Oil and Octane

[NorthernWoodsman]

I have a two part question about motor oil and gas octanes. I have a feeling part two has been over-discussed so maybe there is a link to an already existing thread about it?

Part one- I have decided to switch away from the motor oil that I have been using for the past twenty years. The reasons are mine and I prefer not to disclose them because I do not want to start a political debate in this thread. What I want to hear is what motor oils are folks using? And if you feel like it mention why you prefer the one you use.

Part two- Just wondering what is the preferred octane for my motor. I typically run 87 because it's cheap and I've never had any problems with it. Just curious what my motor is designed for and if there is any benefit to one octane over another?

What I'm driving: '94 Toyota pickup 4WD with a 5spd. and the 22RE. Motor has approximately 17,000 since the rebuild. PO and I have used conventional oil since the rebuild.

Thanks for your input!

 

[keezer37]

I'd use Amsoil's top shelf oil if I could bring myself to leave it in for as long as they say to. The longest I've been able to hold out was 8k and given the cost, it's not really worth it. So most of the time it's Mobil One or Pennsoil's synthetic (5W-30). Anything API blessed is all variations of the same stuff.


To the best of my knowledge, it is a waste of money to put gas of higher octane rating in your vehicle more than what is required. I believe it is largely if not solely required to complement your compression ratio.

 

[corax]

As a former automotive field engineer and ASE tech, I've been happy with Mobil 1 oil (Synthetic or Synthetic mix) and Napa Gold oil filters -> get the oil filter for a '93 Ford Taurus 3.0L, it fits fine and is much larger (more filtered area inside).

For gas . . . stick with 87 octane, higher than that isn't necessary unless you you've modded out the engine. For example, my last 22RE was bored .080" over with 10.5:1 forged AL pistons, cam, etc and the engine was happy / didn't ping on 89 octane.

 

[tperkins]

AMSOIL Signature 0W-30 & AMSOIL filter. I do about 5k mi oil changes, even though they say 15k is alright. I'm a preferred customer of theirs, so I pretty much pay wholesale cost, which really cuts the cost. Now, some argue that AMSOIL oil isnt so much better than Mobil 1, ect, and even though I beleive otherwise, I dont argue to much. However, AMSOIL oil filters, I have seen from testing and experience, are really as better as they advertise, due to the lower micron filtering.

As aformentioned with octane, running higher octane has absoloutley no benefit unless you are running a chip or high performance engine requiring it. Octane is simply the ability for a fuel to resist knocking/pinging. You only waste money buying higher octane and some say running a higher octane can even hurt a vehicle made to run on lower octane.

 

[CA-RJ]

In my 4Runner I've used Mobil 1 for the last 4 years at 5k intervals. I recently bought a case of Napa's synthetic because it was super cheap. Napa oil is made at the same place Valvoline's oil is made. I've always used Toyota oil filters and have quite a supply of them.

In my Turbo 86, I run Shell Rotella Synthetic and have only changed the oil once (at 3,500 miles). I plan to move up to 5k intervals on it as well. Toyota filters used on this one as well.

I use 87 octane all the time. Usually whatever is cheapest. My 4Runner used to knock a lot and I started using premium and it went away. After trying a can of BG44k, I went back to 87 and it ran fine. Since then, I use a can of 44k every oil change and the knocking has never come back.

If you're ever interested in how your oil is doing, get it analyzed. It cost about $30 and really gives you a look at how your oil and engine is doing.

BTW, I ran Amsoil SSO 0W-30 in my Toyota Yaris at 15k intervals with a Mobil 1 oil filter and it ran great!

 

[jeff parker]

Mobil 1 for me and as others have already stated 87 octane is all the 22RE needs. You would need pretty high compression, way advanced spark or a turbo to benefit from higher octane.

 

[1911]

I use Amsoil products, because I can get all my synthetic lube products for all my wheeled contrivances (cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors) conveniently in one place and in bulk. It's good stuff too. I'm up to 12,000-mile change intervals on most of my cars and trucks.

Octane required depends mostly on the compression ratio but also on the ignition timing. One of my 4WD trucks is 10.5:1 CR so it gets 91 Octane (or whatever local Premium is). The other one is much lower compression, but if I advance the timing for high altitude then I will put mid-grade in to stop pinging at lower altitudes.

 

[Pskhaat]

Good point in that octane ratings are just as dependent on temperature and timing as compression. If towing and needing WOT or extremely high ambient temps, you can actually benefit from high-test and those are the conditions I used to run high-test in all vehicles when I lived in Phoenix in the summer and/or if I'm towing.

 

[grntrdtaco]

standard mobil1 (they sell all sorts of different types now), , napa gold filters and 87 octane for me (have a 2000 tacoma and the manual recommends 87) you can easily get away with 5000 mile changes, more if you swap out the filter once. the oil is supposed to last up to 15000 but i would never go that long.

you can get big 5liter/quart jugs at walmart now, pretty good deal.

 

[Pskhaat]

Why would you "never go that long" at 15k, have you done analyses to determine that's unacceptable?

 

[grntrdtaco]

because its easier to spend 25 bucks and change it out than to send it in to get an analysis that would probably cost me more than an oil change.

i also only use my truck for offroading and the 15000 interval is for new cars that are more than likely never taxed at all or driven in extreme conditions.

my truck is 11 years old with 108000 miles on it, not exactly a new car.

 

[Pskhaat]

FWIW, my Cruiser is much older but I run 15k+ intervals on M1EP, changing oil is more like a $70 job but I verify the oil every 7.5k and it's always come back well within expectation.

 

[grntrdtaco]

i dont use the extended performance stuff.. just regular old mobil1 for me.

i think the 5liter jugs are 28 bucks at walmart and they go on sale all the time and the napa gold filters are about 6 bucks.

 

[dms1]

I use regular Valvoline in both of my 4Runners and had the oil analyzed on both of them and determined I can change the oil every 4000 miles. How ever I hardly drive the 85 4 Runner now so I change the oil every year regardless of how many miles under 4000 I have driven.

I use purolator filters and use an oversized PH8 (i think that is the model) on my 85 4Runner with 22R and use the stock size filter on the 99 4Runner.

 

[98roamer]

I use Mobile 1 full syn and also do the oversized 92'-95' 3.0L Ford Taurus WIX oil filters (or sometimes the Purolator gold)
As a bonus, I have a 92 sable so its handy to run the same filter.