V6 Ecotec oil

[rippen50]

Doing a change this weekend. Was wondering what you guys use? anything better to get than others.. what filters do u guys use as well.. Cheers

[HARVZ-6]

factory is is castrol magnatec.. seems to be good gear

and just ask for a filter to suit

[one_and_only2004]

castrol gtx3 is good - and so are ryco filters.

[VYMAD]

Have always used Castrol Magnatec 10w40 and swear by it. Filters, just ryco or valvoline, I change my oil every 7,000k's and filter every time too because what's ten or fifteen bucks?

[HoldenOnn]

Check owners manual and get oil to that specification eg 15w/40 or whatever it advises. Once you find the viscosity from the owners manual, go to an oil retailer and buy a bottle from a major manufacturer eg Castrol, Mobil, Shell, Penrite etc. You can choose full synthetic if you want, but a semi-synthetic is fine and change every 5,000kms. Just use genuine holden oil filter. I get trade so they are cheap, otherwise ryco from same retailer as oil.

[red vy2]

Have always used Mobil 1 since 1987 in VL, VR2 & now VY2.
In VL & VR did oil change every 20k, used to say on container every 40k. On VY every 15k service.
Never any issues or oil leaks, it being a thinner oil. Never needed a topup either. VL was 5spd 3L & thrashed to the cutout almost daily. Did nearly 350k from new then traded it on VR2. Never any problems apart from fan speed switch.
Oil still looks good when being changed, unlike other oils that come out dark even after 10k.
Fully recommend Mobil 1.

[danja]

Personally I became quite a fan of Shell Helix High Mileage 15w50 when I had an Ecotec.

Don't be tempted into using a low viscosity oil like 10w30 or anything like that, it's just too thin for the Ecotec, especially given that by now most of them are around the 150,000km+ mark.

Oil still looks good when being changed, unlike other oils that come out dark even after 10k.

That can actually be a bad sign if the oil isn't becoming discoloured. A good oil traps carbon deposits and other contaminants, which is what turns the oil black. This is in no way a bad thing, or sign of a bad oil - quite the reverse.

[MR_VX]

[QUOTE=danja;1187769]Personally I became quite a fan of Shell Helix High Mileage 15w50 when I had an Ecotec.

Don't be tempted into using a low viscosity oil like 10w30 or anything like that, it's just too thin for the Ecotec, especially given that by now most of them are around the 150,000km+ mark.


my vx v6 has only got 64,000kms on it and its manual

[danja]

my vx v6 has only got 64,000kms on it and its manual

Oh ok, I guess I should take it all back then because one person has a low kms VX? Do you want a cookie or something?

[one_and_only2004]

[QUOTE=MR_VX;1187781]

Personally I became quite a fan of Shell Helix High Mileage 15w50 when I had an Ecotec.

Don't be tempted into using a low viscosity oil like 10w30 or anything like that, it's just too thin for the Ecotec, especially given that by now most of them are around the 150,000km+ mark.


my vx v6 has only got 64,000kms on it and its manual

Get out and drive it more you pansy - you're letting holden down.

[WogBoyz]

i use mobile 1 5 - 50 fuly syntheic and a ryco filter

the mobile one oil is really good stuff man when i check under my oil cap n look in the engine, theres not one bit of crap in there clean as, mine has 115,000km on it

[kart_racer]

Castrol Magnatec seems to smooth out and quieten the ecotec down. Atleast in my experience.

[lukeyVY]

Soon after i bought my VY i did an oil change it woulda been on 147k at the time and the oil was pitch black. Dad is spanish lol, so he reckons putting a few litres of diesel instead of oil and running it for one minute on idle would clean it out a treat, so we did, drained it was again pitch black. was expecting it to blow up.. and still hasnt, i would'nt recommend it, but it did an alright job of cleaning the muck out i think.

Its been on penrite semi synthetic 15W-60 (was what the bloke at veale's suggested) for about 2-3 months or 3500k's now and it runs fine.

[greenacc]

If your engine doesn't burn oil you can use anything from Magnatec up to Penrite HPR30. In winter i reckon its best to stick with either a 10W40, 15W50, or 20W50. Shell helix plus 15W50, Mobil 1000, or Valvoline Durablend 15W50 are all suitable.

