Castrol(or any brand) extended mileage oil

[MuncyBob]

My 97 Cavalier has over 200k on it and I've owned it since new. Always done my own oil changes and have always used Castrol 5w-30. Any thoughts on switching to their extended mileage oil or should I follow the school of "if it's not broke then don't fix it"?. I've read that this type of oil does not "thin" out as much at higher temps and also that it helps revitalize old seals? I don't have a temp problem(as far as I know) and no oil leaks of any type but if a change might keep things in "as is" condition a little longer than their standard oil then why not?

 

[Sully2]

200K miles?? Keep on doing whatever you have been doing!! Evidently...it works!

 

[dgl24087]

My 97 Cavalier has over 200k on it and I've owned it since new. Always done my own oil changes and have always used Castrol 5w-30. Any thoughts on switching to their extended mileage oil or should I follow the school of "if it's not broke then don't fix it"?. I've read that this type of oil does not "thin" out as much at higher temps and also that it helps revitalize old seals? I don't have a temp problem(as far as I know) and no oil leaks of any type but if a change might keep things in "as is" condition a little longer than their standard oil then why not?

I started using Castrol High Mileage in my tuck, never leaked before, has a small leak now.

 

[RalphVa]

I switched to Mobil 1 in all my vehicles about 2 oil changes ago. Change each now once/year, generally about 6-7k miles on each of the 3. No leaks on the 1997 VW (90k miles) nor the 1996 Toyota (140k miles). The 1983 Benz (201k miles) didn't leak on Mobil 1. Last change, I couldn't get Mobil 1 in 10w40 (use 5w30 on the other 2); so I put in 5w40 Shell synthetic. The front seal is leaking a little bit now. Figure I'll change back to Mobil 1 this summer and see if it stops the leak. The leak is not enough to put drops on the garage floor yet. It just accumulates a little at the back end of the oil pan.

By the way, Castrol as of the time I retired in 1998 did not make a drop of oil They do develop their own ad-pack and put it into oil that they typically were buying entirely from Exxon. Their extended mileage oil is probably a higher quality dino oil that was starting to be made in Exxon's Baytown lube oil plant (largest in the world at that time) in 1999. It has similar qualities to a synthetic but is made from dino sources.

Ralph

 

[cp1969]

I thought Castrol was a BP subsidiary.

I put Mobil 1 15w-50 in a motorcycle that, at that time, had accumulated almost 40,000 leak-free miles. It started leaking. A switch back to dino did not fix it.

 

[jayhaitch]

PAO Group IV synthetic oils have detergent properties. When changing over to synthetic, the recommendation is to use an engine flush. If not, the synthetic oil will get dirty faster as the detergent actions cleans sludge out of the engine. However, sludge can plug old seals. Which can be a good thing.

I think it's happening to my '86 911 Carrera. Got it with 79,000 orginal km, using Amsoil 10w40. Engine stays cool, runs smoothly, but now I have oil under the engine. Oh well. I'll still use it for it's performance benefits. Boxer engines are notorious for leaks anyway.

 

[MuncyBob]

I switched our Jimmy over to synth. at about 50k but I won't on the Cavalier with that type of miles. Read too many times that the sludge may be preventing leaks and I don't want to start any by making the switch. I guess I'll follow my instincts and leave well enough alone! Interesting about Castrol not making their own oil through '98, but please tell me it's not an Exxon product!

 

[LoneCowboy]

I thought Castrol was a BP subsidiary.

I put Mobil 1 15w-50 in a motorcycle that, at that time, had accumulated almost 40,000 leak-free miles. It started leaking. A switch back to dino did not fix it.

Ahhh, but most motorcycles (BMW, Ducati being exceptions) have wet clutches. (same oil for transmission, clutch and engine) and it needs different properties.

I used Mobil 1 in my BMW (like a car, engine oil, dry clutch, seperate transmission, air cooled) for 66,000 miles, nary a drop.

Tractors are like cars, not motorcycles.

 

[texasjohn]

I use Mobile 1 synthetic in all my car/pickups. I have for 30 years or so. It took one Toyota to 296k miles on the original engine. I dunno on the rest... still driving them. I put Mobile 1 synthetic in every vehicle at its first oil change. Typically I've changed oil when I had the time... often 10 to 15K between changes.

I have heard that the synthetics are more prone to find their way around gaskets and seals that are not perfect. Given a choice, I'd rather have the engine protection and put up with slight oil leaks in the older vehicles.

Yep, tractors and cars are different... and require attention to the kind of oil.

Gas engines need one kind of oil.

Diesel engines have a different requirement.

It says on the package if it is for Diesel or Gas. Shouldn't mix/confuse the two.

 

[joerocker]

It says on the package if it is for Diesel or Gas. Shouldn't mix/confuse the two.

But some say OK for both...and I HOPE they're right!