Hello everybody!

This site is so full of people that know their stuff, I wanted to ask some things.

I have a 1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA, 305 TPI, automatic transmission, T-Top, 9 bolt 3.27 rear and pretty much every options except leather. The car has about 115 000 miles all original and NOT one single modifications.

The problem is, when I go to buy some oil for the engine, I never know what to choose... Their's so many brands, type, etc...

So, I wan't the expert advices.

I wan't regular oil, NO semi or full synthetic.

So what's the best in regular? By the way, my car doesn't burn any oil if that can help... Should I use 5W30 like it was recommended back in 88? Wich brand is the best?

What is the best brand of oil filters too?

Hope to get an anwser fast, buying the stuff in 1 day max.

Thanks a lot!

 

I usually use royal purple synthtic but when my money isn't right I use mobile 1 don't know why just do

 

I wish I had enough money to buy full synthetic every time I change oil but I don't... That's why I wan't to know what is the best in regular oil and filter...

Thanks!

 

Most dino-oil these days are pretty comparable, so mostly comes down to your own taste.

As long as you stick to a reputable brand, yuo shouldn't have any worries...Valvoline, Mobil, Shell, etc...

5w30 is probably too light, mostly used to squeeze that last .005 MPG out of the car. A 10w30 would be a better choice IMO, also best to check versus the climate you're in.

But I'd have to ask you this, you have a 115K on the clock and you don't use any oil...why not continue with what you've been using?

Seems to work pretty well

 

I was gonna buy 4.73liter of Penzoil 5W30. How much oil is needed in a 305 TPI? Do I have enough with a 4.73liter? Or maybe too much?

I was also gonna buy an AC-Delco filter at the GM dealer.

I was doing the oil/filter change at a shop... That's why I didn't know what to use...

I live in Canada. So the snow is coming soon already... The car is going to be in a garage (non-heated) until april. We don't have extremely hot temperature when the car is out from april to the end of october. Maybe a month or two.

 

Here's a pic of my 115 500 miles beauty

 

You've kept her in pretty good shape!!

I'm sorry, but I'm metrically-challenged...with a oil and filter drain, you'll need 5 quarts.

 

So that means 5 liter... I won't have enough then. You are sure? With 5 quarts do you have a little more than full on the dipstick?

 

I don't think 5 quarts is 5 liters...otherwise there wouldn't be a metric system

Shouldn't register too high, if any, to worry about. If 4.73 liters is 5 quarts, then dump it in, you'll be fine.

 

Thanks a lot!

 

I have 124K and I run Royal Purple 15W40 with a GM PF1218 filter. Used to use the PF25 and PF35.

If you can't afford a real synthetic like RP then just use Mobil 1 or Quaker State...

 

I use 10w30 Castrol GTX in summer and when park it for winter i use 5w30. Just had a brand new engine put in and i am going to be using Castrol GTX.

The key is the regualr oil change and the engine should live long and happy.

 

My 4.3 V6 takes about 4.5 quarts. I'd get 5 to be sure. Each quart= .946 liters, so the total should be 4.73 liters. You'll probably be okay with 4.5 though.

 

You might want to do a search. This topic comes up all the time. Another place you can go for info is bobistheoilguy.com.

 

5 qts mobil1 5-30 and a PF1218 ac delco filter, she has 130k miles from the rocker arms to the oil pan and still runs like new