Another Oil Question

**Blackbandit** · 02-23-2009, 05:14 PM

Sorry folks, but I'm a newbie and have another oil question.

I have just bought a 98 T/A with the LS1 and I am pretty sure she has had conventional oil her whole life. With 105,000 miles, I am debating whether or not to stick with conventional oil or change to synthetic or high mileage.

I have done numerous searches and have come across just as many points to stay away from synthetics as there is too use them with high mileage and my car never had synthetic yet. Some say it will make her leak and some say it won't harm anything.

Can anyone clear this up for me.. and also reccomend a good oil. car is driven only in 0 degrees above in summer as our winters keep us buried in snow and salt.

Thanks, any response would be greatly appreciated

**RyanJM** · 02-23-2009, 05:21 PM

I just use normal conventional high mileage oil with 75k now on my TA. I used the same thing in my Trailblazer with 110k. Also used it in my Celica and it had over 300k when i sold it and ran great

**Blackbandit** · 02-23-2009, 05:28 PM

Yeah, thanks man, that is pretty much what I thought...

Change it regular and should be alright

**slp1122** · 02-24-2009, 07:43 AM

you could try a synthetic blend.

**Blackbandit** · 02-25-2009, 11:10 AM

I was thinking about it but I'm half afraid of the oil leaks I keep hearing about.

It don't leak or burn any oil now,,, not that I am aware of anyway but I don't want to develop extra problems. On the other hand, I guess the synthetic will clean up the engine and make it run better....I can deal with and external leak but I can't handle an internal leak,,,,say she starts burning oil and she never did before.

**WS6ICK2K** · 02-25-2009, 03:32 PM

Most all used oil analysis recomend Penzoil Platinum 10w30 due to its better shear rates.

**Blackbandit** · 02-25-2009, 03:36 PM

Is that a synthetic oil....Penzoil Platnium?

**Blackbandit** · 03-01-2009, 08:20 AM

Ok, so upon reading the oil threads, and there's alot of them..Penzoil Platnium is a synthetic...

Now, There are so many to choose from and so many different opinions, upon thinking about all of the shit in my head, I've decided to go with Mobil 1. but the only kinds I can find are 5w30 supersyn..on the jug it says newer vehicle formula....and 10w30 higher mileage vehicle formula.....

I guess the higher mileage would be the best choice.

Also in reading all the threads and through many searches on the web, the oil leaks that may occur after switching from conventional to synthetic is a MYTH. Higher mileage or not.

Some people say that the conventional oil from years ago caused the sludge or just not having regualar oil changes done and having the car run hot would cause it....so in saying so....my car has some sludge under the oil cap...So instead of continuing the conventional and not doing anything about it....I am going to use synthetic...to try and clean it up.....I care for my engine and want to try to get as many miles as I can out of her.

Maybe the sludge was caused by cheap oil too. Not sure.

Anyway, I'm going to try this and will post in the future if I have any problems.......knock on wood...hopefully not...

P.S...What kind of a person buys a nice car like a Pontiac Trans Am....and don't change oil regularily or uses cheap oil?

**Sarge** · 03-01-2009, 08:47 AM

OK.....
"Years ago" yes many cars sludged up due piss poor PCV solutions and lousy oil change intervals. And of course the number one selling oil in the 60's and 70's was Pennzoil. So the rumor/myth/bullshit that Pennzoil caused sludge was born. Oil does not cause sludge.....dirt (lousy air filtration), poor PCV systems, moisture....that causes sludge....not oil....
AutoRX your car and follow the instruction to the letter... http://www.auto-rx.com/
Then run whatever you wish...conventional or synthetics...makes no difference.....rumor/myth number 2 is synthetics cause leaks in older high mileage engines. No...synthetics clean...and in that cleaning they clear away varnish/sludge that has formed around seals/gaskets and then the leaks start.....you need to maintain seals/gaskets....by replacing them when they are worn....but folks pour in Lucas/STP and whatever other snakeoil they can find and that thickens the crap out of your oil and voila the micro leaks disappear and folks tell me Lucas fixed their leaks....no it didnt...it clogged the leaks just like it is clogging getting proper lubrication to your bearings...and that isnt anything to brag about....
Mobil1 is good oil. Overpriced for what it is and not as good as Pennzoil Platinum but hey...they market it really well! Go ahead and contribute to their marketing budget because your not getting anything else out of it for the extra hard earned bucks.....fact is your getting less....but Exxon/Mobil needs your contributions!

**Blackbandit** · 03-01-2009, 09:52 AM

OK Sarge...Thanks for the input....

So Penzoil Platinum synthetic is the best bang for the buck.

Synthetic oils clean your engine which may free up the dirt to cause leaks.

So AutoRX would be the best route to take. Takes longer but does a better job and does not cause leaks.

In talking to a friend of mine, he had a look at my oil cap and said that it is not sludge, just varnish... and that sludge would be like muck and you would be able to scoop it out if there was enough there.

It is just like a black skim in around the oil cap. Can be scraped out with your fingernail. Is this sludge?

Read up on it and looks good. Going to stick with conventional until the Auto RX cleanup is done. Then switching to Penzoil Platnium. Finally done with this oil shit.

Thanks Sarge, You Da Man!!

**Sarge** · 03-01-2009, 10:44 AM

Sludge/Varnish both are not allowing your lube to get to your metal surfaces....so neither one is good....AutoRX is the only thing I recommend as it does clean without solvents fucking up your seals/gaskets......on many high mileage engines you may have to run 2 complete clean/rinse cycles of AuroRX.....but do one and lets see where we are at.....you will "feel" the difference....Yes Pennzoil Platinum is a great oil....

**Blackbandit** · 03-01-2009, 11:13 AM

Ok Sarge, I'll will check it out and run one....The only problem is it's going to be a while for I am still buried in the snow....god damn snow!!..I will post and let you know asap.

Thanks

**Sarge** · 03-01-2009, 11:15 AM

Move to Texas. Your snow shovel will raise lots of question like "What the fuck is that thing thar?"

**Blackbandit** · 03-01-2009, 11:50 AM

If that's the case, then a snowblower will frighten the shit out of everyone.
lol

Don't tempt me man, if I could get a job thar, I'd probably jump at it....have to come back every six months though to avoid gettin deported. ha ha