Can I use different brands auto oils and types?

[Remobz]

Hey,

I have a used car so I just take it to a local mechanic for oil changes. Due to prices he said he uses regular oil but I have no clue what brand he uses. I am sure he used 10W 30 regular oil (no clue what brand).

Anyway, I am at a gas station and the gas attendant asked me if I wanted to check my oil. I said yes and he found out that I needed a quart of oil.

The problem is that he said there was only synthetic oil available. I hesitated and started to worry about using synthetic oil from some weird brand name and I said forget it.

A few questions if I may.

1) Do I have to use the same brand oil?

2) Do I have to use ONLY regular 10W 30 oil?

3) Could I put a quart of synthetic 5W 20 synthetic oil in my vehicle for example?


Can I handle this on my own or do I have to drive all the way back to my mechanic and let him sort it out?

 

[Kelvrick]

1 quart low? That is usually the difference between low and high on the dipstick. You'll be fine to drive to a regular store and buy oil and put it in yourself.

In anything but a picky car, I would have no qualms putting in different brands and weights into a car. 5-30, 10-30, 5-40, 10-40, 0-20, go for it as long as it falls within spec of the car (ie don't put 15-40 into a car that wants synthetic 0-20 but even then sometimes it is ok). Regarding dino and synthetic, that is fine too.

Personally, I would go somewhere with some cheap regular oil and add a quart myself.

 

[Remobz]

1 quart low? That is usually the difference between low and high on the dipstick. You'll be fine to drive to a regular store and buy oil and put it in yourself.

In anything but a picky car, I would have no qualms putting in different brands and weights into a car. 5-30, 10-30, 5-40, 10-40, 0-20, go for it as long as it falls within spec of the car (ie don't put 15-40 into a car that wants synthetic 0-20 but even then sometimes it is ok). Regarding dino and synthetic, that is fine too.

Personally, I would go somewhere with some cheap regular oil and add a quart myself.

Actually, it is more than a quart. Other thing is that my owners manual says that my vehicle should use 5w 20 synthetic oil but I don't for a number of reasons. Firstly, I live in a harsh humid tropical climate, secondly, my vehicle is a used car and over 140,000 miles and thirdly, oil is insanely expensive here and its cheaper to use regular oil.

I think I will still use 10W 30 regular oil since my vehicle is ancient. I change my oil twice a year.

 

[ummduh]

Hey,

I have a used car so I just take it to a local mechanic for oil changes. Due to prices he said he uses regular oil but I have no clue what brand he uses. I am sure he used 10W 30 regular oil (no clue what brand).

Anyway, I am at a gas station and the gas attendant asked me if I wanted to check my oil. I said yes and he found out that I needed a quart of oil.

The problem is that he said there was only synthetic oil available. I hesitated and started to worry about using synthetic oil from some weird brand name and I said forget it.

A few questions if I may.

1) Do I have to use the same brand oil?

2) Do I have to use ONLY regular 10W 30 oil?

3) Could I put a quart of synthetic 5W 20 synthetic oil in my vehicle for example?


Can I handle this on my own or do I have to drive all the way back to my mechanic and let him sort it out?

Go ahead and mix it. Not going to hurt anything. Kind of a waste of probably expensive synthetic, but other than that, no problems.

Second, don't start with the "do I really need to use 5w20 like the book States or will my engine fail spectacularly?". All the spec hounds will come out, people will swear that they know a guy whom designs that engine and you HAVE. To use 5w20, and then the other guys that swear it is only for CAFE reasons, and it'll be a giant cluster.

I'm in the "minor changes to your oil weight aren't going to cause catastrophic failure" camp.

 

[LTC8K6]

Well, it has 140K miles on it, so I wouldn't worry about using the factory spec oil anymore.

1 - no
2 - no
3 - yes

I think I will still use 10W 30 regular oil since my vehicle is ancient. I change my oil twice a year.

I have no problem with that plan.

 

[cabri]

Think about just putting in the "high mileage" oil instead of the synthetic. Much lighter on the wallet.

Or regular oil with an additive.

 

[Jimzz]

How many miles do you run in a year? Use a good High mileage oil like Maxlife or Castrols HM oil (both are semi-syn) and change once a year if its less than 6000miles.

