Best oil weight to use...

BigSur · 05-10-04, 02:32 PM

My truck is about to hit her birthday (200k) and i want to do something special for her so i am thinking about changing to the oil to a thicker oil. Right now i am using 10w30 but i have heard that if your truck has alot of miles to use a thicker weight. Now i hail from the great state of TX and it gets pretty darn hot down here in the summer time so i would need something that can take the heat as well.

What would ya'll recommend on an engine that has 200k?

Pskhaat · 05-10-04, 02:35 PM

You're in TX?

I would move to 15-40 and if everything goes well, possibly move up to 20-50. You live in a warm enough region, you could do 15-40 winter and 20-50 summer.

IDave · 05-10-04, 04:02 PM

Go with a synthetic, too, or at least a synthetic blend. Your truck will love you for it.

Landpimp · 05-10-04, 06:12 PM

20-50 in all my Cruisers(cept the 100) mild climite in WA, use to run 10-30.....they seem to like the 20-50 better.

Cruiserdrew · 05-10-04, 06:26 PM

Agree with the reccomendation to use 15w-40 heavy duty oils like Chevron Delo, or Mobil Delvac 1300. Hard to beat for $6.00 per gallon. I can't see a reason to use synthetic on a high mileage truck that's run conventional oil it's whole life up until now. Now if its run on synthetic since day one then continue.

folsom50 · 05-10-04, 06:30 PM

Yep, don't run straight syn. now, you'll have a whole world of leaks show up. Switch over to 15/40 Rotella.

IDave · 05-10-04, 09:06 PM

Perhaps. But I've done it without an issue.

lowtideride · 05-10-04, 09:16 PM

switched to 10-40 and stopped burning oil in my 82 fj-60....and im way deep down in south floirda

IDave · 05-10-04, 09:20 PM

What did you switch from, LowTide?

lowtideride · 05-10-04, 09:40 PM

5w 30

IDave · 05-10-04, 10:01 PM

Good move, LowTide. Think I'd even go to 20/50 if I lived where you are.

(They are forecasting 5-8 inches of snow for my area tonight, so I think I'll stick with 10W40.)

lowtideride · 05-10-04, 10:12 PM

it was from when i lived up north...

swank60 · 05-10-04, 11:00 PM

I don't know - I was running 20-50 in mine here in Fart Worth, and it didn't like it. When it's cool, I run 10-30, during the summer, I'll move up to 10-40. I always put in a quart of Marvel Mystery oil, too...I've got 204k miles and other than the emissions weirdness I'm working through, it does great...

while we're at it, what about brand? I hear a lot about Mobil 1. I run Castrol (pretty much always have) - never run the cheap stuff...any thoughts on that? (not to hijack here...)

BigSur · 05-11-04, 06:49 AM

[quote author=swank60 link=board=1;threadid=16101;start=msg154214#msg154 214 date=1084251619]
I don't know - I was running 20-50 in mine here in Fart Worth, and it didn't like it. When it's cool, I run 10-30, during the summer, I'll move up to 10-40. I always put in a quart of Marvel Mystery oil, too...I've got 204k miles and other than the emissions weirdness I'm working through, it does great...

while we're at it, what about brand? I hear a lot about Mobil 1. I run Castrol (pretty much always have) - never run the cheap stuff...any thoughts on that? (not to hijack here...)
[/quote]

No hijack at all...this is a good point. I run quaker state in mine but what do people reccommend?

Cruiserdrew · 05-11-04, 08:19 AM

I don't think the brand matters that much, but for what it matters, I use Chevron Supreme 20w-50 in my FJ40, and Chevron Delo 15w-40 in my FJ60. I think any of the major brands will provide good service. Mobil 1 is great stuff-I run that in My 80 series and in my wife's car. It's just too expensive to run in the older cruisers. Now if the rebuild fairey put a fresh rebuild in my FJ40, I would run Mobil 1.

