is the regular vavoline 5-20 any good they are 1.79 per quart
in the pass i have been using the vavoline racing vr1 w50 for all my rx7, both of these are not synthetic.

vavoline should be fine

just wondering if vavoline is not up to par, caus all i hear is castrol and mobil
thanks

#1 choice of top mechanics!

thats what I used, no problems so far.

castrol, valvoline, pennzoil cant go wrong

Many years ago (approx 23) I used to manage an auto/repair/accessory store and I had a customer with a Jag XJ12 who worked for Hoffman-Laroche labs. I had just finished building a 1970 GTO (400 engine) and asked him if he could analyze the oils for best protection. So we struck up a deal, I would pay for his oil changes and he would analyze the oil from both our cars. We changed oil every 1000 miles and he analyzed Quaker State, Pennzoil, Valvoline, Wolfs Head and Castrol. The result? Castrol held up much better than all the rest. I have been using it ever since without any oil related engine problems, and that is what will be going in the '8'.

thanks 6speed
great info
i'll have to try castrol

All I could find that was close to 10-20 was 5-20 in castrol and pennzoil.

I chose castrol.

Why were you looking for 10-20?

It is recommended that you use 5W-20 in the manual.

Good point, probably just me being tired from a tough week at work, lol.

Valvoline - the #1 choice of car mechanics (who take their engines apart every 1000 miles or so).

I've got an uncle who works in a nascar pit crew... they run valvoline in the race car, but, in his words "dont' you f**king put that s**t in your normal car! Pour some castrol in there and then just f**king forget about it for 6 months"

... did I mention this is a rather "colorful" uncle? At the time he was talking about my 93 intrepid, but I'm guessing he wouldn't advise putting that *&@*# in my 8 either :)

Make sure the oil you use has the "recommended for ford/honda" vehicles on it. This way you KNOW that it is good.

Most of the OTC 5w20 oils do and should be ok for a reasonable maintenance program.

I think every brand of oil out there has a guy, somewhere, who claims all sorts of horror stories about the product. The key question is: Are there a whole bunch of actual people piping up with problems, or is there just the One Guy...even better, the One Guy himself is never there, its always my best friend's cousin's uncle's pimp....whatever. I've heard virtually no one complain about Valvoline. This may actually be the first. Pettit recommends it and put it in my FD when they rebuilt the motor, and they've built a few of them. I don't think they were just trying to create more business for themselves.

I've since moved on to Royal Purple synthetic, so if you're one of the synthetic bashers feel free to throw everything I say out the window, but...if I were to go back to dino-juice, it would be Valvoline, without a doubt.

jds

Originally posted by Naginata
Valvoline - the #1 choice of car mechanics (who take their engines apart every 1000 miles or so).

I've got an uncle who works in a nascar pit crew... they run valvoline in the race car, but, in his words "dont' you f**king put that s**t in your normal car! Pour some castrol in there and then just f**king forget about it for 6 months"

... did I mention this is a rather "colorful" uncle? At the time he was talking about my 93 intrepid, but I'm guessing he wouldn't advise putting that *&@*# in my 8 either :)

Hey, I didn't say that uncle mike was right. But as long as everyone's posting stories from "their guy", I didn't want to be left out :)

Who cares what oil and what that One Guys says.

If you want to know the condition of the engine, get a an oil analysis kit.

That GUY will give you real data on the condition of the oil.

there is an oil and oil filter comparison site somewhere. basically, the filter differs more based on brands. oil pretty much is the same. i put name brand oil that is on sale by the case ($.79/qt) in my FD.

Just like the Florida Voting Motto: Vote Early and Vote Often. Change the stuff frequently.

RTFM, though, as the BOOK says something about synthetics not being recomended. If our RX8 apex seals turn out to be defective, you don't want the dealer to be able to use phrases like "used un-approved oil."

Hey, at least these aren't Ferrari Enzo's...they take 10-60! Find THAT at Pep Boys.

- Eric H.
2004 RX8 titanium
1976 Alfa Romeo Spider

Last Mazda owned: 1988 323 GTX (tuner boyz had nothin' on THAT car)

Originally posted by thered1996

...

RTFM, though, as the BOOK says something about synthetics not being recomended.

...


RTFM??? You need to RTFM! :D

It does not mention synthetics anywhere in the manual. In fact, on page 8-9 it specifies the weight and the quality of the type of oil to be used. If I'm missing a page on the oil type, please post the page number in the manual!!!

Originally posted by thered1996
Just like the Florida Voting Motto: Vote Early and Vote Often.

That's Chicago. The northern 2/3's of Florida votes just fine - it's just a few Retardo Montalbans down south that have hand/eye coordination issues. :D

I just put in some valvoline 5-30 is this weight ok??

Originally posted by Momentum
I just put in some valvoline 5-30 is this weight ok??

mixing 5-20 and 5-30 is no bueno. Drain and refill.

Originally posted by matt
mixing 5-20 and 5-30 is no bueno. Drain and refill.

Why is that?

What matt probably has now is like 5W-22

Mixing is not a problem, the only problem is the weights and I don't think 1/2 quart is going to mess anything up at all!

