Does anybody have any factual info about oil brands? Is one brand really better than the other? How about oil filters? It seems most of the info I read is just a bunch of crap.

I was also thinking about synthetic. I wonder if it really makes your motor run better/last longer.

I wonder if there is a certain time when you can switch over to synthetic when the motor is completely broken in.

I drive a 05 Ram Hemi and I am about to do the second oil change. I'm trying to take real good care of my new truck.

-Chris

 

Here's some good info on oil filters:

Oil Filter Study

I have been using almost exclusively SuperTech filters from Wal-Mart (these are apparently made by Chamion Labs, just about the best filters in that study).

As for oil, all 146,000 miles on my truck have had Mobil drive clean (now Mobil clean 5000) changed every 3,000 to 7,000 miles. I've never worried about synthetic, just had the pan off my truck to replace the oil pump, I could still see cross-hatching in the portion of the bores where the rings slide. $0.02

 

Lordy, lordy, this has been covered in every magazine over many years. I suggest you google using something like "motor oil tests," for example.

Yes, sysnthetics are better, no doubt about it.

Actual brand makes less difference in gasoline engine oils than many manufacturers would like you to believe, especially the little, "boutique" vendors. There are a limited number of additives made by very few companies that the oil vendors buy and use, and to meet specs there's relatively little wiggle room on mix. Diesel engine oil is different and has different specs and additive packages, as do motorcycles, especially ones intended for use with wet clutches.

Bottom line... run a good synthetic and be done with it. However, don't buy into long-term oil change intervals. The additive package breaks down in all oils after the same amount of time (miles) and contamination is the same issue for all, irrespective of the base used.

All the best.

 

I've been using the Royal Purple synthetic and Im liking the results.

 

Castro Synethic for life. Ive put that in my camaro and my truck. Ok i wont lie, ive had the dealor change my oil since i bought the package deal for it. But i change it on the camaro every 3k. On the truck too. And i have noticed a difference with synethic. Its so much thinner and makes shifter better, the whole engine runs better in my opinion.

 

I was talking to my brother-in-law, who happens to be a mechanic, a few weeks ago. He told me that he serviced an engine not too long ago whos owner used nothing but Royal Purple synthetic. I was informed that this oil has a tendancy to solidify in the pan over time, clogging things up inside the motor. I didn't see it personnaly so I can't vouch for him, but I have no reason to distrust him either. I would ask around about this product.

 

It's going to be difficult to get "factual" information about oil on a forum. Most will be biased toward what they use. I use Mobile 1, but any regularly changed API certified dyno oil will protect your engine for as long as you want to own the truck. I've put over 200K on several vehicles without synthetics.

 

Run a good quality oil and filter. Change frequently. No problems, No worries. Personally, I used to run Mobil 1, but now I just run plain ole Castrol GTX due to finances. Never had a problem with it before and probably will never have a problem with it in the future (both oils).

 

Forgot to add that for the tranny and rear end I use synthetics.

 

If a person was to decide to start using synthetic--regardless of brand--In the "old" days, they said to wait until you had 15k on the engine due to break in needs for the cylinder walls. Well, it seems that todays engines come out built to different specs--please correct me if I'm wrong-- and I'm wondering if the official 4k break in time is enough before I do in fact switch to synthetics or would it be smarter to wait until I get the 15k on the engine.
Batphreak--do you have any idea what the micron rating of the supertech filters you use is. I currently use mobil1 filters which are rated at 2-4 micron, which is good--better than most in fact, but the smaller the particle it catches, the longer those Babbitts are going to last, particularly if off-roading is in the picture. I currently have set my NEW truck up on a 2500 miles schedule for the oil changes. Ya, I know it seems rediculously low, but, better to be safe than sorry, and having a background in industrial refrigeration--you find out after a while just how fast an oil can break down when it gets hard use.