Pskhaat · 05-11-04, 08:48 AM

[quote author=swank60 link=board=1;threadid=16101;start=msg154214#msg154 214 date=1084251619]
...run Castrol (pretty much always have) - never run the cheap stuff...
[/quote]

There are some that would argue that Castrol IS the cheap stuff.
:-X

Pskhaat · 05-11-04, 08:50 AM

Y'all'll laugh, but just put the Wal-Mart brand 20-50 (or 15-40) and change it every 2000 miles or less; it's more cost effective than synthetic.

lowtideride · 05-11-04, 09:36 AM

yeah i use castrol too, dont really care that much about the brand just always used it prob always will...

today in my area it suppose to be 84 degrees and the wind is out of ENE so there will be plenty of surf at low tide (around 7)

swank60 · 05-11-04, 10:54 AM

maybe brand pref should be left to oil filters...that's pretty critical, from what I've been reading.

Advent Horizon · 05-11-04, 07:08 PM

Brand is important, though. When I used to run pennzoil, I could smell that crap BURNING in my engine. Not ggod.

Since the rebuild, I've run Mobil 1, 15-50 in the summer, 10-40 in the winter. Except that now I go to school where it's REALLY cold, I run 10-30 in the winter. But anywhere it doesn't get below -20*, 10-40 is good.

lowtideride · 05-11-04, 08:49 PM

i just run a napa filter ....is that a good thing or a bad thing?

IDave · 05-11-04, 10:07 PM

I think Napa makes a fine filter. Gold is best, then their Silver, I guess. I use NAPA in my RAV4; Big Black OEM Toyota in the '40. (Just 'cuz).

Jujoo · 05-12-04, 01:08 AM

I've got a 74 fj40 and I use the Fram tri-filter with mobil one...I think it was the 10-40 and i've got no problems here in Nevada. I've always wanted to hear about recommendations though since i'm still a newbie in this area.

jkastning · 05-12-04, 05:54 PM

Napa filters are great. They are made by Wix, which I have read are one of the best.

Mike S · 05-12-04, 10:59 PM

[quote author=swank60 link=board=29;threadid=16101;start=msg154214#msg15 4214 date=1084251619]
I don't know - I was running 20-50 in mine here in Fart Worth, and it didn't like it. When it's cool, I run 10-30, during the summer, I'll move up to 10-40. I always put in a quart of Marvel Mystery oil, too...I've got 204k miles and other than the emissions weirdness I'm working through, it does great...

while we're at it, what about brand? I hear a lot about Mobil 1. I run Castrol (pretty much always have) - never run the cheap stuff...any thoughts on that? (not to hijack here...)
[/quote]

I like Mobil One. I run it in all my vehicles. I had a Ford Explorer years ago, high mileage by the time I gave it to my son-in-law was driving on the freeway, and the radiator blew. He drove another eight or ten miles dry, in the summer heat. He bent the head and I had to have it replaced, but the bottom end was fine and is still going strong at over 200,000 miles. So I like Mobil One.

Mike S.

swank60 · 05-15-04, 03:10 PM

Is the Mobil 1 a synthetic or blended? I went out and priced it (at Walmart, even...) and it's $20 for 5 quarts. I was so sticker-shocked that I backed away slowly, turned, then ran down another isle.

I'd have to stop a whole lot of leaks before I could justify that, even in my beloved 60.

Cruiserdrew · 05-15-04, 04:12 PM

Swank-see my posts above. I strongly reccomend you use the Chevron Delo 15w-40. You will get near synthetic levels of performance for very small $$. It's $6-$7 per GALLON, so you need 2. You get a heavy duty additive package which is just the thing for cleaning out an old motor of unknown maintence. The NAPA "Gold" 51515 filters are excellent in every respect and will take your 60 another 200k miles.

BTW-on the Mobil 1, it is the real deal-full synthetic, and that's a good price.

swank60 · 05-15-04, 07:51 PM

I'll try the Chevron and see how that works. Next oil change is going to see a Mobil 1 oil filter though - I want to see if it's worth the $12. Hope so. Might try the Napa Gold next.

