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97 Ram van 1500, 170k mile, what motor oil should i use?


newbie_driver
09-06-2008, 12:44 PM
as title , thank you very much

alloro
09-06-2008, 02:07 PM
5W-30 Synthetic

angus10
09-06-2008, 03:02 PM
Do not use a synthetic oil in a motor that has never used it(especially at 170k). Use Shell Rotella T 10/40 , and change it at normal intervals.

alloro
09-07-2008, 12:37 PM
Do not use a synthetic oil in a motor that has never used it

And what do you base that remark on? I've switched to full synthetic in all of my vehicles several years ago. In each of them I've noticed improved gas mileage, cleaner spark plugs, less wear and tear, over when I used regular motor oil.

angus10
09-07-2008, 01:02 PM
At a 170k that motor has sludge! Synthetic will clean the sludge around gaskets and seals,and the motor will develop leaks. Known fact.

alloro
09-07-2008, 01:41 PM
Then maybe you will want to argue your own findings with a company such as Mobil 1.
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/AskMobil/Switching_to_Mobil_1_in_High-Mileage_Cars.aspx

And of course Amsoil too:
http://www.amsoil.com/frequent.aspx
Will synthetic motor oil clean the sludge from my engine and plug the oil filter and passageways?
Answer: Absolutely not. Switching from petroleum oil to AMSOIL in routinely maintained vehicles will not cause clogged oil filters or passageways, regardless of mileage. Sludge, which is caused by poor quality oil and neglected maintenance practices, would have to be present in significant amounts to plug oil filters and passageways. If this excessive amount of sludge is present in an engine, it is just a matter of time before oil filters and passageways clog, regardless of the installation of AMSOIL.

Is it true that installing AMSOIL or other synthetic oils will cause my engine to leak oil?
Answer: In modern vehicles, there is no risk of AMSOIL motor oil leaking. In fact, AMSOIL motor oil is fully compatible with modern seal materials. It is properly formulated to condition seals, keeping them pliable to prevent leakage.

angus10
09-07-2008, 02:05 PM
I never said it would cause clogged oil filters or passage ways. And I also didn't say it wasn't compatible with seals or gaskets! But the fact remains that it does clean things up AROUND seals and gaskets, which will cause leaks. And we also don't know if this is a "routinely maintained vehicle".

Scrapper
09-07-2008, 02:13 PM
are you running on cynthetic now? if so i'd use rotella alot of people run it in there bikes like me for one.but if not cynthetic your using i'd go with pensoil like 10-30 in the summer and winter i'd run 5-30..

alloro
09-07-2008, 02:27 PM
You did contradict my recommendation of 5W-30 synthetic when you told him to not use synthetic. You then made the claim that his engine will develop leaks, citing it to be a know fact. I backed myself up by posted information from two major oil suppliers saying that there is no danger in him using synthetic in high mileage engines.

Just for the sake of covering their butts legally, I would expect some type of leak potential disclaimer on their sites. Since there is none, I would expect that their confidence on this issue is high. I'm all ears if you have something to back up your statements other than rumor and speculation.

angus10
09-08-2008, 02:51 PM
First off let me just say I'm no spring chicken! LOL But I have no problem to man up when I'm wrong. My beliefs were based on old facts from the first few years synthetic oils were coming out. My research has proven to me that newest synthetics appear to be much better now than then. For one, they use alot more mineral oil than they did at first. So let me stand corrected. And just so you know, I was not trying to be argumentative in my other posts, I was just giving him my opinion. And btw, even the new non synthetic oils are so advanced that either way he goes, his motor will be happy.

However, as far as the viscosity goes. I do strongly believe he should use 10/40 or maybe ok with 10/30 depending where he lives and the time(season) of the year. I know my old bones could use some extra lube, like the 170k bearings in his motor.:-)

Scrapper
09-08-2008, 03:07 PM
yes they have come a long ways on oil these days.heck they run rotella in simi's that 2 and 3 million miles on that oil.so like i said i run it in my bike and alot of other harley riders use the same to..now we use pensoil in my dads truck and my moms van.plus if you use sea foam in your gas it will keep all your injecters clean.every time i fill up i put little bit of that in.but like you say they have came a long way these days on oil also you can put sea foam in your oil then change it after about 100 miles and change it again. it will help keep the inside of your motor clean also..

alloro
09-08-2008, 06:39 PM
No problem angus10, I wasn't trying to sound snippy. I just knew from previous research that there is no harm in running synthetic in high mileage engines.

When people come here for help I know they're usually already frustrated from trying to find answers elsewhere, whether it be that they're just looking for information or trying to solve a problem with their vehicle. Because of that I try my best to provide accurate answers while making sure they're not led astray through inaccurate information (no offense intended.) I sometimes fail miserably at it, but I do try none the less. :headshake

angus10
09-10-2008, 10:11 AM
Alloro! I have done some more research on this and it appears we are both right and wrong! LOL Here's a couple articles.

Article 1 , Synthetic oil DOES NOT CAUSE leaks, it DOES expose leaks already there. Remember how I said that the acidic paste will eat the gaskets out of your car? Well to a point, they will also partially SEAL the leaks by their very nature of being a sludge. Synthetic oils have some awesome cleaning additives in them, and they make quick work of sludge build up. So after time, what you have is a few pieces of old gasket, AND hardened sludge forming an imperfect seal between the two engine parts. When you introduce a synthetic oil, with it’s superior cleaners into the engine, it actually cleans out the ‘sealing’ sludge and the loose gasket pieces that were being held in place and EXPOSES the leak. The leak was already there, the synthetic didn’t cause it, it merely exposed it.


Article 2 , from Amsoil, http://bestsyntheticoil.com/dealers/amsoil/seals.shtml

newbie_driver
09-27-2008, 02:54 PM
ok! i changed the oil with 5-30 mobile1 full synthetic today... van runs more smooth and quieter. hope it wont leak...

thanks all

alloro
09-27-2008, 10:43 PM
Watch your gas mileage for a slight improvement as well.

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