I have always been a firm believer rightly or wrongly, that if you shell out extra "dough" you will buy better quality oil and, consequently, that engine under the bonnet should run just that much better. Thus, for three to four years now I have been buying and using Castrol Magnatec which is priced at about $34.00 for five litres. Bear in mind you can buy alternative quality for about $18.00 for five.
This brings me to the Holden Statesman that we bought in September of last year, showing 162k.s on the speedometer. The car has had every service right on time since new, and the 160k. service had been completed just prior to our purchase of the car. Thus, I was somewhat surprised that, on cold start-up, the hydraulic lifters would just be ever so slight 'rattly' for several minutes until, obviously, the oil would start circulating and pressurize the lifters. Having owned Rover V8s for many years, I am familiar with camshaft, lifter and rockers and rockershaft wear, so these "rattle" symptoms were of some concern. Everyone I spoke to about the Gen 3 Chevy engine in this model Statesman assured me that it was a 'foolproof' and long lasting unit, so this further aroused my curiosity.
Thus I spoke to the mechanics that had serviced the car for about two years. On enquiry as to the type of oil they were using, I was told that it was Valvoline, presumably the XLD variety that he obviously buys in bulk quantity. I was a little sceptical and keen on using a different oil (not that I had any valid or scientific reason) and when the time came for the 170k. service, I decided to purchase the 'unbranded' oil available and recommended for the V8 Statesman by the Holden (GM) dealer at Baulkham Hills. It wasn't particularly expensive at about $26.00 for five liters and I decided to try it in preference. I had contacted the mechanic as to whether that was acceptable to him (which it was), but in the end the service was carried out by my tyre people (The Tyre King) at Baulkham Hills.
Whilst initially there was no change when starting from cold, after about one week (no more than that), those lifters have now 'settled down' and are no longer 'rattly' on start-up from cold. So that oil is doing its job and maybe, just maybe, oils ain't oils. Regards Styria
N.B. Just as an addendum. Our Statesman is berift of an oil pressure gauge. However, my oldest son, with his 1995 HSV Commodore does have an oil pressure gauge that never registers higher than 15lbs/sqin. - in my view, far too low, and his car runs around with the same bulk Valvoline Oil. When questioned during our recent trip to Maitland, he reckoned that it's always run at that oil pressure gauge reading - he's had the car for about eighteen months.
This brings me to the Holden Statesman that we bought in September of last year, showing 162k.s on the speedometer. The car has had every service right on time since new, and the 160k. service had been completed just prior to our purchase of the car. Thus, I was somewhat surprised that, on cold start-up, the hydraulic lifters would just be ever so slight 'rattly' for several minutes until, obviously, the oil would start circulating and pressurize the lifters. Having owned Rover V8s for many years, I am familiar with camshaft, lifter and rockers and rockershaft wear, so these "rattle" symptoms were of some concern. Everyone I spoke to about the Gen 3 Chevy engine in this model Statesman assured me that it was a 'foolproof' and long lasting unit, so this further aroused my curiosity.
Thus I spoke to the mechanics that had serviced the car for about two years. On enquiry as to the type of oil they were using, I was told that it was Valvoline, presumably the XLD variety that he obviously buys in bulk quantity. I was a little sceptical and keen on using a different oil (not that I had any valid or scientific reason) and when the time came for the 170k. service, I decided to purchase the 'unbranded' oil available and recommended for the V8 Statesman by the Holden (GM) dealer at Baulkham Hills. It wasn't particularly expensive at about $26.00 for five liters and I decided to try it in preference. I had contacted the mechanic as to whether that was acceptable to him (which it was), but in the end the service was carried out by my tyre people (The Tyre King) at Baulkham Hills.
Whilst initially there was no change when starting from cold, after about one week (no more than that), those lifters have now 'settled down' and are no longer 'rattly' on start-up from cold. So that oil is doing its job and maybe, just maybe, oils ain't oils. Regards Styria
N.B. Just as an addendum. Our Statesman is berift of an oil pressure gauge. However, my oldest son, with his 1995 HSV Commodore does have an oil pressure gauge that never registers higher than 15lbs/sqin. - in my view, far too low, and his car runs around with the same bulk Valvoline Oil. When questioned during our recent trip to Maitland, he reckoned that it's always run at that oil pressure gauge reading - he's had the car for about eighteen months.
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