SRX oil consumption

[kevm14]

I've been keeping my eye on it, here and there. I finally remembered to check it again. It took a full quart and could probably take another 1/3rd quart to bring it up to the top of the dipstick. It has been a little over 4,000 miles. For a Northstar at about 100k, I presume this is satisfactory.

Other specs: engine oil life is 71% remaining, which translates to an incredible 14,000 mile oil change interval. Which I definitely won't be doing. Also, this thing takes a full 8 quarts, which means even 5,000 mile oil changes are overkill. I think the soonest I'd even consider it is 7,000.

Of course I added M1 5W-30 since I assume that's what's in there. It is an M1 factory fill like my CTS-V, and says so on the oil cap - which means GM4718M oil spec is required. Unless Barry's just added whatever. I'll probably switch to GC 0W-30 but that will sure be an expensive oil change. Almost makes me consider getting two 5 qt jugs of M1 at Wally World since the cost savings would be so significant.

[Adam]

Unless Barry's just added whatever.

I would bet money on it.

[kevm14]

Then it needs an oil change...

[Bob]

Of course I added M1 5W-30 since I assume that's what's in there. It is an M1 factory fill like my CTS-V, and says so on the oil cap - which means GM4718M oil spec is required. Unless Barry's just added whatever. I'll probably switch to GC 0W-30 but that will sure be an expensive oil change. Almost makes me consider getting two 5 qt jugs of M1 at Wally World since the cost savings would be so significant.

The oil change specials at AZ and Advance Auto are sometimes competitive with Walmart, assuming you need a filter too. My once annual visit to Walmart is usually just to get Shell Rotella T 5W40 for the Elise since it's so much cheaper there than anywhere else.

[Fast_Ed]

Just switched from buying my Castrol hi mileage at walmart to buying it from Amazon. Using prime for free shipping, and the price was $16.xx for a five quart jug. But that may have been a prime-only price. I'm sure you'd get over the $35 free shipping cost if you are buying 8 quarts of unicorn oil or whatever.

Love that Shell Rotella 5w-40 stuff. So much cheaper than the other options!

[kevm14]

I did some quick research on Rotella T 5W-40. Initial results were positive for GM4718M applications (I'm sure it's not certified but neither is GC). However, I suspect the shortcoming of that oil is likely cold weather performance. So with GC, I'd like to think I'm getting the cold weather performance of a 0W (I would bet a couple bucks that Rotella is on the thick side of a 5W in the cold), but also all the high temp/high shear and long term stability. Of course, I pay more for this. And I have zero data on what the real world impact to engine life is. I do know that one of the results I got on the Rotella was that engines sound better on it than M1. Seems to me that EVERYTHING sounds better than M1, something I've personally noted on my small blocks.

My Camaro LT1 sounded awful on startup on M1 0W-40. M1 0W-40 is basically the same type of oil as the Castrol Edge 0W-30 (i.e. GC), but man in practice no one seems to like it. Looks great on paper though.

[kevm14]

I think my hunch was right.

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/thre ... -400-15-40

Rotella T 5W-40 is a Group III. Delo 400 5W-40 is a Group IV and is the same type of oil. At the same 5W-40 rating it has a lower pour point. There are other specs that really answer the question such as "low temp cranking viscosity or the low temp pumping viscosity.". But pour point does begin to shed some light.

Pour point
Shell Rotella T 5W-40: -30C
Chevron Delo 400 5W-40: -43C

Delo 400 also has a higher TBN, which means it can withstand longer oil change intervals. FWIW, I have had great luck with Delo 400 30 weight (non-synthetic) in my lawn mowers (less oil consumption).

Specifically for winter, the Delo 400 15W-40 non-synthetic actually has superior lower temp viscosity characteristics to the Shell Rotella T 5W-40. At this point I would be fairly tempted to characterize the Shell as a warm climate oil.

Need to look up GC 0W-30.

Ok. Pour point of my GC 0W-30 is -57C.

One lesson here is that the number before the "W" rating is the kinematic viscosity at 40C which is NOT very cold at all. Basically what happens at 40C may or may not reflect the true cold weather performance of the oil. Which is why the Delo 15W-40 actually flows better than the Rotella 5W-40 at cold temps.

Whether this means anything to anyone I don't know but it would seem that I wouldn't feel comfortable running the Rotella through a New England winter and if I wanted to run an affordable HDEO, I'd switch to Delo 400 5W-40 if I wanted to run the same oil year round.

[kevm14]

Amazon sells 6 quarts of the GC 0W-30 for $50.40 which is $8.40/qt. Seems hardly cheaper than the store.

[kevm14]

2,800 miles into the oil change. Just checked the oil. It is either at the halfway point or maybe 2/3rds down the crosshatch. So it's on track for a little over 4,000 miles to the quart. Back in the day we would be changing the oil by then and would also claim zero oil consumption because we didn't actually add any. For perspective.

[Bob]

I think my hunch was right.

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/thre ... -400-15-40

Rotella T 5W-40 is a Group III. Delo 400 5W-40 is a Group IV and is the same type of oil. At the same 5W-40 rating it has a lower pour point. There are other specs that really answer the question such as "low temp cranking viscosity or the low temp pumping viscosity.". But pour point does begin to shed some light.

Pour point
Shell Rotella T 5W-40: -30C
Chevron Delo 400 5W-40: -43C

Delo 400 also has a higher TBN, which means it can withstand longer oil change intervals. FWIW, I have had great luck with Delo 400 30 weight (non-synthetic) in my lawn mowers (less oil consumption).

Specifically for winter, the Delo 400 15W-40 non-synthetic actually has superior lower temp viscosity characteristics to the Shell Rotella T 5W-40. At this point I would be fairly tempted to characterize the Shell as a warm climate oil.

Need to look up GC 0W-30.

Ok. Pour point of my GC 0W-30 is -57C.

One lesson here is that the number before the "W" rating is the kinematic viscosity at 40C which is NOT very cold at all. Basically what happens at 40C may or may not reflect the true cold weather performance of the oil. Which is why the Delo 15W-40 actually flows better than the Rotella 5W-40 at cold temps.

Whether this means anything to anyone I don't know but it would seem that I wouldn't feel comfortable running the Rotella through a New England winter and if I wanted to run an affordable HDEO, I'd switch to Delo 400 5W-40 if I wanted to run the same oil year round.

I run Rotella T 5W-40 in the Elise. Obviously, cold starts are not an issue for that car in NC.