I have read that Mobil 1 has changed their formulation recently, something to do with the type of base? I know people with solid lifters are concerned, but we have hydraulic roller lifters. Does this affect our cars?

Is Pennzoil Synthetic now a better oil than Mobil 1 ?

Has anyone changed ?

 

I deal with used oil recycling but I go to a lot of trade shows and talk with a lot of NEW OIL MFG my 02 from many conversations is that if you are changing your oil every 3 or 4000 miles and your not racing the car you will never break down a full Syn oil . I change my Mobil One in both cars right at 3000 miles and I swear it still looks new but better safe than sorry . If you overheat or something happens be safe change your oil.

When I race the silver car I change the oil before driving it again just habit but real safe.

 

 

I would venture to say that for MOST C5 owners, changing oil at 3000 miles is a waste of money - sorry to be harsh-sounding. Even petroleum-based oils of today can easily last 5000 miles between changes. As long as Mobil 1 continues to pass all required testing to meet GM's requirements, I would not worry at all.

Dave

 

I have had oil analysis done on my 1998 C5, and it says I can go longer than what the DIC says. I change at 0% oil life left, which is usually 5500-6500 miles.

I know that the early C5's use 10,000 miles as the maximum, and later C5's (when GM learned more) use 15,000 miles.

I was just concerned over the Mobil 1 formulation change. Guys at bobistheoilguy.com seem to think Mobil 1 is overpriced, they use whatever synthetic oil is on sale. I am not that cheap, I will stay with Mobil 1.

 

Using the same logic you should change it at 1000 miles... because it is "cheap insurance". The oil should be fine for about 7000 miles during regular driving and 5000 if you are pretty spirited. Even at those #s it will still have plenty of life left.

The cheap insurance is not so cheap when you waste $50 every 3000 miles and pollute the planet at the same time .

 

Used oil does not equal polution if it is handled right. I work for a company called Universal Environmental Services the used oil we collect is processed at one of our plants and then sold as a fuel oil to various permitted industries they use this as a cheaper fuel that intern saves us from using more crude oil to produce virgin fuels such as diesel for them.

Under most normal driving oils will not break down much in 3 to 4000 miles but under hard driving/racing they can and will break down so be careful BTW I change my own oil and the cost is about 29.00 with a DG filter and Mobil 1.

Ok now back many years ago about 25 or so when they sprayed used oil as a dust supressent on dirt roads it was pollution so if your doing that stop and take it to a a used oil recycler

Anyway I thought that needed clearing up

 

I want to know where you're getting that deal on mobil 1 and the filter. Cheapest mobil 1 I can find is at least $38 for 6.5 quarts including tax. Mobil 1 filter is $11 including Tax. So I am at at least $50 That is not even taking labor into account... Mobil one is fine for at least 5k miles if not 7k. If you race your car yea, sure there are other guidelines to follow.

But for over 90% of people "extending" the interval will do no harm.

 

I was just going to ask the same thing.... where are you getting your oil from? can't seem to find it around here for less then 36.00 a case (6 quarts) plus tax...

 

Wal-Mart here normal price for the 5 quart container is 23.00 or so they run a sale every now and then for 21.00 or so.

So figure 4.20 a quart and a Fram DG is 3.50 or so. You have to stock up when they are on sale. Not sure of prices in your state but this is normal here. And I don't count my time/labor I enjoy knowing its done right

 

FYI ford just raised their factory oil change interval recommendation to 7500, and that's using organic oil.

3000 is way old.... you're wasting money and resources. It is not "cheap insurance".

I follow the DIC unless I have a track event.

 

Im still stuck in the old fashion ways of changing it every 3000 miles, althought it takes me about 6-7 months to reach that many miles.

 

Wally has the 5 qt. jug for $23.62 everyday. Mobil 1 filters are $9.99 lots of places and mail order.

 

Wal-Mart Nation - no wonder I can afford to drive my vette (yes, I change my own oil).

 

Mobil 1 is harder to come by in England and the price is £45 ($90) for a 4 litre flask. I paid $21 in Walmart for my last oil.

At least i thought ahead and brought plenty of oil back home with me. I should be good for at least 2 changes.

BTW, I trust the DIC and I change it at about 5-10% or 1 year.

 

With the Vette, I'll do 5000 miles/1 year and not worry about it. I have been using Mobil 1 products since mid-seventies and was able to justify it by extending drain intervals. I kept several cars beyond 100,000 miles, and all of them still ran like new and didn't smoke or burn oil despite oil change intervals that averaged between 5000-7500 miles. That's using Mobile 1 oil and Fram filters and servicing the air filter every 12000 miles or so.

 

Go to Costco and you can get six quarts for about $29.79. There must be a Costco in NoCal there. I get mine at Costco here in SoCal and they are cheaper than WalMart.

 

Royal Purple with wix filter ~$70 every 3k miles for me, best oil imho

 

I change my oil once a year, which equates to 1,000-1,500 miles. I switched to Royal Purple last year.

 

Let me try....
The issue is not with Mobil or their base lubricant.
The issue is with the new API SM oil classification.
The additives in the older classifications (SL and earlier) is the level of phosporous was shortening catalytic converter life9 especially true for the Jananese manufacturers. This has been an issue for Japanese OEMs for at least 10 years and they have had their own oils specs as a result. Since the OEM's have to guarantee emmissions systems for 100K miles that meant warranty costs.
Now that the Japanese OEMs market shares in the U.S. rival ( or exceed) domestic OEM's , their clout has grown to the point that their lobbying won out.They successfully lobbied for a new reduced phosporous formulations. The problemn is that phopshorous in ZnDP ( Zinc Di-thio-Phosphate is an excellent anti-wear additive.

ALL oils that meet the SM spec have reduced ZnDP and thus MAY have a formulation that affects high performance engines. The issue is not just lifter related.

The problem is that once a new API classifiaction is out, old stocks of pre SM oil are gone quickly. Oil compnies can't afford to market older formulations with one exception....
The industrial version that service the truck market!
Heavy Duty Trucks are often exempt from or have a different set of EPA guidelines.
Oil companies separately design oils for the mixed Commercial fleet...

Shell Rotella T as an example is one of the best Diesel engine oils with years upon year proof of 1 million mile performance. It also meets the needs of passenger cars. Thus the trucking company can buy one oil for both their rigs and their executives cars...

These commercail/industrial oils have not gone SM.
Shell rotella T fully synthetic 5W40 is Shell's recommendation for the LSx engines.. it still contains ZnDP. How long will that be the case?
...Until an effective alternative is found that meets the needs of diesel engines.

This is not a plug for Shell. It is a brand I trust and continue to buy.
The fact is that other major oil company's like Mobil also service mixed fleet segment and have their own offering in the Delo brand. It too will contain the old additive system . Checkout your favorite brand, there MAY be a commercial/industrial analogue to the passenger car motor oil (PCMO) you are now using.

RE Pennzoil Platinum. Pennzoil is now owned by Shell. Platinum is now getting excellent reports on used oil analysis on a number of web forums. I swithced my two Vettes to it over 15K miles ago....

Is it better??? I don't know, some of the results show it superior to others , including M-1 . What matters to me is that backed by Shell, I trust the pennzoil brand.