At the risk of starting WWIII, I'm just curious.... What Brand and grade of oil and oil filters do you guys use? Try to state what motor you have as well. I'm just more or less trying to survey what you guys are using.... and if you don't mind I think I'm going to incorporate the results as a graph or chart into my developing web site. Personally, on my 305v8, I've been using Pennzoil 10W40 on Castrol MaxProPlus (the CMP5 long style) filters cause they're like 5o cents at K-mart on the clearance rack In the summer I usually add in STP oil treatment for a little more protection. Thanks for the input!

My engine is in my sig. I use Fram filters with, quaker state 10w30. I have never lost a engine, or ever had any problems with these products. I personally never use additives such as STP. It is a tune up in a can. It also isn't very good for any engine. Unless you want to hide some lifter noise and what not. I use a oil flush once a year to remove any biuld up and or gunk inside the engine. Other then that a regular oil change every 3000 kilometers. My oil is always clean looking for the most part when I change it. I don't give it a chance to break down.

I use Baldwin and the occasional champ labs filter(when the baldwin's are sold out). Most filters are good enough for typical useage--except FRAM. IMO, Fram filters are very bad--cut one open and see for yourself.

I use delco filters and mobil 1 oil. I could only pick one, so I put ac delco. If you really want to see good results you need to revise your poll.

K & N or mobil 1 filter and mobil 1 10w30 in my IROC
engine in sig.

AC Delco filter and Valvoline 20w50 racing.

The correct response is not included in your poll - AMSOIL in all cases (including oil & air filters, ATF, gear lube, grease, etc.). For all of my "fleet".

I use whatever brannon tire puts into my car.

I use Fram and Valvoline 10w40 synthetic.

Mobil 1 oil and AC Delco filters.

by all means, post a reply. I was limited to space... moderators willing, I could throw on another poll to this post, but rest assured, the "unlisted tallies" are being counted on my spreadsheet. Interesting that Delco holds a huge lead...

Anyway, thanks for the input so far! I noticed a few flames cropping up, so I guess it's time for the Nomex skivvies!!

Oh, FYI, I saw a Fram HP1 in Wal-Mart yesterday, sticker price of $17.88... just food for thought... I know it's not the right one for a chev, and it's way over priced, but fact is, they are creeping into Wal Mart chains...

ac delco filters, and castrol gtx 20w 50 oil in the summer, and 10w40 in the winter.

delco filter and Shell 5W-30

puralator oil filters!!!
regular mobil 1 5w-30 year round!!

i only use ac delco filters and castrol gtx 10w-30 (5w if its really cold). I've used this in a 3800, a 4.3, a 2.8, a 305 tbi, a 400 sbc, and a 350 sbc. Never had any problems with burning oil or any other engine trouble with any of those. all of them had at least 150k miles on them before they'd get crashed or the trans would blow, etc....

I was using fram oil filters and pennzoil 10w40 but that was before I lost my job at the lube I worked at right now my poor car sits in the driveway awaiting tax return time so when I pull the exhaut to change the starter I can add a set of headers at the same time

K&N isn't listed :nono:

i think k&ns and such are just plain overkill. what do they filter: 10 microns?

Lets think about this now...the oil film between the ring and the cylinder wall is .001 of an inch thick. 1 micron is 1 millionith of a meter. Something 10 microns thick would simply be suspended in the oil between the piston and cylinder wall.

i've been up for about 22 hours now...so i'm not going to do the math. But i can tell you need thousands and thousands of microns to even get to the point where it'd be even remotly dangerous to your system.

The pont i'm making is an object measured in microns would simply be suspended in the oil film, at best causing minute errosion in the oil galleys.

ac/delco...it works, and it's cheap.

why are people too busy trying to prove a point then to provide useful information on this board... i just dont get it.

amsoil or M1 for synthetic and pennzoil for dino ac or wix filters. use it in every thing from my cars, trucks, mowers, and tractors.
try doing a search for it.

