RE: Oil Change Intervals

[zm@mhcnet.att.com (Zafer Mehmood [209])]

> 
> It seems to me that no one mentioned Valvo engine oil which I've
> been using for a while because I was told to be the best. can anyone
> give some comment about it? I'm using Valvo 20W50 for summer and
> 10W30 for winter(both fossil).
> 

I guess you mean Valvoline oil. That's a fine oil too. I think any
brand name engine oil with API certification is good enough. The API
(American Pertoleum Institute) certification is that quarter-sized
round seal which says something like "API Service SH/CD - 10W30 -
Energy Conserving II". API has standards that the oil has to meet before
this label can go on the oil container. SH is the latest and the highest
grade now specified. SG is still available and is fine too. The CC or
CD following the SG or SH is the grading used for Diesel engines.
The "Energy Conserving" label implies lower friction and hence better
fuel economy and is usually found only on the lower viscosity grades
like 10W30 or 5W30. Two different brands of oil with the same API rating
should have the same minimum additive packages (viscosity modifiers,
detergents, etc).

So the choice of brands is mostly subjective and a matter of personal
preference. If you choose Valvoline because of the slick commercials
on TV, where they show race cars painted Valvoline all over and the
guy says, "the race car drivers use Valvoline oil because they know
its the best oil in the world" - that's fine. But don't believe that
the race car driver is using Valvoline because he thinks it the best.
He is using it (and allowing his car to be painted 'Valvoline' in blue and
red) because he is being sponsored by Valvoline and gets money to
support his racing activities. He'll switch to another brand in an
instant if the sponsorship changes.

Zafer


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Zafer Mehmood				   AT&T Bell Laboratories
zm@mhcnet.att.com			   Murray Hill, NJ