So when I started this forum a while back - I wanted to get a status quo of what people thought of synthetic versus conventional oil. My last oil change I switched to 5W-30 Valvoline Synthetic. The intermittent "knocking" at startup still occurs, and we have had a much cooler than normal year. I also drive primarily in town (I have 13,000 miles on the odometer after two years of ownership). My question is am I doing something wrong? Should I switch to a different synthetic, return to conventional, or run a thicker viscosity?

Or is a little valve knocking at startup normal and nothing to worry about?

 

I just had our oil changed and used Mobile1 5-30. The shop is telling me that 5k is the max I can run it. I would think with a Wix filter and the Mobile1, I should be able to get more mileage than 5k right?

 

Go by the DIC and Keep your money in your pocket....even conventional oil can handle 7k changes.

 

Don't go to thicker oil! That will cause problems cold as it will not flow fast enough. A small amount of engine rattle or noise on a cold engine may be normal. I get the same in sunny So.Cal. 35k miles and absolutly no problems with anything.

 

Where did you get the silver bow ties?

 

Hi.
I always thought and still think that Americans are very good drivers. So I'm very surprised by this discussion. What s top oil: synthetic over Conventional Oil????
In Russia, such questions are not asked already for many years. Only Synthetics!
You say that it is expensive? You save a few dollars today, but will lose hundreds (or thousands) tomorrow, if ruining the engine.
Use of synthetic oil prolongs the life of the engine. In synthetic viscosity, absorbability pump, cleaning and lubricating properties s top than conventional oil.
The poorest Russian driver will not save on oil.
If you saw all the dirt and metal shavings, which we learn from the American engines, you would understand what I mean.
I am using for my HHR only high-quality oil Castrol. I change it every 5000 km (3000 miles), as well as in the spring and in autumn, regardless of mileage. So, my engine runs like a Swiss watch. Therefore, my engine start up in the hellish cold. I did not hear the knocking, which you sometimes write.

 

So even the poorist of Russians run synthetic oil, but changes it every 3k miles........ I can tell the Russians how to save more money. Run the proper weight oil, use the OLM or recommended oil changed intervals as stated in your manual and you have just saved yourself a few bucks. Even on dino oil, you can run 7k+ miles between changed.

I average about 7500 miles by the time I hit the 5% mark. I have no tic on startup in 0* temps, or when the temps read..

11k miles, that's a few miles ago......

Interesting first post, welcome.

 

Oh Boy - Here comes the Cold War back from the 50s.

 

I TOO SWITCHED TO SYNTHETIC (LUCAS) AT 40,000 MILES ON MY 2007 2.2L. I TOO NOTICED THE ENGINE TAPPING NOISE, MENTIONED IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DISMISSED IT AND SAID IT SHOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. ITS STILL NOISY AFTER DRIVEN FOR 1000 MILES.

 

No tic/tap or other odd noises, using M1