Originally posted by syntrix
Why is that?

What matt probably has now is like 5W-22

Mixing is not a problem, the only problem is the weights and I don't think 1/2 quart is going to mess anything up at all!

It's not that simple really. The chemical composition is different from 5-20 to 5-30. Like mixing o+ and a- blood. Same idea. Bit hey, it's your car and it's under warranty.

Originally posted by matt
It's not that simple really. The chemical composition is different from 5-20 to 5-30. Like mixing o+ and a- blood. Same idea. Bit hey, it's your car and it's under warranty.

Not at all. I'd like to see some proof on that!

What is your source of information?

I can tell you right now, they are compatible, but waiting for your data!

Here's a linky of mixing mobil 1:

http://www.mobil1.com/care/advanced/ask/archive.jsp#date127

Scroll down a bit and you will see this:

Mixing 50/50 of 10W-30 and 15W-50 will produce a viscosity in between the two. It is not possible to assign an SAE number but 15W-50 is about twice a thick as a 10W-30.

And the first Q/A has to do with mixing with other brands!!!


And please quote manufacturers, not red necks on message boards ;) ;)

The site you are referring to is specific to Mobil1 (synth) and mixing dino with mobil1 (synth) which are non-dino oils.

The post in question is mixing valvoline (dino) and the stock 8 oil (dino)

Originally posted by matt
The site you are referring to is specific to Mobil1 (synth) and mixing dino with mobil1 (synth) which are non-dino oils.

The post in question is mixing valvoline (dino) and the stock 8 oil (dino)

If stock fill is brand X, and then you go to Valvoline, you think there's going to be a problem?

Any car, when you change the oil, there is still residual oil left in there!

If this was the case, there would be blown engines everywhere, and serious warnings on labels of oil!!!!

To appease you, I have emailed both Castrol and Valvoline about this issue.

I'll post up when I get a response back from the source!

Here's a response back from valvoline:

Thank you for your question! On a normal basis I would not recommend that you mix different brands of motor oil or different weights. However, in an emergency situation it is better to mix fluids then it is to be without motor oil. There will not be a chemical reaction between different brands of motor oil.

Man, syntrix, that was satisfying! "chemical reaction..." indeed. *guffaw*

Hahah!

Now think about all that oil left in the oil cooler when you change out the oil.

What do you suppose the factory fill is? Better be whatever brand you choose ;)

I am still waiting for castrol to come back with an answer ;) ;)

ill never buy castrol after they were able to beat a a mobil suit against them for calling their syntec "synthetic" even though it comes from a base stock. They were able to find a loophole that allowed the "synthetic" term because they changed enough things to the oil. Look it up on google. ive always used mobil one until now in the 8. ill stick with penzoil and pure one oil filters (if they make them for the 8 yet)

Here's some important info found on valvoline website:

"A typical modern car may require a multi-viscosity oil rated at 5W-20, a number that would have been unthinkable a short time ago. But that relatively thinner oil is designed to work in conjunction with the tight engine clearances and provide adequate lubrication from a cold start-up in the winter in Minnesota to a blistering drive across the desert near Phoenix in the summer. If you use a heavier oil because you think it's "better," you'll not only be wrong, you may cause your engine some damage since it won't be properly lubricated during start-up and in cooler weather. Furthermore, if you decide that if a range of 5W-20 is good, then 5W-30 must be better because it's a wider range, you'll also be wrong, since the things done to give that oil the wider range may not necessarily be what your engine needs.

The best oil for your car is what the manufacturer recommends. Use the correct viscosity as outlined in your owner's manual, purchase quality oil from a reputable company, change it regularly, and take good care of your car. "


Would you still put anything other than 5W-20 in your 8???

Originally posted by Maximus
Would you still put anything other than 5W-20 in your 8???

The answer depends on where you live - in the UK, Europe, Australia, in fact anywhere outside of North America, Mazda's recommended oil viscosity is 5W30! I would expect them to happily use 5W30 instead of 5W20. Also, based on that, I would not expect any problems at all using 5W30 in North America either.

Regards,
Gordon

Check this web site: www.bobistheoilguy.com There is a wealth of information there. The forums are particularly informative.
They generally do not rate Valvoline as a top oil.

Bear in mind that all brands of oil are constantly being changed. What this can mean is that an oil that was one of the best formulations five years ago may only be an average oil today. For example, I have always heard very bad things about Penzoil in the past - usually from mechanics. Today, it is apparently one of the best non-synthetic oils on the market.

That being said, probably any modern oil would prabably be adequate and not harm your engine - in the correct viscosity.

Personally I have used the original synthetic oil - and I believe the best - in all my other vehicles. In my RX-8, I use the Motorcraft 5w-20 oil. It is a synthetic blend. With all the controversy regarding synthetic use in the rotary engine, I decided against using the Amsoil. I believe the Motorcraft oil will be OK. It is a highly rated oil on those forums.

Geez All this and the fundamental question of which viscosity 5W/20 or 5W/30 seems to go unanswered? 4-Get Synth or Reg Oil what is the right viscity range and it seems 4-Get the Owners Manual 5W/20 - what is best - period?