The Great Engine Oil Debate

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

ktm525

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2017
Posts
2,595
Reaction score
1,262
Location
alberta
I am swapping my oil this fall at 6k kms (3750 miles) but not the filter :0 because I think 12k kms (7500 miles) is too long on the oil and my real fear is fuel dilution (thank you DI) and dirty oil coating the back sides of the intakes. I do oil/filter in the spring and oil in the fall. The filters are essentially clean when I cut them apart so I am OK doing those once a year every 12k kms. This LR4 sees a lot of short trips in cold weather (and not California cold but -20 -30 stuff) so my theory is the oil doesn't warm up enough to burn the contaminants out of the oil. To top side the oil and refill takes all of maybe 10 minutes so no hassle other than some $$s. Since my Mobil1 extended Performance is roughly half the cost as designer Motul it is like doing Motul yearly at 7500 miles. I guess whatever helps you sleep at night. At this point the Rover is mostly driven by the daughter anyhow.

So far so good on my 2010 with about 125k miles on the original tensioners/chains. Next stop 200k miles on the originals.








.
 

Al Pizzica

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Posts
197
Reaction score
107
Location
PA
So far so good on my 2010 with about 125k miles on the original tensioners/chains. Next stop 200k miles on the originals.
.

That's our goal with this, our second 2013, which we are taking much better care of due to the advice on this forum. Hopefully its annual mileage will decrease dramatically if Elon ever delivers our Model Y and my grandkids can drive around in the vintage landy one day!
 

Quijote

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2013
Posts
1,256
Reaction score
321
Location
Metro Boston
I'd like your thoughts. My oil change has become a headache.

I've been doing yearly oil changes using Mobil1 EP 5W-20 since the care went out of warranty, or 4 years ago. My last change was 14 months and ~3200 miles ago. Anyhow, I usually have a healthy supply of motor oil, but after draining the oil on Monday I realized I only had 3 quarts left. I poured them down only to find no Walmarts within 100 miles carry it M1 EP 5W-20. I wasn't going to use the LR4 so I figured I'd just order it from amazon. Today the package arrives and I open one of the three 5-quart bottles only to find I am pouring 5W-30. Apparently amazon is out of stock of the 5W-20 and in its infinite wisdom, it thought 5W-30 would work just fine (GRRR). Shame on me for not triple checking.

Anyhow, my LR4 now has 3 quarts of Mobil1 EP 5W-20 and ~1 quart of Mobil1 EP 5W-30.

1) Should I drain what's in there, or should I assume ~1 quart of 5W-30 won't make a difference?
2) Should I hunt for Mobil1 EP 5W-20 to top off, or should I just use Castrol EP 5W-20, which is readily available?
3) If I use Castrol, should I use it to top off the Mobil1 that is in there, or drain and pour only Castrol?

Thanks.
 

mm3846

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2021
Posts
363
Reaction score
178
Location
LI, NY
These motors aren’t new tech anymore. Use a quality 5w20 and change it every 7500 miles or less.

Mixing oils isn’t something you should do all the time, buts it’s totally fine.
 

Al Pizzica

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2019
Posts
197
Reaction score
107
Location
PA
I'd like your thoughts. My oil change has become a headache.

I've been doing yearly oil changes using Mobil1 EP 5W-20 since the care went out of warranty, or 4 years ago. My last change was 14 months and ~3200 miles ago. Anyhow, I usually have a healthy supply of motor oil, but after draining the oil on Monday I realized I only had 3 quarts left. I poured them down only to find no Walmarts within 100 miles carry it M1 EP 5W-20. I wasn't going to use the LR4 so I figured I'd just order it from amazon. Today the package arrives and I open one of the three 5-quart bottles only to find I am pouring 5W-30. Apparently amazon is out of stock of the 5W-20 and in its infinite wisdom, it thought 5W-30 would work just fine (GRRR). Shame on me for not triple checking.

Anyhow, my LR4 now has 3 quarts of Mobil1 EP 5W-20 and ~1 quart of Mobil1 EP 5W-30.

1) Should I drain what's in there, or should I assume ~1 quart of 5W-30 won't make a difference?
2) Should I hunt for Mobil1 EP 5W-20 to top off, or should I just use Castrol EP 5W-20, which is readily available?
3) If I use Castrol, should I use it to top off the Mobil1 that is in there, or drain and pour only Castrol?

Thanks.
Based on your very limited use of the LR4 I would not lose one wink of sleep over this. Next year use the 100% right oil instead of 99.5%.
If you were DD this and towing 7000#? Maybe you would want to fix it.
 

Quijote

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2013
Posts
1,256
Reaction score
321
Location
Metro Boston
Based on your very limited use of the LR4 I would not lose one wink of sleep over this. Next year use the 100% right oil instead of 99.5%.
If you were DD this and towing 7000#? Maybe you would want to fix it.

That's what I figured. Thanks.

FYI, at least the greater Boston area is low or out of high quality Mobil1 and Castrol motor oils.
 

16FujiDisco

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Posts
278
Reaction score
128
Location
Nashville, TN
Just got back my second analysis from Blackstone; seems the liqui moly LR spec is doing a good job. Both of my samples had roughly 5k mi. on them, but I did go 7k in between one time. I mainly switched back to 5k for time purposes since I’m around 10k annually.
 

Attachments

  • 16 LR4-211031.pdf
    22.3 KB · Views: 100

jlach993

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2013
Posts
493
Reaction score
192
Location
Fresh Meadows Queens NY
LR Castrol OEM oil is the same as the readily available Castrol Edge oil found at Autozone. Only difference is dye thats added to the Castrol OEM LR stuff.
 

mm3846

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2021
Posts
363
Reaction score
178
Location
LI, NY
LR Castrol OEM oil is the same as the readily available Castrol Edge oil found at Autozone. Only difference is dye thats added to the Castrol OEM LR stuff.
It is definitely different oil with a different additive pack, but since all these trucks are out of warranty I wouldn't recommend either. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum is a better off the shelf option, and the boutique stuff like Liquid Moly and Amsoil is the same price as the OEM Castrol and better.
 

MarcusTriton

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2021
Posts
80
Reaction score
12
Location
America
Use the right oil, Shell full synthetic(or Mobile) 5-40 diesel for winter, 15-40 diesel for summer...Flak jacket on...
 

Latest posts

Staff online

  • joey
    Custom Rover Accessories

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
36,223
Posts
217,590
Members
30,473
Latest member
OnoA
Top