Has anyone noticed any problems with NAPA OILS in the last months?
The reason I ask is I have noticed that HOT it doesn't seem to lubricate well, or breaks down.
Case in point is a 1997 Blazer 4x4 & a 1993 Chevy Lumina:
I change oil & filter on our 97 Blazer a few weeks ago. I have used NAPA OIL for years without any known problems. Well after about 500 miles I started getting a engine knock at start up, & the oil pressure would fluctuate a lot. Also our Lumina has been using oil since we got it from a family member who used Chevron in it. They never had an oil usage problem. It also is running 10-40 NAPA OIL now.
Well I changed the oil & filter today and put in 10-30 MOBIL DINO OIL,then added a 1/2 qt of LUCAS. (Now I have used LUCAS in my trucks for years so I know how it acts.) Anyway after changing the oil & filter the engine knock is gone & the oil pressure is totally different. An increase of 5-7 PSI, It doesn't fluctuate as it did before. I know the Lucas will make some difference but I have never had it made the kind of difference it made in this Blazer. A mechanic I know told me he noticed the same thing with NAPA OIL in a rebuilt engine he built. He said he just changed to Valvoline & the wide fluctuation in (HOT) oil pressure stopped.
Any thoughts? I have always been one of these guys that oil was oil, Well I maybe wrong in that thought. The engine in the Blazer was just checked for fuel leak down & a new fuel pump was installed. Also the crankcase didn't have any signs of gas or water. My first thought. I'm not losing any anti-freeze, My gas mileage is 15.3-19.4 MPG.

PS I'm using NAPA GOLD & AC DELCO OIL FILTERS

 

hmm i don't use napa oil i use delo 400 but good to know that there is quality control issues

 

Don't know what happened but NAPA oil is or has been packaged by Valvoline at their bottling plants.

 

That is correct. The only thing I can think of is in trying to keep cost down. (CUT CORNERS) Why is Valvoline a $1.00 more per quart at NAPA anyway? With oil prices rising NAPA oil has only gone up $.20 in the last few years. The funny thing was the guys at NAPA don't use NAPA OIL. So I don't know, I'm waiting to see if anyone else has noticed anything. With costs on the rise something has to give with NON BRAND NAME PRODUCTS. Like WalMart try buying the same GOODYEAR TIRE that they sell at a GOODYEAR DEALER. GOODYEAR like VALVOLINE builds or turns out what is requested by the buyer.
This is sad to me in that NAPA OIL is much cheaper than most. $2.09/qt. I have had good luck with it. I wouldn't of even said anything or thought anything except the shop that does work for us when I don't feel up to it has a very good REPUTATION in town & when one of the owners told me he had a problem with it I had to think about it. If there is even the slightest idea that there is a possible problem I don't want to take any chances. I swapped my cases of NAPA oil for VALVOLINE & paid the difference. $3000 to replace an engine no thanks. I'll pay more.

 

I think all the oil manufactures have been reformulating it. News rules you know, but who suffers? US! What we need is car guys/gals running for high up goverment offices and fix the mess.

 

lol politicians aren't really going to fix anything it will just take a large group of people actually exercising their rights as people to get something done. another thing would for consumers(US) to take control and not let the manufacturers dictate what we buy. the only reason everything is like this is because people just settle and don;t do anything about it and those that will do it are so small in number its insignificant

 

It could be the reformulating. Since the oil companies are being forced to take the zinc out of the oil. That is causing faster engine wear especially in older engines with flat tappets.

 

GO SYNTHETIC!!
ya get what ya pay for
AMSOIL Dealer Clinton, Utah

 

Your right synthetic I believe is the best way to go on NEW CARS & TRUCKS. I drive old junk that I bought used and who knows what oil has been used. The lowest mileage truck we own has 88,000 miles. The highest mileage is 238,000 miles.
I changed the oil in my 1986 F250 4x4, 460 today. I have owned this truck for ten years & it has run Napa 20-50 since I have owned it. Today I switched to Valvoline 20-50. I can not believe the difference in oil pressure & how it seems to be more stable hot. I have a Stewart Warner mechanical oil gauge, All I can say is I'm amazed. If someone would of told me about this without have the experience I had with the Blazer, & now confirming it with my Ford that I know inside & out I would of never believed it.

This will end my use of Napa oils period. I'll PAY MORE. I alway bought it because it was packaged by Valvoline & I was told it was the same, but cheaper because of the NAPA BRAND. Well, IT IS NOT THE SAME.

One last thing Synthetic oils (and I have used Amsoil clear back into the 70s) have never proven to be cost effective in old engines. There is no way you can figure on paper any cost effectiveness. Trannys, rear ends, tranfer cases bearing YES. I use synthetic greases and gear oils. Now if I ever rebuild or install a remaned engine then I can say synthetic would be cost effective.
I tryed synthetic in my Ford when it had 140,000 miles and between usage & leakage NO WAY.
I believe more now than ever that with NEW Vehicles NOT RUNNING SYNTHETIC ENGINE OIL IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE. My thoughts behind that are with manufactures recommending these 5-20 wt oils, with the hotter temps these new cars run for emissions DINO oil will not work anywhere close to SYNTHETICS. I'm seeing alot of engine failure on the newer cars after they get older but with only 80 or 90,000 miles. Our Blazer had an engine changed before I bought it with 85,000 miles. I refuse to run any lower than 10-30 wt oil period synthetic or dino. A used engine was installed so we will see how far this one goes. The next one will be a reman.

 

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The Lucas is completely unecessary in a tight engine. A loose beater engine, it's fine. Additives serve no usefull purpose, and in many cases actually disrupt the oil's formula.

The Lucas will also lower your gasoline mileage, and at today's prices, why would someone do that?

You're better off using Lucas' fuel additives instead of their "motor honeys".

The Engine Oil Bible : Additives

 

I use there Fuel additive also. The Blazer & Ford get severe service. The Ford gets 10 MPG empty 6 MPG towing a 10,000# travel trailer.
The Blazer is a used engine that was installed before I bought it so how tight it is is not known by me. One reason I put in the Lucas in the oil is on the Blazer Forum I'm seeing a fair amount of blown engines in my year & mileage. I have reason to believe that some of it is running too light of oils to save mileage. From experience Lucas stabilized the oil, My oil pressure after installing it is much more stable.
As for mileage 15 MPG in town 19 MPG on the road. I'm happy with that, I don't care about gas prices, in that I can't do anything about them but pay if I want to drive.
Craig