMINORMAN]

...I've used quite a few different approaches: never had an oil-related problem and the engine is spotless!

50/50 (or, 3 quarts brand X synthetic + 3 quarts of the same brand dino) for 6 years, or so (Free! @ the Subaru Dealership)

a period of 5 years (or so, again) of 10W-30 dino oils (mostly Chevron Supreme or Havoline) with an OCI of 3K (still Free!)

a couple years of what turned out to be Free! 10W-30 Valvoline MaxLife Semi-synthetic for 3K OCI's (because I'm changing the oil in all the other vehicles, anyway...)

Now I've got a total of 18 quarts of 100% Synthetic Havoline & Pennzoil Platinum 10W-30 to use, once I finally deal with the valve cover leaks because I got them VERY cheap (as in "$0.99 after rebate")

BUT: IMHO the "BEST" synthetic oils you can use in an SVX is the HD 5W-30 Amsoil product year-round in the colder climates OR their AME 15W-40 in locations where it gets really hot in the Summer. Both of these products are suitable for longer, extended drain usage. Change the filter and top off in between oil changes.

I put the 15W-40 in my '91 Mercedes 420SEL for 15K intervals, changing the oil filter every 10K (i.e., 2 oil changes and 3 filter changes every 30K miles).

Cheers!

[svx1999]

I have used mobile one. And I think it's a good oil. But the Best product I will have to say is Amzoil. IN the SVX I replaced all fluids with there products.
I had already used some things from Redline.

OH just as a note Amzoil's antifreeze works perfect with the redline water wetter. IT's best to check out there products. The svx is hard on some fluids just due to many things Heat being the biggest. I've changed my transmission fluid like oil nearly and found little to no build up or large particles on the inside of the pan. With the switch I have not changed out my fluids I did change the front diff by acident and it looked as good as when I had put it in the previous year or so.

8k miles on one oil change and it was still honey brown. something mobile one never could do and I wasn't willing.
I've noticed a small mileage increase and on other cars. A mile increase as much as 110 addtion per tank of gas increase.

you can easily have it shipped to your door if there is not a dealer around you. The best idea is to just spend 20 bucks and become a preffered customer. This gives you a discount on all products. After purchasing just the transmisison fluid I came out better then if I had bought another product and got my money back in the form of savings from signing up.
depends on how you think of it.
LE Lubericating engineers is another company to look in to for things like Grease. drydene is one rarely mentioned.

[GreenMarine]

Royal Purple 10w-40 all the way!!

Seconded.... :D

However, I just run Dino Castrol GTX in my replaced engine... I change the oil so much that it doesn't matter though... Besides, I am a student living on what most people make in one week or less, and I live on it for a month!!... I need cheap oil that just works... Back in my military days though when money was no issue, it was Royal Purple for my SVX :D

[sekler]

I live in cold weather during winter and fairly hot in summer (not california hot), just quebec Canada.

I guess 10-40 should be my best bet ?

it hardly gets more than 30 celcius in summer.

[Bobb]

Hi Simon, If you go to www.mobil1.com you can put your car info in and they will recommend an oil for you. For Canada in the winter I think they would say 5w30. In the summer I think they would say 10w30. The brand is up to you. Take care, BOBB

[benebob]

I wouldn't use Royal Purple or any oil that won't let independent labs test it every in my street car nor would I put anything that remotely mentioned for racing on the side of the box.

For street hands down Mobil products are your best bang for the buck, Castrol a strong second.

[sekler]

hey guys, I finally got some Castrol Syntec , that's what they had for my oil change at the garage.

My car is happy :D

[benebob]

hey guys, I finally got some Castrol Syntec , that's what they had for my oil change at the garage.

My car is happy :D


Don't be suprised is she leaks a little for a while. The seals are "lubed" differently between synth and conv. oil. It will leak for up to a year after switching, any continuing leaks after that you'll want to replace the seal.

[sekler]

hey man, thanks for the info !

actually, I think only synthetic has been used since a while on the car..so I beleive I should be ok :)

[mbtoloczko]

For me, its Amsoil ATM 10W-30 motor oil and Purolator Pure One oil filters. Amsoil regularly performs ASTM standardized tests on their motor oils, and their oils consistently perform the best. No other company is as open about their test data as Amsoil.

[cdigerlando]

For me, its Amsoil ATM 10W-30 motor oil and Purolator Pure One oil filters. Amsoil regularly performs ASTM standardized tests on their motor oils, and their oils consistently perform the best. No other company is as open about their test data as Amsoil.

Me too. I use Wix filters though. They actually support the amsoil guarantee.

[Bobb]

Hi everyone, WIX was the guy that made the SUBARU filters that were recalled several times. I think that says all I need to know about WIX. Take care, BOBB

[klohiq]

I'd reccomend trying German Castrol Syntec 0w30 which is only available at Autozone and possibly some obscure non-chain autoparts stores. I already know someone will come on here saying that 0w is way too thin, but on the sentra forums and 350z forums a few people have been using this stuff with good success. On the 350z forum they even compared this to Mobil 1 and it did better...