Ditto - except my lawn mowers/snow blowers don't have oil filters, so they only get 10W30 Mobil 1. Even the 1936 AC-B gets Mobil 1, and it doesn't leak either. It DOES have Wix filter on it though. The rest get AC filters.

Just wondering, why do some of you guys use heavier oil like 10w40 or 20w50 instead of 10w30? I used 10w30 in my 130k mile stock lg4 all summer and it never used any oil even though the valve seals smoked for a few seconds after i started it. My last oil change I just put 5w30 valvoline in cause its kind of cold up here in the winter, and it still doesn't seem to be using any oil. Just wondering if theres any benefit to using 20w50 or 10w40.

Very good question! The only time I have ever use anything more then 10w30 was for a leaky car or if someone is trying to hide some engine noise. Exspecially if you are in a colder climate you don't want to use to thick of oil.

Ditto for both my birds.
5.7L

STP filters cause they're cheap . Costal 30 weight in the first bird (you know the stuff that comes in gallon jugs like anitfreeze). valvoline 10w40 syntethic blend in the other three.

K&N and Mobil One

Ron

FRAM filter and Mobil1 (5W-30)
160,000 hard miles no problems ever on stock untouched engine.

If you run your car hard, the heavier wieghts just provide better protection on your engine. The oil doesn't break down as easy.

Ditto....

What's your MOS???

Well I have two as of right now. 92A20 or 63W20H8. You?

I have 2 also, 71L (administrative) and F5 identifier (postal)

I think the real question (being that alot of us use AC Delco filters)
is PF 25 or PF 1218? I use them because I can trade in a can of top engine cleaner for one at the dealship I work at. Mobile One
is stock fill for Corvettes so that is a few more things to trade for.

I use Mobil 1 5w30 and AC Delco Filters in the Ram Air and the 91 RS. In my race car I use Royal Purple Racing 51 (20w50) Synthetic and Delco filters.:rockon:

I use the 1218 long style witht he anti-drainback valve.

Mobil 1 oil and AC Delco filters in my Z (l98 motor).
The B4C will get the same stuff when it's running again.

Fram aka allied signal filters are the absolute worse filters you can get. Check out this filter study.. http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK/corve...lterstudy.html

Well you know what...I never trust to many of those servays..usually done by the compietition...I have used Fram filters for 15 years now, and my older brother for for even longer...Never once had a problem and never once had a blown or damaged engine due to them...to each their own. This topic is about as troublesome as the "MAF vs SD" topic... everyone will have a different opinion. But to each their own. I personally would never use Purolator...but other will with no problems at all. For the most part unless you have some supper dupper engine and car... A filter is a filter...as long as you change them and you oil accordingly you should never have any problems...it is maintenance not a fashion show, know what I mean?? I'm not going to go and buy some $30 oil filter for my daily driver...I'll buy a Fram filter for about $6 and off I go.

Maybe you ought to actually read what's on that link, it's not a survey. It's just some guy w/ a can cutter opening up filters and posting what's inside. Frams have cardboard end plates, anti-drainback valves that don't seal, etc.

Purolator has a quirk also...string wrapped around the filter media during assembly, so tight in one case it damaged the paper media.

I'm the one lonely Hastings user and proud of it.

I actually did just read the most of it....Now if I had BIG$$$$$ Vettes I too would use the better and more exspensive fiters..I still like my frams...no one will change that. Never had a problem with one and probably never will...If I were to use anything other then a fram...It would be the AC delco. IMO

Are there any downsides to using heavier oils besides I won't get to watch the puff of blue smoke when I start my car up cold in the summer? Is it okay for a 130k mile stock LG4? I drive normal most of the time but maybe on average once every day I put my foot right to the floor and wait until the engine is screaming at me to stop and then it shifts. I'm guessing it revs up to around 5500, so I guess I do run it kind of hard sometimes. Think I should go with 20w50?

btw, I just heard something bad about 10w40 recently. I think it lost some kind of certification cause it was found to be breaking down under normal driving conditions. Maybe it was something else but I thought it was 10w40.

