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[mathewst]

This is my dilema.
Oil change coming up on mig so was thinking about two oils. Valvoline Durablend 5w40 and Shell Helix ultra 5w40.
Do't wannna put the Gm oil cause it lasts  too litlle (6000miles) and do't mind spending a little more on oil.
Which one is better if anyone knows?
Also anyone had any experience with that Valvoline MaxLife oil?

[KillerWatt]

When you start getting in to the big names, oil is oil where standard use is concerned.
If you are that concerned about longevity, then buy a name brand and reduce the service interval by 50% (eg, 10,000 mile oil & filter change is reduced to 5000 miles).

[HGV mechanic]

oil if you say may last longer but the filter will still be just as full what ever oil you put in

[mathewst]

Actually filter won't be the same I think cause semy sinth oil degrade faster than full synth, so filter will also last a little longer.
I do change the oil every 9000 miles  (full synth oil) and thats every 9 months lets say and have no need to reduce the interval cause I use the car practically only on open road and very rarely in town traffic.
But just wanted to know if anyone knows which of the two previously mentioned is better

[JamesV6CDX]

Goodness me it's only an Omega......   

Go to vauxhall dealer - get 4 bottles of 10 40 semi synth for the cost of 3 on trade club. As cheap as it gets and good oil. Change either every 3000 or 5000 miles at your preference.

[JamesV6CDX]

Apologies, just noticed you are not in UK, and may not be able to obtain VX oil

In this case - any decent 10 / 40 semi synthetic will do

[mathewst]

It's ok James but here I could probably get Vx (GM) oil but it wouldn't be much cheaper cause stealers rip you of for anyting here. And no trade club here available

[TheBoy]

NO oil lasts beyond 7k (miles). The extra cost of fully synth doesn't really make sense when using semi synth, and it only takes 20mins.

If you must get the max out of any oil, go for branded fully synth, change every 7k max.

[brianthemagical]

No wanting to dis agree with peeps, but oil does last longer than 7k. Porche service intervals, even for turbos are over 12k miles (it was 20k km for most, some pre 08 cars did have 20k miles, but not hte turbos). Silkolene pro s (ester based, fully synth) can take a year of hard abuse and not be dinted, peeps on the SXOC have tested such things. As for whether it's worth it in a normal car, i'd say no. May aswell stick to halfords semi-synth for all it's worth in most cars.

[jemis]

I used to use valvoline semi synthetic years back and couldn't fault it however now I find it overpriced. personally I would just get any semi synthetic and change it at about 6000 miles.

[Kevin Wood]

One issue with Omega V6s in particular seems to be particulates in the oil, which eventually block the breathers and cause the cam cover gaskets to go.

However good the oil is, it's still going to get contaminated with the same amount of crud. Running a half-price oil for half the mileage is clearly an advantage here.

I wouldn't spend money on a "premium" oil like Silkolene or Mobil 1 unless the engine owed me serious money, was highly strung and driven hard. The Omega is neither.

Even then, I'm not so sure I believe their marketing hype.

The fact is, modern engines rarely die through wear, regardless of type of oil, and even when oil changes have been neglected, so lubrication is not the biggest issue IMHO. Good preventative maintenance, coolant changes and keeping the cam belt intact are far more important in keeping an engine from an early grave.

Kevin