Mobil 1 is a grade III while German Castrol is a mix of grade IV and V. Royal Purple is overpriced crap imo, but Motul, Amsoil and Redline seem like good oil other than the price.

I haven't tried the Castrol yet, but with Mobil 1 on my sentra I've experienced increased oil consumption. I guess quite a few 350z owners have also experienced oil consumption problems with mobil 1 along with some sentra spec v owners experiencing noisy valvetrains which go away when switching to another oil.

Sentra forum thread
http://www.b15sentra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=145715&highlight=german+castrol

350z forum thread
http://www.my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?t=253651

Explanation of oil viscosity/weight/cold start-up/etc - click on Motor Oil 101 for an explanation of why 0w30 is better than 5w30 or 10w30
http://63.240.161.99/motoroil/

I'll add that many people thought 5w30 was crap about 10 years ago. They said that the oil was too thin and the only reason it was now the reccomended oil was to increase gas mpg and/or engine wear so the government and car companies were happy. Now 5w30 is the accepted oil for the majority of car owners and it's proven to increase gas mpg, engine life and overall make the engine perform better. Thinner is better sometimes, if this weren't the case we would all be driving cars with heavy weight gear oil

[sujeemax]

I use Valvoline Maxlife, never had a problem and performs great.:)

[klohiq]

A little OT, but does anyone have oil consumption issues between oil changes? Obviously if the engine is in bad shape it might, but I drive a Sentra spec v right now with the infamous QR25de. It seems to use about a half quart between my 3000 miles oil changes which is really annoying...

I'd like to find a car that is like my motorcycle...just keeps the oil perfectly amber colored and doesn't consumes any before it's next oil change.

[lhopp77]

My longest SVX experience was with my 94 LE. I used the Castrol Blend its entire life with me (gave to my granddaughter with 200K miles on it) and it never showed any appreciable oil consumption between oil changes. Likewise, the color did not change much if any at all. I changed at 3000 mile intervals unless driven hard then reduced that to 2500 miles.

Lee

[GOT2HAVESVX]

My longest SVX experience was with my 94 LE. I used the Castrol Blend its entire life with me (gave to my granddaughter with 200K miles on it) and it never showed any appreciable oil consumption between oil changes. Likewise, the color did not change much if any at all. I changed at 3000 mile intervals unless driven hard then reduced that to 2500 miles.

Lee

I use castrol synthetic 10W-30. Still looks great too after almost 3000 miles. Changing it next weekend again. :D

[SVeXy96]

Seconded.... :D

However, I just run Dino Castrol GTX in my replaced engine... I change the oil so much that it doesn't matter though... Besides, I am a student living on what most people make in one week or less, and I live on it for a month!!... I need cheap oil that just works... Back in my military days though when money was no issue, it was Royal Purple for my SVX :D


OORAH! lolI always used Castrol GTX in my SVX and just my last oil change I switched to Royal Purple. Honestly I think they're about the same. It improved my gas milage for the first tank, but its been the same as before since then. And even my first tank I only gained about 30 miles. I think I'll go back to Castrol GTX for my next change since its cheaper and seems to work the same

[pavanbabut]

OORAH! lolI always used Castrol GTX in my SVX and just my last oil change I switched to Royal Purple. Honestly I think they're about the same. It improved my gas milage for the first tank, but its been the same as before since then. And even my first tank I only gained about 30 miles. I think I'll go back to Castrol GTX for my next change since its cheaper and seems to work the same

In my svx I always used (including my previous owner) - 10w-40 Valvoline Synthetic Blend.

In my Alfa 164Q - 10w-40 Shell Rotella Synthetic Oil till now and I am gonna use the same (anyway Shell is Alfa recommended).

In my Alfa 164L, I use 10w-40 Valvoline Synthetic blend.

[svxxx26]

My longest SVX experience was with my 94 LE. I used the Castrol Blend its entire life with me (gave to my granddaughter with 200K miles on it) and it never showed any appreciable oil consumption between oil changes. Likewise, the color did not change much if any at all. I changed at 3000 mile intervals unless driven hard then reduced that to 2500 miles.

Lee

I'll throw out this question since I've seen this reference to the lack of color change a few times. Is this supposed to be a good thing? and why?
I have "always heard" that this (the oil chnging color) is a normal thing and a sign the oil is doing its job. So other than anecdotal stories what we have all heard - is there an actual technical reason that the oil staying the same color is a good thing? :confused: Just curious.:)

[STORMINORMAN]

I would opine that if your oil is still clean & clear after you run it for an oil change interval you probably don't have a lot of blowby, bad rings or a dirty sludged engine, regardles of the total mileage on the car.

As to the contrary, it may well be that you do have one or more of the above...:eek:

Dark oil, in & of itself, does not mean there are engine problems, just as clean oil doesn't necessarilly mean it is somehow not working right.

Cheers!

[jman050]

amsoil :D but its not that easy to get.....any walmart carries Mobil1 tho