HZJ60 Guy · 05-26-04, 08:07 PM

2001 VW TDI Bora

1987 HZJ-60 Cruiser

1987 Toyota 2L powered Suzuki samurai

All use Amsoil Heavy Duty diesel oil with Amsoil bypass filters.

TB

esh · 05-27-04, 10:45 PM

I'm using Castrol 20-50 on the FJ62 with Wix filters. Using same Wix (51515s i think) filters on the BJ42s but with Chevron Delo 400.

Honda gets Castrol with Honda filters.

Wix or Toyota fuel filters on the trucks, with addl Racor fuel filter/water seperators on the diesels. In the winter I also get some golden big rig fuel conditioner/drier for the diesels. Water is bad bad bad for diesels.

05-10-04, 02:32 PM	#1
BigSur IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Big D Posts: 1,198	Best oil weight to use... My truck is about to hit her birthday (200k) and i want to do something special for her so i am thinking about changing to the oil to a thicker oil. Right now i am using 10w30 but i have heard that if your truck has alot of miles to use a thicker weight. Now i hail from the great state of TX and it gets pretty darn hot down here in the summer time so i would need something that can take the heat as well. What would ya'll recommend on an engine that has 200k?

05-10-04, 02:35 PM	#2
Pskhaat IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 1,926	Re:Best oil weight to use... You're in TX? I would move to 15-40 and if everything goes well, possibly move up to 20-50. You live in a warm enough region, you could do 15-40 winter and 20-50 summer.

05-10-04, 04:02 PM	#3
IDave IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: McCall, ID TLCA# 13705 Posts: 7,428	Re:Best oil weight to use... Go with a synthetic, too, or at least a synthetic blend. Your truck will love you for it.

05-10-04, 06:12 PM	#4
Landpimp IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gig Harbor WA TLCA# 5506 Posts: 11,439	Best oil weight to use... 20-50 in all my Cruisers(cept the 100) mild climite in WA, use to run 10-30.....they seem to like the 20-50 better.

05-10-04, 06:26 PM	#5
Cruiserdrew KI6MIE Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA TLCA# 11734 Posts: 6,766	Best oil weight to use... Agree with the reccomendation to use 15w-40 heavy duty oils like Chevron Delo, or Mobil Delvac 1300. Hard to beat for $6.00 per gallon. I can't see a reason to use synthetic on a high mileage truck that's run conventional oil it's whole life up until now. Now if its run on synthetic since day one then continue.

05-10-04, 06:30 PM	#6
folsom50 IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Nowhere Nebraska Posts: 591	Re:Best oil weight to use... Yep, don't run straight syn. now, you'll have a whole world of leaks show up. Switch over to 15/40 Rotella.

05-10-04, 09:06 PM	#7
IDave IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: McCall, ID TLCA# 13705 Posts: 7,428	Best oil weight to use... Perhaps. But I've done it without an issue.

05-10-04, 09:16 PM	#8
lowtideride Ride On... Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Florida TLCA# 14891 Posts: 7,057	Re:Best oil weight to use... switched to 10-40 and stopped burning oil in my 82 fj-60....and im way deep down in south floirda

05-10-04, 09:20 PM	#9
IDave IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: McCall, ID TLCA# 13705 Posts: 7,428	Best oil weight to use... What did you switch from, LowTide?

05-10-04, 09:40 PM	#10
lowtideride Ride On... Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Florida TLCA# 14891 Posts: 7,057	Re:Best oil weight to use... 5w 30

05-10-04, 10:01 PM	#11
IDave IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: McCall, ID TLCA# 13705 Posts: 7,428	Best oil weight to use... Good move, LowTide. Think I'd even go to 20/50 if I lived where you are. (They are forecasting 5-8 inches of snow for my area tonight, so I think I'll stick with 10W40.)

05-10-04, 10:12 PM	#12
lowtideride Ride On... Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Florida TLCA# 14891 Posts: 7,057	Re:Best oil weight to use... it was from when i lived up north...