[HoldenOnn]

Have always used Mobil 1 since 1987 in VL, VR2 & now VY2.
In VL & VR did oil change every 20k, used to say on container every 40k. On VY every 15k service.
Never any issues or oil leaks, it being a thinner oil. Never needed a topup either. VL was 5spd 3L & thrashed to the cutout almost daily. Did nearly 350k from new then traded it on VR2. Never any problems apart from fan speed switch.
Oil still looks good when being changed, unlike other oils that come out dark even after 10k.
Fully recommend Mobil 1.

Guess you been very lucky. 20,000km oil changes are a long time for something that is relatively cheap. And 40,000km oil changes are just absurd. I have never read anything like that before.

Guess you have never had a high powered vehicle and kept it for 10 years and then see how it goes. I don't go over 5,000kms and at times I don't go over 3-4k before I change oil on my 500hp VL Berlina Turbo. I even use Mobil 1 Full Synthetic 5w/50.

The oil is the life of the engine. I could never go past 10,000kms on any car as oil and filter is such a small cost and why risk it?????????????

[peninsulabands]

i have been using the castrol magnatec on both my cars, but the mobil 1000 stuff is about $99 so it must be good?

[acarmody]

Penrite fully syntetic and Ryco filters.

[maldotcom2]

I'm using castrol edge 20W 50 and i can't say im particularly happy with it. Seems noisy, ticking on startup etc. Kinda disappointed after hearing good things about the Castrol Edge range. I like penrite oil the best but it's like twice the price of other brands.

[greenacc]

I'm using castrol edge 20W 50 and i can't say im particularly happy with it. Seems noisy, ticking on startup etc. Kinda disappointed after hearing good things about the Castrol Edge range. I like penrite oil the best but it's like twice the price of other brands.

Twice the price of what ? HPR30 is about $35.

[MR_VX]

Oh ok, I guess I should take it all back then because one person has a low kms VX? Do you want a cookie or something?

yes i do want a cookie


[QUOTE=one_and_only2004;1188049]

Get out and drive it more you pansy - you're letting holden down.

i got it 18 months ago with 44,000 on it, i drive it every day mate. if i was letting Holden down i would put chevy badges on it.

[vxcalais_01]

Twice the price of what ? HPR30 is about $35.

Maybe he talking about the SIn Range sells for around $79. The Castrol Edge 25w 50 is their Mineral range, more for muscle cars, drag cars etc, well thats what its aimed for. It will be noisy at startup as its 25w, which is pretty thick. One of the best thicker oils is Valvoline Maxlife 20w50. Even though thick, the Synthetic Esters in it make it cling to internals like Magantec etc. The Shell Helix High Mileage Danja mentioned is also the same, contains esters for seal swelling and sticking to internals. If the Penrite Sin is expensive, go for the Penrite Everyday Synthetic, excellent oil for around $45-$50.

Mobil 1 is around $90+ in the 0w40 range etc, the Mobil 1000 is the lowest at around $20+ as a mineral oil.

[Scooter79]

I'm using castrol edge 20W 50 and i can't say im particularly happy with it. Seems noisy, ticking on startup etc. Kinda disappointed after hearing good things about the Castrol Edge range. I like penrite oil the best but it's like twice the price of other brands.

The Castrol Edge you're talking about would be the 25w50. I think the reason it's noisy on start up is because due to it's thickness it's talking longer to reach the top of the motor.

[maldotcom2]

Yeah, it was alright in summer but it's not so good now. I'm gonna replace it in 500k's with castrol GTX 3 15W-40. That'll see me through winter then i'll get some penrite again. My first ever oil change was using penrite Sin 0W-50. Very expensive, but i was assured it was the best stuff. My mechanic didn't like the sound of it though.

[vxcalais_01]

Yeah, it was alright in summer but it's not so good now. I'm gonna replace it in 500k's with castrol GTX 3 15W-40. That'll see me through winter then i'll get some penrite again. My first ever oil change was using penrite Sin 0W-50. Very expensive, but i was assured it was the best stuff. My mechanic didn't like the sound of it though.

Do not use the 0w50 at all, use the 5w60 or 15w40 in the Sin Range, they are the best. 0w40 or 0w50 oils are better suited to the newer cars.

[Holden-Owner]

I service my 2000 Holden Statesman WH 3.8L Supercharged V6 with 59,350 original k's
every 5000km using the very best of everything

A service for me most of the time is about $850-$1000 excluding labour

But my mechanic uses what parts,brand sources etc that i tell him to use thats why there is the high price.
But the money i pay it is well worth it considering how well he looks after my car & my mums