94 2.3 with 200,000 miles...time for a change in oil diet?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: USA
94 2.3 with 200,000 miles...time for a change in oil diet?
Hey all, bought my 2.3 5 speed XLT new in 94 and she's the best vehicle I've every owned. Body is sound thanks to the galvanized steel and rustproofing. Hardly any trouble beyond normal wear and tear. Anyway, I've always used Castrol GTX with good luck. Was putting in Slick 50 until I read up on what a scam that is. Now I put in two quarts of 10w30 Castrol GTX and three quarts of Castrol Synthetic (I heard that even a few quarts of synthetic along with regular oil will drasticly cut down on engine wear). Anyway, the truck is starting to loose about 1/3rd of a quart between every 5000 mile oil change. I'm wondering how well this new Castrol high milage oil works? What about Restore, or switching to a heavier weight oil than the 10w30 that I started using at 100,000 miles? The oil burning isn't by any means bad...just used to it not using any oil between changes. Heck, some new cars burn more than 1/3rd a quart between changes. The way I see it I could just start changing it every 3000 miles and not see any loss too.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,562
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From: South Jersey
94 2.3 with 200,000 miles...time for a change in oil diet?
I wouldn't worry about it. Did it start when you started putting in the synthetic, it might get past the seals/rings more than the pure dino. It also could have cleaned up some of the dino sludge and that is allowing it to get into the cylinders, this could also cause some minor leaks, have you checked for them. I would not put any of the additives in the engine.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: VA/USA
94 2.3 with 200,000 miles...time for a change in oil diet?
I have personally seen satisfactory results from doing both (seperately and in combination) Castrol (and Valvoline) "Hi-Mileage" AND going with a heavier weight. Going with a heavier weight (and at 200k I'd definately stick with "dino") would be a little less expensive route in the short term but the "Hi-Mileage" oil may do better over a longer period of time. If it were me, I'd give the 'new generation' oil one or two changes to show results, if none noticed, then I'd go with the heavier weight - I wish you success! Please keep us informed! 
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
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From: northeastern ohio
94 2.3 with 200,000 miles...time for a change in oil diet?
I dont think even 1 qt over 5000miles is bad.
My thunderbird lost 1qt about every 3000 miles.
Personally I would think its normal for it to use that much
and if it worries you. you might try that MAX-Life (valvoline)
or something similar they contain seal swell additives among other things to keep the oil in the engine better. And as was posted above I'm pretty sure your syn. is just slippin through it will do that if you switch on a higher mileage engine. As for weight oil in a 4 banger I dont think I would run any heavier oil. 10w-30 seems perfect. Maybe if you got some REALLY cold winters go with the 5w-30.
Rand
Note: my dads dodge ram 50 leaked oil like a sieve(would basically pour out of the front seal) after he switched to syn at 100000 miles. He changed it out to max-life and 2000miles later it dont leak
My thunderbird lost 1qt about every 3000 miles.
Personally I would think its normal for it to use that much
and if it worries you. you might try that MAX-Life (valvoline)
or something similar they contain seal swell additives among other things to keep the oil in the engine better. And as was posted above I'm pretty sure your syn. is just slippin through it will do that if you switch on a higher mileage engine. As for weight oil in a 4 banger I dont think I would run any heavier oil. 10w-30 seems perfect. Maybe if you got some REALLY cold winters go with the 5w-30.
Rand
Note: my dads dodge ram 50 leaked oil like a sieve(would basically pour out of the front seal) after he switched to syn at 100000 miles. He changed it out to max-life and 2000miles later it dont leak
New User
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Columbus U.S.A.
94 2.3 with 200,000 miles...time for a change in oil diet?
Do know that Castrol makes a Synthetic blend called Syntec. You don't have to mix regular and Synthetic. This stuff comes premixed. By the way synthetic molocules are smaller than that of Petroleum and more likely in older vehicles to slip by valve seals and piston rings.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 160
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From: USA
94 2.3 with 200,000 miles...time for a change in oil diet?
Yea, I know Castrol makes a synthetic blend but I figured it out one day and you get more synthetic at a cheaper price by buying two or three quarts synthetic and then two or three quarts of Castrol GTX. My truck is about due for that oil change and here's my game plan: I'm going to switch from 2 or 3 quarts GTX and 2 or 3 quarts of Castrol synthetic to 3 quarts of Castrol High Milage Oil and 2 quarts of Castrol synthetic, both at 10w30 that I always used since 100,000 miles. If the engine is still burning a little oil by my next oil change then I'm going to try the same thing again but with a can of Restore. If it still is loosing oil by the next change I'll go fully to Castrol high milage oil. If it's still dropping in oil level then it'll be 5 quarts of Castrol high milage oil and a can of Restore. I want to try to keep at least two quarts of synthetic in it as synthetic drasticly cuts down on engine wear. Wish I would have went to synthetics when the truck was new instead of fulling around with Slick 50's crap. Like I said, it's barely using 1/3rd to 1/2 a quart between 5000 miles so things aren't bad, I'm just picky that way. Always nice to have a game plan.
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