Best Value For Money Oil?

[burleighboy86]

I guess the heading explains most of this query. I'm really just after the a top notch engine oil that won't brake the budget. I always used Castrol Magnatech 10W-40 in my VT. Was told by many that it was a good value oil, and never had a trouble. As I've recently bought the sv6, I now am looking at where I could improve the quality.

So, I guess my question now is, What oils do you guys use? And for what purpose? I mainly drive around a busy country town, and don't really flog it except for the occasional rush of blood. Lets me know there's still a man left in this shell after getting caught up in family life haha. Any recommendations? Should I just stay solid with Magnatech?

[HSV085]

Ive found that the Castrol stuff has always been pretty good, ive only ever used the Edge oil on my cars found it to work really well. I think from memory the 5w30 version which is what the factory spec is, is around $50-60 for a 5ltr bottle.

[GRPABT1]

I use Fuchs and highly recommend it after getting oil analysis tests done

[Bill44]

Ive found that the Castrol stuff has always been pretty good, ive only ever used the Edge oil on my cars found it to work really well. I think from memory the 5w30 version which is what the factory spec is, is around $50-60 for a 5ltr bottle.

Repco have had the Edge Sport on special to clear it out but the new Edge Titanium 5W 30 is going for $69.95/5L at most places. I'm using it and like it.
Be aware that the Titanium 5W-30 is an SL rated oil due to its Phosphorus level. It apparently is actually a lot higher rating in other respects but is held down by the phosphorus, which is not a bad thing to have in your oil apart from pollution aspects.

[Zerone_V]

One good thing with the VE is that it has a larger sump, so it requires a fair bit of oil between oil changes, but oil changes are extended from 10,000Kms to 15,000Kms.

So this means that you will save on labour (Fewer oil changes), for the same amount of oil.
Because of this, I would recommend spending a little bit more on oil (since you are saving on labour).

I am using a Castrol Edge Sport 0w40, which doesn't seem to be on the market anymore
I bought that for something like $65-$70 per 5 Litres

I have used Penrite in the past, and there is a synthetic Penrite HPR5 which is 5W40 for $45 for 5 Litres
I have heard nothing but good things about Fuschs, I just dont know where you can buy it from or how much.

[SilverVH]

Best value I've found is tractor engine oil.

The ill-informed may scoff and laugh, but it is by far the best quality oil you can buy and pretty good value ($33 for 5ltr's or so.)

[vkberlina]

Best value I've found is tractor engine oil.

The ill-informed may scoff and laugh, but it is by far the best quality oil you can buy and pretty good value ($33 for 5ltr's or so.)

You need to be careful running stuff designed for deisels in petrol cars, the oil isnt designed for use if higher reving petrol engines and has a different formula of additives.

I run old petrol oil in my tractor either penrite synthetic or castrol edge what evers on special at the time, doing 5k-7,000km oil changes on the car the oil still comes out pretty clean, running it in the tractor for 6 months lucky to be 50 hours and changing it.

scott

[sixes]

Castrol Magnatec 10w40 is the gear I use in my VY Gen3 and VE Alloytec. Penrite is another good oil.

As for tractor oil, it is usually diesel oil and has a detergent type additive in it used to keep the internals of a diesel motor cleaner due to the soot it creates when diesel burns. I wouldn't be putting a diesel oil in anything besides a diesel! Plus Magnatec is about $30-35 for 5 litres anyway so why would you use the other oil??

The alloytec motors are recommended to use a semi synthetic or full synthetic due to the 15k services in the book but remember, oils aint oils

[K-Man]

Penrite 10W 70.

[kuzman89]

in the alloytec and other overhead cam engines I'd be using a thinner oil (5w30) is what they recommend, I went up to a 10w40 last service but she felt a bit slower, not sure if it was my imagination or the oil needs time to settle, I guess I'll see at my next service. I'd stick with castrol magnatec or castrol edge for cheap stuff, will try FUCHS. I'm servicing my car myself every 10,000km, costs me about $80 for an oil change instead of the 200-300 Holden would charge.

[89vn_Jai]

I would back up Penrite recommendations. All there oils are top notch quality without being ridiculously priced

[SilverVH]

You need to be careful running stuff designed for deisels in petrol cars, the oil isnt designed for use if higher reving petrol engines and has a different formula of additives.

I run old petrol oil in my tractor either penrite synthetic or castrol edge what evers on special at the time, doing 5k-7,000km oil changes on the car the oil still comes out pretty clean, running it in the tractor for 6 months lucky to be 50 hours and changing it.

scott

Hi mate, the stuff we use is from John Deere and under-went vigorous testing prior to application along with consultation from both John Deere directly and various automotive engineers.

Having said that, the only one which is recommended is John Deere branded Plus-50 II. Without boring you and everyone with specific details, analysis data, ratings etc. etc. I personally use it in my vehicles and have been for several years.
Nothing has come close to comparing with all cold/hot/idle/high RPM states.

But you are absolutely right. You can't just go throwing any old oil in, caveat emptor!

[glenn l]

im using nulon 10w-30 fast flowing oil and changing it every 7500kms, was running the fuchs super gto and find them both very similar.

[m1lky]

The edge is good value for money, but there's nothing wrong with the magnatec.

I like the penrite stuff but it's not cheap. Nearly double the price of edge for full synthetic in nz.

Id say making sure the oil is changed regularly is more important than the quality of it though.

