Oil Stuff

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

> From: "Yves E. Badaroux/MDACC" <Yves_E._Badaroux/MDACC%MDACC@notes.mdacc.tmc.edu>

[note snippage of unrelated part of post]

> BTW, my mechanic insists on using single grade Valvoline, saying that it is 
> better for longevity than multigrade oils. Any one would like to comment?

Yes.  He is living in the 1950's.  ALL multi-viscosity oils offer 
better protection against oil breakdown, and in the unfortunate event 
that you blew a radiator hose and overheated the engine, 
single-weight oils will jell and become impossible for the oil pump 
to move LONG before a multi-viscosity oil will.

He is WRONG.  He has not studied oil technology.  Even if you don't 
run a synthetic motor oil (enough said) at LEAST upgrade immediately 
to a multi-viscosity.

I do recommend that you run a narrow-range multi-vis such as 10-30 
oir 20-50.  The reason is that the wifder the viscosity range, the 
more viscosity modifiers in the oil; and the fewer modifiers present, 
the better for the oil.  Check your owner's manual and run the 
multi-vis oil recommended for your temperatures.  But do not continue 
running straight weight oil, when there are better alternatives which 
will serve your car better.

> From: "Steve Brehm" <sbrehm@sover.net>

> I have an auto trans on my 87 5000cst (128k miles) and all the postings
> recently about trans failure have got me scared. I really can't deal with a
> $1k + repair anytime soon. So... what does everybody recommend as far as
> ways to prolong the life of the trans?  I've been changing the atf every 5k
> or so. the car had the atf/diff recall in 1993 (I'm not sure what they
> did.) Should I do anynthing with the diff also?

On the recall, they put synthetic gear oil in the transaxle.  Make 
SURE the level ion that transaxle is checked every time the car is 
serviced.  Low oil = transaxle suicide.

Do I even have to say at this point that I recommend synthetic 
automatic transmission fluid?  Run it and cut your changes back to 
every 20-30K miles.



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Al Powell, Ph.D.                 Voice:  409/845-2807
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