Couple of Dumb Questions
 

I'm creating this thread because over the coming days/weeks I'm probably going to have a bunch of stupid questions. My first one is:

I've got an '02 V6. I've had it for about a year, and I've kept up with oil changes, etc. Well, now that I live on campus I don't get home often enough to keep up with the maintenance myself, so I find that I have to take it to shops, etc. Well, I took it to Midas for an oil change and the idiots put synthetic blend in it. My question is, should I go back to standard oil, stick with synthetic blend, or go full synthetic? The car has got about 120,000 miles on it, the last 30 or so of which I've put on it. It's had some hard driving, and there are times that I do tromp on it, but I'm not the idiot doing burnouts and donuts in the parking lot every weekend either.

Eh, I don't think it will be a problem. It might help the seals soften and seal better, but if you don't mind paying a little extra for the blend, I say leave it. You might get some leaks due to going to the blend, but if you don't mind that, I'm sure it'll be just fine.

JMHO.

dont even bother with blends.

while they tout the "best of both worlds" and they do offer properties of both regular and full synthetic, however, they arent advantageous. and for the price you will be paying, switch completely to synthetic.

also you need to make sure you are using a good filter.
as for synthetic oils, I recommend Royal Purple.

Mobil1 and Amsoil are also good oils
for filters, I use a Wix filter or K&N filter, mobil1 filters are also great, but the M1 and KN are higher priced.

when you get about 200 miles before you do your next oil change, you should seafoam your car
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=534376
reason being, swapping directly from dino oil to blend or full synth, you dont always get all the old oil out and they dont mix well.

Was planning on doing the whole seafoam bit anyway. :-)

Next dumb question, which isn't really a question so much as a theory. I got into an accident a few months ago, and I don't really think it's relevant, but it may be, so I figured I'd throw that in. I have a strange noise coming from the car, and increased vibration. If I'm driving straight or slightly turning to the right it continues to do this, if While the wheel is slightly turned to the left it's fine. I also now have a slight squeal when I turn to the left sometimes, almost like a grinding squeal. My thought is bearing?

There aren't very many dumb questions. There are lots of dumb people and dumb answers though. ;)

I agree with CamaroSpike23's post. Go full synthetic, and make sure you have a good filter.

could we get some more details about the accident.
extent of damage. location on car. what was repaired afterwards, etc...

Frontal left. I was driving down the highway, a deer ran out in front of me, swerved to miss it, kept the car on the road for a few, it ended up going off the opposite direction of the way I swerved, went through the grass for a few, and ended up hitting a tree.

It was towed to an autobody shop and truth be told I'm not 100% sure what was replaced besides body panels and such. I have a general idea, but I unfortunately am at school and don't have the official list with me.

there a few things that could be wrong.
i dont want to offer some bad advice. so im going to leave it up to our smarter members.
i dont know much about the 3rd or 4th gens. but im good on the 1st and great on the 2nd gen.

where did you hit the tree? head on? sideways? on the rear?

you might have bent the frame of the car.

or messed up the spindles on the car from swerving around trying to avoid things. and now your brake or wheel is grinding on corners

It was pretty much head on, down the left side. (The tree was leaning)

Actually, on the subject of seafoam, what in that guide would change considering my engine only holds 4.5 quarts?

+1, I use Royal Purple also in my rear diff. and man. trans. and is one of the best products on the market. Also make sure you use a quality filter as others have mentioned, I always use the KnN oil filters. ")

+1. ")