Anyone who has read any of my oil posts will know that I am a big believer that in most instances, synthetic oil is a waste of money over conventional oil.

But doing some shopping at Walmart.com, I noticed that 5w-20 conventional SuperTech is $13.68 in 5 gallon jugs, and 5w-20 full synthetic SuperTech oil is $14.88 in 5 gallon jugs.

$1.20, or less that $0.25/qt., is a pretty small upcharge to go to full syn. SuperTech syn is SN+ and Dexos labeled. Not FCA/Chrysler or Ford labeled, but I figure that is because Wally does not want to pay Chrysler nor Ford the licensing fee to use their names and/or pay to do the required testing. I find it had to believe that any oil that meets API SN+ and Dexos certification is not good enough to use in a Ford or Chrysler.

Valvoline 5w-20 is the cheapest conventional at Wally.com and is Chrysler rated, but it is $17.47 for a 5 quart jug.

So do you pay $17.47 for Chrysler labeled, brand name conventional or $14.88 for full syn, non-labeled. generic oil?

BTW - Amazon Basics 5w-20 full syn is $23 for a 5 quart jug, making the Wally oil a pretty good bargain. Amazon oil is SN+ but carries no other certifications.

 

This is coming from a retired electrician, so take it for what it is worth.

In my 48 years of driving, and 20 years being part owner of a company with 0ver 100 vehicles on the road, I have never looked at a spec on a oil can/bottle/barrel. I have used wally world oil in my personal vehicles, most running over 250,000 miles before selling them. In company trucks diesels got 15-40 oil from a barrel. Gas trucks got 5-20 oil from the time Ford started calling for that weight of oil. If there was lifter noise in the older trucks on 5-20 oil they got 15-40 on the next oil change.

If it were me I'd run the oil you want without looking at the spec on the bottle.

That's my 2 cents worth, and you can't even buy a good wire nut for 2 cents.

 

Watch the pricing on Amazon as it falls. Then send in for rebates.

Pricing is a consideration.

But cars call for 4.25 qts to 7 qts. I hate having opened containers of oil . Even worse when the spec is something ridiculous like 5.7 quarts. Then you have a 5 quart jug opened, with 4.3 quarts.

Single quarts are never cheap. Not many cars use an even 5 quarts. Now you have 6 quart boxes, 6 gallon boxes.......

 

Those are the better choice for DIY oil changers; I hate having to deal with all those 1 quart bottles that may or may not actually recycled. For the longest time I've used the 1 gallon or 5 quart jugs of motor oil, mostly Valvoline Hi-Mileage stuff. Given the 5.4's I own tend to need some oil replenished before the 3K oil change interval I use carrying an already opened jug isn't that big a hassle.

The larger quantity packages are also infinitely easier to keep in the garage.

 

The lowest everyday price for synthetic oil is probably Wal*Mart. 5 quart jug for about $15. When items go on sale and there are coupons and rebates......the story changes. Last year, Mobil 1 5 quart jugs went down to about $6. RollBack pricing, a coupon, + rebate in the mail. It turns into an obsession, where you buy low and stock up. Laughable, until there's a nationwide emergency, and you don't have toilet paper. If there's a motor oil shortage, I will be okay for 2 oil changes. Then I am in the wind with everyone else. Maybe I can barter and trade. I have plenty of oil filters.

 

Here's one for you. I would buy it if I didn't have a 2 oil change supply already.

 

Interesting--thanks for sharing that link! I tend to keep maybe 10-12 oil changes in the garage because I'll buy when I find a price for oil and filters I like. As for the larger bulk packages I've talked with my local Ford dealer, their prices right in line with on-line sales with no shipping etc etc. Since my current 5.4 is under warranty for another 90K miles I'll use the Ford branded stuff to cover my ****!

 

Thanks. I picked up a box. Won't need it for a while, but does not go bad. The Charger, Grand Caravan and Escape all take 5w-20.

The best deal that I have found is conventional 5W-30 for $10/5 qt jug. I picked up a dozen or so of of those. 5W-30 works well on these old Fords that I work on and shelf life is longer than I will be alive.

 

Oil by the bucket always looks good. Until you need a special tool to open the bucket with, or you have to buy a special pump. Because it is so heavy and bulky, it's also easy to spill. Imagine picking up a bucket, and tilting it over your engine bay, trying to aim it all into the funnel, and guessing how much oil you have poured.

 

I am with you on that, but the Wally 12 quart boxes have a pour spigot, like on boxed wine (the wife's favorite). I use a gallon of milk every week, so will just hold one of the empty jugs back as a measuring/pouring tool.

 

Motor oil could be sold like milk. In bags.

 

Most of the "bags in a box" containers include a pour spout, they seemed to designed for smaller shops or DIY's who don't want to invest in a lot of specialized dispensing equipment. And as I say the boxes tend to be far, far easier to store than multiple gallon or 5 quart jugs.

 

I usually buy filters on clearance or sale online. I usually buy 4 at a time.

as far as oil if I can get synthetic I’ll run that. I’ve used Walmart Supertech synthetic since it came out. If Amazon synthetic is cheaper I’ll buy that. I still have 20 gallons of oil.
my diesels get Delo 400. If I can’t find Delo I use Tractor Supply Traveller 15/40. Usually Delo is easy to find.. I like the fact traveller oil comes in 5 gallon buckets.


All the vehicles get 5k oil changes regardless.

 

I used to do that. But I kept selling the vehicles before I used up the filters. I have a whole shelf of orphans at my shop.

 

I just throw them in the back seat or trunk when I sell the car. I have no use for them. Last car I sold the young lady got oil filters, cabin and air filters, set of spark plugs, 1/2 case of trans fluid I did a transmission service and oil change.