For all you home oil changers

[Chevy_cowboy]

Originally Posted by RedRaven

Manual says use Blend so I use Blend, at least until Powertrain warranty is up.

That's the minimum acceptable oil, nothing wrong with using better, they just mean don't use worse than Dexos 1 spec blend.

[ba2ss]

Like Jay Leno says "real car guys change their own oil" there's a lot of truth to that IMO

[giant_g2]

That's odd, I'm pretty sure my manual says full synthetic.

[Andy-AMSOIL]

I have never taken any of my cars or my wife cars to the dealer for an oil drain..... i stock plenty oil go figure why...lol

[PolynesianPowerhouse]

honestly, speaking, the best thing about cars is doing your own maintainence. that way you get up under there and get a chance to see where everything is and the condition of things. you start to get inquisitive about what is this and that, and learn more about your car.

also, by doing your own oil changes, I was taught by 9 years old how to do em, and been doing them since then on my moms 83 caddillac cimmaron. that was a part of my "chores"..... but since on my own cars around college, I'm able to do oil samples and get an oil analysis done from time to time. prob the best way to check on the internal condition of the car.

and above all, if you run synthetic....full synthetic... you know YOU put it in there, ALL of it in there, and not some 5 and dime place blending oils to save costs and make more profits.

[intensifi]

Don't forget to buy new oil plug gaskets.

Or you could go "hard core" and get a magnetic drain bolt and replace it every time. Really I don't know anyone like that.

[Andy-AMSOIL]

I don't think I have ever paid a dealer or quick lube to change my oil.. I dont trust them

[Dmpsix]

I enjoy doing it just because... I don't know, I just like it.

I love the way the oil looks when it's draining out of my car and I love the look of the new oil going into my car as well. It gives me a good feeling

[Nasty1970]

Originally Posted by intensifi

Don't forget to buy new oil plug gaskets.

Or you could go "hard core" and get a magnetic drain bolt and replace it every time. Really I don't know anyone like that.

I'm assuming you were kidding, but why would you need to replace a magnet?

[SSNYSTR]

I've had the dealership change it for me under warranty over the last two years, now they won't do my oil under warranty any longer. So I'm looking into buying the oil myself and letting a place down the road change it for me. How many quarts do I need to buy? Oil cap says Mobil 1 SAE 5W30. Or should I just buy some royal purple SAE 5W30. They have 6 quarts for $47. I heard that royal purple is way better. Do I need to change out anything else if I go with the royal purple? Royal purple oil filter as well?

[Chevy_cowboy]

Originally Posted by Andy-AMSOIL

I don't think I have ever paid a dealer or quick lube to change my oil.. I dont trust them

Ditto. By the time I drove to the dealer, stood in their waiting room watching through the window, and then double checked everything they did before driving it back home, I could have had the oil changed, the yard mowed and dinner on the grill.

[z3R0fo01]

Originally Posted by Chevy_cowboy

Its not about cost for me, its about knowing it was done right and the person doing it treated the car like their own. You can't buy that.

same. I don't trust some kid getting paid 10-12 bucks an hour to do it right.

[USIRON]

SSNYSTR, I work for an "old school" auto supply store here in Melbourne Fl. We sell royal purple, AMSOIL, Lucas, And all the other oils. (have to keep the customer happy) Some engines (Jap German & europ) are VERY oil specific. Also sell Aviation oil for air boats equiped with air craft engines. GM developed our SS engine with Mobil 1, I change oil in our 2SS/RS every 5000 mi. That is WAY befor the oil minder says "hay dummy change your oil" ( it comes out just as clean as it went in ) Using Mobil 1 at 5000 is "overkill" I use Wix filters, they are superior to all other filters. They make filters for everything from garden tractors to 100 ton capacity dump trucks used in the deep pit mines all over the world. Can't go wrong with Wix. My feeling is you can't out engineer General Motors. I am sticking with Mobil 1. Happy motoring. PS your SS takes 8 quarts of oil.

[RedRaven]

As the OP I put forth the following:

Saying that "Synthetic Blend" means that that is the "minimum standard" could also mean that 50/50 coolant to water is also "minimum standard". In other words it's perfectly fine to run full strength coolant in your cooling system. It's inefficient in all but the most extreme cold.

I drive this car daily, spiritedly, but I don't take it to the drag strip. I may some day take it to a rally course, but probably not until the drivetrain warranty is up. Until the warranty is up I will use the type of oil recommended in the manual, Period. When someone has a car with 300k on it using "any" full synthetic the entire time and has NEVER had ANY engine work done, mods or otherwise, I will concede defeat on manufacturer recommendations.

You do what you want. See you in 250,000 miles.