And as said you can mix brands and weights if you like. Some oil is better than no oil in a motor.

 

[Midwayman]

Only thing with a switch from synthetic to dino oil is that you can't use the recommended interval for changing anymore. Some manufacturers spec extended oil changes (like every 10k) with synthetic. I'd go back to 3-5k on dino.

 

[Vetterin]

Go with the high mileage oil. FWIW, just remember if you mix a quart (or two) of synthetic with your regular oil, you just end up with a synthetic blend just like you can also buy at the store.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Only thing with a switch from synthetic to dino oil is that you can't use the recommended interval for changing anymore. Some manufacturers spec extended oil changes (like every 10k) with synthetic. I'd go back to 3-5k on dino.

Not just some manufacturers....most of them are dependent on the engine....read the manual and see if they spec 10k as an option. Many will only do 5k, even with synthetics.

Also, be aware that those that do go 10k still recommend checking the oil cleanliness and all fluid levels at 5k intervals. Don't just go 10k without popping the hood.

 

[Remobz]

Not just some manufacturers....most of them are dependent on the engine....read the manual and see if they spec 10k as an option. Many will only do 5k, even with synthetics.

Also, be aware that those that do go 10k still recommend checking the oil cleanliness and all fluid levels at 5k intervals. Don't just go 10k without popping the hood.

I am one of those people that do not drive a lot. My mileage last year was less than 3,000 miles for the WHOLE YEAR.

However, due to the dust and tropical climate I live in the mechanics still urge me to change my oil every 6 months although I drive less than 3,000 miles a year.

So, if I use full synthetic oil then does that mean that I can only do oil changes once a year?

If I have to change my oil twice a year with synthetic oil then it would be far more expensive than using regular oil twice a year.

See my predicament now?

 

[Midwayman]

Not just some manufacturers....most of them are dependent on the engine....read the manual and see if they spec 10k as an option. Many will only do 5k, even with synthetics.

Also, be aware that those that do go 10k still recommend checking the oil cleanliness and all fluid levels at 5k intervals. Don't just go 10k without popping the hood.

YMMV. Every car is different. Just don't rely on the dash computer to tell you when to change anymore, or the schedule in the book.

 

[Jimzz]

I am one of those people that do not drive a lot. My mileage last year was less than 3,000 miles for the WHOLE YEAR.

However, due to the dust and tropical climate I live in the mechanics still urge me to change my oil every 6 months although I drive less than 3,000 miles a year.

So, if I use full synthetic oil then does that mean that I can only do oil changes once a year?

If I have to change my oil twice a year with synthetic oil then it would be far more expensive than using regular oil twice a year.

See my predicament now?

Use a high mileage or even regular oil and once a year is fine. Warmer climate is probably easier on your oil since your engine will warm up and burn off any water/condensate faster than colder places. And dust should not be a issue unless you are not using a air filter or using a K&N type filter.

 

[Accord99]

I am one of those people that do not drive a lot. My mileage last year was less than 3,000 miles for the WHOLE YEAR.

However, due to the dust and tropical climate I live in the mechanics still urge me to change my oil every 6 months although I drive less than 3,000 miles a year.

So, if I use full synthetic oil then does that mean that I can only do oil changes once a year?

If I have to change my oil twice a year with synthetic oil then it would be far more expensive than using regular oil twice a year.

See my predicament now?

You might want to do an engine oil analysis; that's probably the only way to know if the oil really needs to be changed or not. Though, based on my reading of forums like bobistheoilguy.com, with modern engines and oil you can probably go several years with no trouble at all.

 

[mvbighead]

Yeesh, that type of driving. I'd be sure to take her out on the highway for a nice 20 mile trip every couple of weeks if you aren't already. Got to give the engine time to warm up and evaporate any water that may be accumulating in there.

That said, just add oil. As my wife's vehicle does use a bit here and there, I simply add regular oil until I reach the OCI. Just for that reason, I grabbed a case of 12 of 5w30 from costco for $22. Much cheaper than most other options.

 

[bwbob]

Think about just putting in the "high mileage" oil instead of the synthetic. Much lighter on the wallet.

Or regular oil with an additive.

+1 on high mileage oil, and it'll probably help it not use oil like it is now, if it can make it between oil changes without an additional qt add it'd be well worth it