Fellas and Ladies,

I got my RS with 68K miles on it. It had sat, gotten dirty, kinda ugly and I have since cleaned it a lot and modded it a little. I changed out the oil when I got it and put in Valvoline Max Life. The engine did not and does not smoke on start up, nor does it leak oil. I do have some ticking/tapping noises when I get on the gas, but I'm not sure where they are coming from as of yet. Anyway, my question, should I continue to use the Max Life or should I use something else???

 

Keep using it. Valvoline is the best oil out there in my opinion and the Max Life just has additives mixed in (so you don't need to add any others), that help condition the seals, and fill in minor inperfection in any bearing surfaces. It's good stuff.

 

It shouldnt be causing problems. I'd check to see if your exhaust manifold gaskets are leaking. It sounds like you have an exhaust leak.

 

Not the best oil out there, not the worse either. Will it work for your application? Probably. Is it causing your ticking sounds? Not likely. Oil is oil when it comes to lubing your system... they should all cease knocking (with proper bearing clearances) and any upper end ticking. After that any noises that you hear are from inadequate ______.


The best oils (or most favored around here) are the full synthetics from....

Mobil 1
AMSOIL
Royal Purple (I havent heard much about this, but what I have heard is good things)

The best oil FILTERS (just as important as the oil that you use) are....

Mobil 1
K&N

You are probably spending the same amount on that Max Life stuff as you would for some good quality oil like the ones above.

The things about the additives is that most the time the polymers (plastic) will burn and melt to the block and head and cause that thick sludge in your engine. It DOES help with seals and such, but it's something of a bandaid to the real problems (bad seals, inadequate bearing clearances), which will in the end cause you more hassle than good.