05-10-04, 11:00 PM	#13
swank60 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: One of Four Presidential Flying Saucers Posts: 3,798	Re:Best oil weight to use... I don't know - I was running 20-50 in mine here in Fart Worth, and it didn't like it. When it's cool, I run 10-30, during the summer, I'll move up to 10-40. I always put in a quart of Marvel Mystery oil, too...I've got 204k miles and other than the emissions weirdness I'm working through, it does great... while we're at it, what about brand? I hear a lot about Mobil 1. I run Castrol (pretty much always have) - never run the cheap stuff...any thoughts on that? (not to hijack here...)

05-11-04, 06:49 AM	#14
BigSur IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Big D Posts: 1,198	Re:Best oil weight to use... [quote author=swank60 link=board=1;threadid=16101;start=msg154214#msg154 214 date=1084251619] I don't know - I was running 20-50 in mine here in Fart Worth, and it didn't like it. When it's cool, I run 10-30, during the summer, I'll move up to 10-40. I always put in a quart of Marvel Mystery oil, too...I've got 204k miles and other than the emissions weirdness I'm working through, it does great... while we're at it, what about brand? I hear a lot about Mobil 1. I run Castrol (pretty much always have) - never run the cheap stuff...any thoughts on that? (not to hijack here...) [/quote] No hijack at all...this is a good point. I run quaker state in mine but what do people reccommend?

05-11-04, 08:19 AM	#15
Cruiserdrew KI6MIE Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA TLCA# 11734 Posts: 6,766	Best oil weight to use... I don't think the brand matters that much, but for what it matters, I use Chevron Supreme 20w-50 in my FJ40, and Chevron Delo 15w-40 in my FJ60. I think any of the major brands will provide good service. Mobil 1 is great stuff-I run that in My 80 series and in my wife's car. It's just too expensive to run in the older cruisers. Now if the rebuild fairey put a fresh rebuild in my FJ40, I would run Mobil 1.

05-11-04, 08:48 AM	#16
Pskhaat IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 1,926	Re:Best oil weight to use... [quote author=swank60 link=board=1;threadid=16101;start=msg154214#msg154 214 date=1084251619] ...run Castrol (pretty much always have) - never run the cheap stuff... [/quote] There are some that would argue that Castrol IS the cheap stuff. :-X

05-11-04, 08:50 AM	#17
Pskhaat IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 1,926	Re:Best oil weight to use... Y'all'll laugh, but just put the Wal-Mart brand 20-50 (or 15-40) and change it every 2000 miles or less; it's more cost effective than synthetic.

05-11-04, 09:36 AM	#18
lowtideride Ride On... Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Florida TLCA# 14891 Posts: 7,057	Re:Best oil weight to use... yeah i use castrol too, dont really care that much about the brand just always used it prob always will... today in my area it suppose to be 84 degrees and the wind is out of ENE so there will be plenty of surf at low tide (around 7)

05-11-04, 10:54 AM	#19
swank60 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: One of Four Presidential Flying Saucers Posts: 3,798	Re:Best oil weight to use... maybe brand pref should be left to oil filters...that's pretty critical, from what I've been reading.

05-11-04, 07:08 PM	#20
Advent Horizon IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 40	Best oil weight to use... Brand is important, though. When I used to run pennzoil, I could smell that crap BURNING in my engine. Not ggod. Since the rebuild, I've run Mobil 1, 15-50 in the summer, 10-40 in the winter. Except that now I go to school where it's REALLY cold, I run 10-30 in the winter. But anywhere it doesn't get below -20*, 10-40 is good.

05-11-04, 08:49 PM	#21
lowtideride Ride On... Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Florida TLCA# 14891 Posts: 7,057	Re:Best oil weight to use... i just run a napa filter ....is that a good thing or a bad thing?

05-11-04, 10:07 PM	#22
IDave IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: McCall, ID TLCA# 13705 Posts: 7,428	Best oil weight to use... I think Napa makes a fine filter. Gold is best, then their Silver, I guess. I use NAPA in my RAV4; Big Black OEM Toyota in the '40. (Just 'cuz).

