oil

[92astro]

so what are you all using for oil as in wieght?? My 1992 vin. Z says to use 5w-30 but i use 10w-30 would that cause problems?? like lifter ticks?? cause just recently with this really cold wheather here in okalhoma when i start the engine up it starts fine but it has a lifter tick for a second or 2. it ticks 3-4 times and thats it never hear again for a while like i only heard it 2 days this week. It has happend on the colder days so i think the oil is too thick for the lifters oil pressure is good. so if i switch to 5w-30 will that solve it?? it is not a constastant thing it runs great no other issues.!! another reason why i think the oil is too thick is sometimes when it is very cold the oil pressure releif valve opens. i can hear it. only when it is very cold.

[Jboy2]

I'm currently using 10w30 and haven't had any lifter ticks. I did however have this problem when i was using a cheapo oil filter and had stopped when i changed it with a better quality filter.

[92astro]

yeah i am using fram!! so what are you using??

[Smiliesafari]

If it's the original motor then a minor valve tick on start up isn't really a problem. Just normal wear. Especially in cold weather. Internal combustion engines don't like cold. That's the reason those in cold climates have block heaters. I've always used WIX filters. I haven't done any research. Just always heard they're the best. Or at least as good.

[Water Boy]

I use Castrol 20w50 and Wally World oil filter.

Best place for info:

http://bobistheoilguy.com/
Generally speaking .. FRAM + oil filter = BAD

[kings-x59]

I use Castrol 20W50 also, with mobil 1 filter. I used Fram filters for years, but have read that they are not so good recently.

[92astro]

yeah it is the orignal motor has 161,000 miles other than that it runs great still has lots of power.

[Jboy2]

yeah i am using fram!! so what are you using??

Yea, i was using Fram, but now i'm using a Mobil1 filter.

[Rebel]

I swap back and forth between Castrol 20-50 and Castrol Syntec and may run the blend. Depends on what's on sale at Squal Mart. Also use K&N filter.

[robertg]

i run castrol 10w30 oil, and a delco pf52 filter on my 2000 astro. 134,5xx

i use castrol 10w30 oil, and a delco pf13 filter on the missus' jeep. 208,xxx miles

i use a delco pf52 filter on the inlaws' 95 astro, and whichever oil they buy. try to use castrol when i can on it. 217,xxx miles.

i use delco filters seeing as i now work at a chevrolet dealership, and they're less expensive than wix.

[92astro]

UPDATE:
It has not done it since last week. everything is fine i think that it was the crazy weather we were have it was like warm oneday which is 50-70f then the next day it was 20-30f but that is oklahoma!!!!

[91AWDAstro]

Michigan has the same kind of weather. We tell visitors, you don't like the weather here stick around it'l change.

I used Fram until I read about how much they were crap. Now I use AC-delco or Mobil-1 filters. I just swtiched to Mobil 1 oil in the van after I had 1000 miles on the new motor. I may switch to Amsoil once I'm can't get any Mobil 1 that is API 4 rated. I stick to 5-w30 because of the cold winters. I wouln't personally use the higher viscosity unless I had an oil leak issue. The lower number is the thickist the oil is supposed to get in cold temps. Take a test with some oil left out in the cold or in your freezer. See how slow it flows and how thick it is when it's cold. Even better is to compare dino oil to synthetic of the same rating, you'll be supprised on the difference. I don't like the idea of starving my motor for a few seconds while the pump tries to suck that thick stuff up. I have thought about trying the Mobil-1 0W-50 race oil. It's supposed to be really good stuff and it's been tested to reduce wear and increase horsepower. Just not sure I'm ready to spend the $$$$. Then again when I think about all the $$$ and time I have into building the motor and putting in, it seems almost like a no brainer.