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Post Info TOPIC: How to test for type of oil?
norontcan


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How to test for type of oil?
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Okay so I've always done all my own oil changes on my modern and antique cars and always used just regular grade oil.

With the recent purchase of a newer SUV I need to know what type of oil to use ( conventional vs synthetic )

Is there a way to test the oil that is in it now to determine if it is synthetic or conventional?



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hawkeye5766


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What year is it? Think after a certain year(can't remember) they are all synthetic?

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4SPEED427


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I would go in the manual and use what they recommend.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
norontcan


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When I read the manual it was less than specific.
It's a 2014

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4SPEED427


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I would call the dealer then. With these new engines and their clearances, oil is far more important than it used to be.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
hawkeye5766


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Carl Stevenson wrote:

I would call the dealer then. With these new engines and their clearances, oil is far more important than it used to be.

 x2 on that one!



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MC


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IMHO, what is most important is to choose the proper viscosity of oil.  Unless the manufacturer specifically requires synthetic, natural petroleum based oil should be just fine.  Most of us change our oil far before it's ever worn out anyhow, so either should work fine. 



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CdnGMfan


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If it doesn't have a ton of miles on it, I would switch to synthetic. Synthetic has been demonized as having a reputation for causing leaks in older motors. It may be true to some extent, the synthetic oil will actually start to dissolve sludge (if present), thus causing leaks that were hidden by sludge.

 

A true gearhead would take an oil sample and send it in for testing. It uncovers stuff like babbit or bearing material, antifreeze... Crankcase analysis was developed by the Navy, who thought that changing a 1000 gallon crankcase on a whim without careful analysis was just careless and a missed opportunity.



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Pontiacanada


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I use synthetic in all my "newer" engines (2006 pick up, 2007 generator and mower, 2012 car, 2017 snow-blower). It is especially good in winter with it's wide viscosity range ... easier on start-up.



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

Bill shuba


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heard if you drink half a cup of it and you don"t get the Chits its regular oil lol

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DonSSDD


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Pontiacanada wrote:

I use synthetic in all my "newer" engines (2006 pick up, 2007 generator and mower, 2012 car, 2017 snow-blower). It is especially good in winter with it's wide viscosity range ... easier on start-up.

 Me too, and regular oil with eos in my old cars. When heavy trucks went to long warranties in engines, transmissions, and rear ends, 1,000,000 kms, they went to synthetic oils, Ive seen heavy rears with 2 million on them with little wear. 



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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC.
1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada

Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
4SPEED427


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Plus one on the EOS, especially if it's got a later cam in it because I hear they newer cams are softer.

My co-worker uses a can of EOS every other oil change on his old beater 1/2 ton 350 he drives about 125 km per day to work and back. He has been doing this forever. He got 800,000 km out of his engine before it blew a piston.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
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norontcan


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My original intention was to find out if there is a simple, quick test to find out if the oil in the vehicle now is conventional or synthetic.
I will most probably go to synthetic next change but was wondering what the last owner used.

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oshawacliff


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Check out this link from 2009
Edmunds

https://www.edmunds.com/car-maintenance/whats-your-engine-oil-telling-you.html

Thoughtful information.


Blackstone web site: https://www.blackstone-labs.com/?session-id=r13srsbhld1tq5jttxqghp45&timeout=20&bslauth&urlbase=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackstone-labs.net%2FBstone%2F%28S%28r13srsbhld1tq5jttxqghp45%29%29%2F

Looks good, didnt take time to read it but it just might get you crawling under and draining some liquid gold.



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Cliff

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Like the larger type for my eyes. 

 

 
Beaumont67SD


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Been using Synthetic for over 20 years, in every car, SUV, truck, lawn mowers, John Deere riders, Air Compressor (1 & 2 stroke), etc.

-----------------------

WIX XP SERIES - The best engine spin-on oil filters on the market!

http://www.amsoil.com/ >>>> for fluid capacity & spec., by vehicle application

WIX XP Series Platinum Oil Filters - we believe this is the synthetic media Amsoil oil filter at half the price.

For my GMC Sierra pickup with 5.3L engine, it calls for the short oil filter, but the longer one fits for better filtration and is the same price.

Amazon.com is $13.01 USD each: https://www.amazon.com/WIX-Filters-51522XP-Spin-Filter/dp/B00C5T9KDC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477807092&sr=8-1&keywords=51522XP

Filter1.com is $7.87 USD each: https://www.filter1.com/ I buy my WIX XP Filters from Filter1.com and received free shipping to Michigan.

----------------------

PENNZOIL Ultra Platinum Synthetic Motor Oil from 99.5% clean Natural Gas base stock - The best lubricants on the market!
- watch for Canadian Tire Sale price & stock up @ $38.99/5L jug >> a Group IV product

http://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/products/full-synthetic-motor-oils/pennzoil-ultra-platinum.html



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4SPEED427


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norontcan wrote:

My original intention was to find out if there is a simple, quick test to find out if the oil in the vehicle now is conventional or synthetic.

I will most probably go to synthetic next change but was wondering what the last owner used.




I'm sorry, I didn't understand the question correctly. I was thinking you just wanted to know what should be in there.

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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
Pontiacanada


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norontcan wrote:

My original intention was to find out if there is a simple, quick test to find out if the oil in the vehicle now is conventional or synthetic.
I will most probably go to synthetic next change but was wondering what the last owner used.

Believe me, you'll know the difference of synthetic oil from conventional oil by rubbing it between your fingers (I know I can feel the difference). Synthetic is so slippery.



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Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

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