To your actual question:
My vy ss, edge 5w-30 changing to 10w-60 next service due to the ks, 160k service and I do alot of motorway crawling
Gfs e46, edge 5w-30 (bmws recommended grade)
Brothers e30, edge 10w-60 or magnatec 10w-40 (older car, lots of city driving)
Fathers xr6t, penrite sin15w-50 (ford recommend that grade, temperatures in turbo engine)
Sisters shit box and other cars shell helix 15w-40 or penrite everyday 15w-40 mineral oil, it's cheap
My old vs acclaim, 10w-40, just what I was told to use and before I knew much.

How many ks has your sv6 done?

Under 100k I'd use edge 5w-30, then over 150 id switch to a 10w, magnatec or edge. In between up to you

[burleighboy86]

The car has done a tick over 56k. I've been looking to step up the quality, so might try edge at 60k.

[m1lky]

Edge 5w-30 sounds perfect then.

There's also a Mobil 1 5w-30 not sure on pricing though

[Xonar]

I use Shell Helix ultra 5w-30
Great oil for money
I've been using Shell oils for over 10 yrs
Keeps engine really clean

[bladerunner]

fuchs oil. great oil..
penrite oil, semi synth for ls engines is ok. but i have seen some engines carbon up from it.
mobil 1.. wouldn't put in my lawnmower.yes HSV recommend it but they dont see the end result.scorched piston bores,worn cam lobes. a lot of big name tuners no longer touch it.
castrol edge, depending on which blend is good oil, even magnatec is good these days
royal purple,good but a bit over rated
penzoil, the yank stuff is good,the oz stuff not so good
been there done that with 4 x LS engines in 4 diff cars, nowadays i just run the factory fill
these are just my generalizations from experiance using them, some might beg to differ but each to their own. after seeing relatively low km engines stripped down from a short lifetime using mobil 1, there is now way on earth i'd use it

[Xonar]

fuchs oil. great oil..
penrite oil, semi synth for ls engines is ok. but i have seen some engines carbon up from it.
mobil 1.. wouldn't put in my lawnmower.yes HSV recommend it but they dont see the end result.scorched piston bores,worn cam lobes. a lot of big name tuners no longer touch it.
castrol edge, depending on which blend is good oil, even magnatec is good these days
royal purple,good but a bit over rated
penzoil, the yank stuff is good,the oz stuff not so good
been there done that with 4 x LS engines in 4 diff cars, nowadays i just run the factory fill
these are just my generalizations from experiance using them, some might beg to differ but each to their own. after seeing relatively low km engines stripped down from a short lifetime using mobil 1, there is now way on earth i'd use it

No chance in hell that Mobil 1 would have anything to do with engine damage
I'm sure big euro manufacturers would not use it as factory fill if it was not good.
Even the cheapest oils would do the job ok.
It all comes down how the car is driven and maintained...

[bladerunner]

No chance in hell that Mobil 1 would have anything to do with engine damage.

well mate quite a few blokes i know including myself who maintain our cars would disagree strongly there, i only mentioned the LS engine if you read what i said.i have other mates who use it in their engines -not LS engines obviously and dont have a prob with it-from what ive seen it doesn't seem to like the LS engine nor do some other brands of oil. and yes some cheaper brands are good but like i said each to their own.

[Xonar]

well mate quite a few blokes i know including myself who maintain our cars would disagree strongly there, i only mentioned the LS engine if you read what i said.i have other mates who use it in their engines -not LS engines obviously and dont have a prob with it-from what ive seen it doesn't seem to like the LS engine nor do some other brands of oil. and yes some cheaper brands are good but like i said each to their own.

Fair enough...although it does not take much to kill a pushrod dinosaur

[SilverVH]

well mate quite a few blokes i know including myself who maintain our cars would disagree strongly there, i only mentioned the LS engine if you read what i said.i have other mates who use it in their engines -not LS engines obviously and dont have a prob with it-from what ive seen it doesn't seem to like the LS engine nor do some other brands of oil. and yes some cheaper brands are good but like i said each to their own.

That's exactly it, each to their own!

A lot of people swear by Brad Penn Oil, but at $60 for 5.5 litres they're crazy considering the oil I use for everything is half the price and out-performs even that.

Just shows people put a lot of faith into a name and that's it, without even understanding or appreciating the science behind it all.

[Gravity]

What's the best way to buy these oils? Like Penrite or Fuschs?
I presume my local workshop will use some particular brand, but if I wanted to be specific I'd have to provide it, and therefore need to know - where do you buy it? Autopro or similar car bits retailers?

[bluessv]

Fuchs is excellent and the easiest way to source a Fuchs fully synthetic 5w30 oil is to go to your local Holden spare parts and pick up ACDelco Dexos1....it's produced by Fuchs

[ScottSV6]

As blueessv mentioned just go to your local holden spare parts or check the ACDelco website for stockist. I picked up 20L of of Dexos1 Fully Syn for $154. So thats enough for 2.5 oil changes. Works out about $61 each oil change. Way cheaper then buying multiple 5 litre bottles which are around $62 just for 5L! Plus i know im using the recommended oil by holden not valvoline or magnatec whatever holden or my local mechanic decides to use.

ACDelco Dexos Oil

Even though the recommended oil change is 15k im doing mine every 7500km anyway for the sake of it, i got it changed at the 3000km inspection by holden and they put magnatec in it and slugged me $90 just for the oil and $180 all up, my trusty mechanic quoted me $72 for a minor service if i supply the oil/filter which ill be doing from now on.