05-12-04, 01:08 AM	#23
Jujoo IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Henderson, Nevada Posts: 52	Re:Best oil weight to use... I've got a 74 fj40 and I use the Fram tri-filter with mobil one...I think it was the 10-40 and i've got no problems here in Nevada. I've always wanted to hear about recommendations though since i'm still a newbie in this area.

05-12-04, 05:54 PM	#24
jkastning IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 13	Best oil weight to use... Napa filters are great. They are made by Wix, which I have read are one of the best.

05-12-04, 10:59 PM	#25
Mike S IH8MUD Lifer - No Appeal Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,513	Re:Best oil weight to use... [quote author=swank60 link=board=29;threadid=16101;start=msg154214#msg15 4214 date=1084251619] I don't know - I was running 20-50 in mine here in Fart Worth, and it didn't like it. When it's cool, I run 10-30, during the summer, I'll move up to 10-40. I always put in a quart of Marvel Mystery oil, too...I've got 204k miles and other than the emissions weirdness I'm working through, it does great... while we're at it, what about brand? I hear a lot about Mobil 1. I run Castrol (pretty much always have) - never run the cheap stuff...any thoughts on that? (not to hijack here...) [/quote] I like Mobil One. I run it in all my vehicles. I had a Ford Explorer years ago, high mileage by the time I gave it to my son-in-law was driving on the freeway, and the radiator blew. He drove another eight or ten miles dry, in the summer heat. He bent the head and I had to have it replaced, but the bottom end was fine and is still going strong at over 200,000 miles. So I like Mobil One. Mike S.

05-15-04, 03:10 PM	#26
swank60 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: One of Four Presidential Flying Saucers Posts: 3,798	Re:Best oil weight to use... Is the Mobil 1 a synthetic or blended? I went out and priced it (at Walmart, even...) and it's $20 for 5 quarts. I was so sticker-shocked that I backed away slowly, turned, then ran down another isle. I'd have to stop a whole lot of leaks before I could justify that, even in my beloved 60.

05-15-04, 04:12 PM	#27
Cruiserdrew KI6MIE Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA TLCA# 11734 Posts: 6,766	Best oil weight to use... Swank-see my posts above. I strongly reccomend you use the Chevron Delo 15w-40. You will get near synthetic levels of performance for very small $$. It's $6-$7 per GALLON, so you need 2. You get a heavy duty additive package which is just the thing for cleaning out an old motor of unknown maintence. The NAPA "Gold" 51515 filters are excellent in every respect and will take your 60 another 200k miles. BTW-on the Mobil 1, it is the real deal-full synthetic, and that's a good price.

05-15-04, 07:51 PM	#28
swank60 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: One of Four Presidential Flying Saucers Posts: 3,798	Re:Best oil weight to use... I'll try the Chevron and see how that works. Next oil change is going to see a Mobil 1 oil filter though - I want to see if it's worth the $12. Hope so. Might try the Napa Gold next.

05-26-04, 08:07 PM	#29
HZJ60 Guy Tank Buster Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Seattle area TLCA# 13102 Posts: 2,252	Best oil weight to use... 2001 VW TDI Bora 1987 HZJ-60 Cruiser 1987 Toyota 2L powered Suzuki samurai All use Amsoil Heavy Duty diesel oil with Amsoil bypass filters. TB

05-27-04, 10:45 PM	#30
esh IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Oregon TLCA# 4408 Posts: 826	Best oil weight to use... I'm using Castrol 20-50 on the FJ62 with Wix filters. Using same Wix (51515s i think) filters on the BJ42s but with Chevron Delo 400. Honda gets Castrol with Honda filters. Wix or Toyota fuel filters on the trucks, with addl Racor fuel filter/water seperators on the diesels. In the winter I also get some golden big rig fuel conditioner/drier for the diesels. Water is bad bad bad for diesels.