Enjoy your frams. My mom had a fram filter fail... What a mess. Thank heavens the bypass functioned as it should have or the engine would have been toast.Fram used to be a great filter years ago. Personally I will never use another fram as long as they are the way they are now. I stick with ac delco or wix. Of course everybody knows opinions are like a$$holes.. Everybody has one. I just base my opinions and decisions on hard facts and past experiences.Cruzin.. Good luck. I hope you continue to have good luck with them. No radioactive orange cans full of cardboard for me.

No problems here Jerry...I will continue to use the frams..My L98 Monte SS does have a AC delco however. Thought I would let you know. Just went and checked...forgot that, that was what I used on her... I am almost at 400km since her rebuild so it is time for a new filter and a oil change...plus I can now put in some synthetic in too. I will go with Mobil 1. There goes $65 into a dang oil change..oh well...My SS is worth it.

Thanks for you input though...

'88 Iroc 5.7L TPI/A4 60K miles: AC Delco 1218 / Valvoline 10W30 usually.

'91 RS 5.0L TBI/A4 80K miles: AC Delco 1218/ Valvoline 10W30 usually.

I used to run Fram (no problems either) but I did switch and AC is all I will run. The 1218 filter is bigger than the stockers with no loss in ground clearance so more filter media there for getting the gunk out.

I don't run synthetic simply beacuse these cars are not new. If I get a new engine, I will opt for the good stuff. I change every 2500-3000 miles so why spend the extra $$$ if you change it regularly anyway?

Ed

I have owned several cars with high milage and used synthetic with no problems. Personally I think it is a no brainer to use synthetic oil. I use it in everything I have including my iroc,my 01 Intrepid, boat,push mower and power washer.. Just because a car is not new doesnt mean it doesnt deserve synthetic. The better the oil the longer it will survive..period.... Take in mind you just cant switch a high milage car over to synthetic.. You should do a good flush to get all the sludge deposits left over from regular oil out of the engine. Synthetic oil has a laxitive effect and if you dont flush your engine you may run into problems. It is all common sense. Regular oil creates sludge and breaks down from heat. Synthetic creates no sludge and doesnt break down. See what I am saying? Of course this doesnt mean you can run for 100,000 miles like some companys claim without an oil change. That is crazy. Personally I would never use conventional oils ever again. The added cost for synthetic is well worth the peace of mind and I am proud of my iroc with 175,000 miles and still runs like new with no oil consumption. Now that is a healthy engine. Sorry I am rambling on...

Synthetic is better, but conventional oil will take most any car to 300000 miles if car is maintained properly. As far as the fram filters go, it's scary to see how many people still use them. Fram is all about the brand name and advertising. You don't need to spend alot to get a good filter either. Wal-mart has the 'Champ Labs filter' for 1.97--and it's way better than the Fram. Don't take my word for it, look inside. For less than 4 bucks(at Wal-Mart in Kearney anyway) you can get the best (IMO) a Baldwin, if you can find them.
http://www.baldwinfilters.com/vendor/index.html

I use Mobil 1 15W-50 in all three of my cars engines (since it's synthetic and available everywhere).
I use Redline in the rearends and Mobil 1 ATF in Automatic transmissions.
My Tremec TKO gets GM/Delco Synchromesh Fluid.
Use AC Filters in the Blazer.
The Camaro and Nova use System 1 Filters (re-useable)
-Rich-

I used to have a "Mini-Mopar" A Plymouth Horizon. Russ W. Kinze is a Mini Mopar turbo nut, and that was something he did on his own time. Keep in mind that those are the Biggest cans that a Chrysler 4,6 and 8 engine wil use, Not Chevy engines, etc. I think those are also on Fords.

Anyway, that article is also about 4 1/2 to 5 years old now as well. I'm not debunking his work, I think it's a great piece, but as with anything, take it with a grain of salt. The Quaker State filter is no longer a Purolator filter, since the merger with Pennzoil they have become fram units.

Keep the votes comming please!!

I have a stock 305v8. I usually install Fram filters with the grips. I usually use Valvoline High Milage 10w40. Hope this helps out with the graph.

what do you use in your mower?