Oil buff wants to hear from you!

[prydey]

how do people 'check' their oil to know how good it is? just because you use an oil and have no issues doesn't make it better than the next guy. we have examples on here of people using the cheapest oil they can find and having no issues for many years. other people swear black and blue that the product they use is the ducks guts.

the only sure way is to get it analysed after you drain it to see how much metal is in it, or pull the engine apart. thats a bit extreme though.

some advice that i offer to people is to choose an oil with a reasonably good VI and obviously one that suits their vehicle, and stick with. i'm a big fan of sticking with the same product, whether it be oil or fuel etc. some benefits aren't fully appreciated until after prolonged use.

for the record i use shell helix ultra.

[Silver Ghia]

With oil sampling, how are the samples taken? I would think that they would need to be taken from the dipstick tube when the oil is warm just after switching off, to get a consistent sample?

Taken from the drain pan or after standing would give inconsistent results I would think.

[blownba]

Originally Posted by F6 FOON

I use Penrite Sin 15 Blownba in both my 6's is this what you recommend, my best mates a mechanic/tuner and he swears by penrite also.

I use Sin 0 in my BA 6.
In Summer or for real hard work go to a Sin 5 or Sin 10 MAX.
15 is a bit of overkill me thinks.

[Fireblade]

Thanks mate, will try a lower grade then

[Wolfinsheepsclothing]

Originally Posted by blownba

I use Sin 0 in my BA 6.
In Summer or for real hard work go to a Sin 5 or Sin 10 MAX.
15 is a bit of overkill me thinks.

hi mate what grade of penrite sin would you run in a bf xr8 and whats a rough price on an oil pack(4-5 litre)?cheers

[blownba]

Sin 0 for a low Km engine. Sin 5 or 10 for higher KM engines or track work.

I am not sure of retail prices mate. I buy it at a special price. I also buy it all in bulk anyway + I am their No. 1 fan boy so I am on a special pricing schedule.
I keep a massive range of Penrite engine oils in stock (currently at 12 different types kept on hand all the time in bulk) So no matter what you car you can bet I have the perfect oil for it and in a couple of choices too and whatever I don't have I get within 5 mins as I am within walking distance of their headquarters and warehouse. VERY handy.
I also keep a massive array of gear oils, trans oils, coolants and speciality oils. My workshop is Penrite city!!!!
I have a very good relationship with the guys at Penrite. I wear their shirts as our uniform (one off shirts that no other workshop has) and I have even had to give a talk to the head honcho's at one of their pow wow meetings a while ago just going over why I like their products and the reason I use them exclusively in my workshop.
Quite unnerving but I got plenty of free stuff for doing it so i was more than happy.
I also service most of their cars and I do alot of the employees personal vehicles too.

Its a great company with great people and excellent customer service.
And they have the same values as I do..... NO COMPROMISE.... Just the best.

[Francis]

Slightly off topic, but I remember talking to someone who used to work at Caltex and they told me that they really did use the Havoline oil in the V8 supercars they were sponsoring. He had nothing to gain or prove from the statement just he was involved with the company and said they used the V8 supercar team for testing their oils also. I tried there oil, but there bland marketing makes you think it's not really that speical, not that marketing should make you pick an oil or not, but if it was that good why not write something special on the bottle! Just my thoughts on the matter.

[rjr]

Originally Posted by Francis

Slightly off topic, but I remember talking to someone who used to work at Caltex and they told me that they really did use the Havoline oil in the V8 supercars they were sponsoring. He had nothing to gain or prove from the statement just he was involved with the company and said they used the V8 supercar team for testing their oils also. I tried there oil, but there bland marketing makes you think it's not really that speical, not that marketing should make you pick an oil or not, but if it was that good why not write something special on the bottle! Just my thoughts on the matter.

True.

[zdcol71]

[QUOTE=prydey]how do people 'check' their oil to know how good it is?
the only sure way is to get it analysed after you drain it to see how much metal is in it, or pull the engine apart. thats a bit extreme though.
Similar sentiment to what I was hinting at a couple of posts back, prydey, It's probably a little difficult to have oil professionally analysed every change to tell engine condition, and although a visual check is also not the best way to check, it is certainly a more practical way of determining wether it is in need of changing. Granted, a "darker" oil could indicate that the additives are doing a good job of holding solids in suspension in an older or tired engine, its also a good indication, for that very reason, that an oil change would be benificial.A bit more than a cursory visual is obviously required to keep your car on the road, but the point is you can probably not check and change your oil often enough.

[Francis]

Anyone got any thoughts on any valvoline syn oils or Caltex Havoline oil?

[jjw]

Another vote for penrite syn range - using it in race engines now and they come apart like new. Have heard some positive reports from rally car use also.

Also, concerns about low oil pressure at idle can be overrated. You need very little pressure at idle (10 to 20 pounds is fine). It is the pressure at rpm that matters (50-70, depending on engine and rpm). The oil pressure 'drop' that some people are seeing may just be the oil fully warming up and reaching its proper hot visocity.

Dealer puts halvoline in my road car - seems fine for that, but wouldn't expect much more of it.