I was wondering if anybody has any opinions on oil such as Quaker State oil for engines with over 75k miles. I worry about oil leaks and burning oil later on in it's life, and want to do whatever I can to take care of the engine before I get problems. Any suggestions?

 

These oils have an additive to swell up seals. Unless your engine already leaks or smokes, I think it is a bad idea.

Jim

 

I have a '73 F-100 that was previously used as a utility truck in some form or fashion. I put some of the QS high mileage oil in her due to the old Motorcraft carb dying and dumping around a gallon or more of case straight into the engine.

I used it as sort of an insurance that the seals didn't get stripped of any oils they had and to swell them up a bit to prevent possible leaks for this oil change. I plan to run Mobil 1 Synthetic oil after this 3000 miles.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-Oct-02 AT 05:58 AM (EST)]>These oils have an additive to swell up seals. Unless your
>engine already leaks or smokes, I think it is a bad idea.
>
>Jim
Hey Jim - You don't think this might be a good "preventative" measure? Not needed on a "new" (say, less than 4-5 years & 50,000 mile) vehicle, but all the bottles of this stuff that I've read (Valvoline, Castrol & QS) claim they won't void new-car warranties. Actually I think the 75,000 "age" of a vehicle is just an "average" these oil companies chose (though I obviously could be wrong) as some vehicles certainly are better taken care of than others in additon to the fact that while some vehicles get 25,000 or more miles a year - others see less than 5k (or less) in the same year. As well, I believe there is a time or "sitting"-aging component\element to factor in too. I also tend to think many 4 bangers could benefit from this type of oil (additive) sooner, say 50k, whereas an 8 cyl., in general could probably go to 100k ( or do I have that completely 'bass-ackwards') - considering a number of crucial variables. I think of this stuff in the same terms I think of when considering the purchase of a "used" vehicle - that is, a vehicle for family, friend or self - that needs to be "counted on" - and again this is pretty much a basic generalization on my part, but I try to find 8's with less 50k, 6's with under 25k, and 4's , I think, are best picked up with less than 15 - better yet 10,000 miles on the "clock"(12,500 is my "target" mileage). Food for thought - just seems to me to be a "safe" prevent of problems, especially as opposed to waiting for the enevitable (shrinking\hardening\cracking of seals) and then dumping some thick "oil-leak-stop" crud in (?). Whadda `ya think?

 

My worry is that seals are constantly wearing and if you swell up a perfectly good seal that it will wear away early and you will have nothing left later on. Remember that you have valve seals to prevent oil burning, as well as main seals to prevent outside leaks.

Warranty coverage is only for the first 36,000 miles, so that is not an issue. Trouble would develop much later than that.

Jim

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-Oct-02 AT 09:24 PM (EST)]Point taken - thanks!