Oil advice for fresh (reman) engine

[xsnrg]

I just dropped a remanufactured 2.2 (5FSE) in my '00 Camry (and mated it to a used tranny I found with only 7k on it). So I am picking it up today from the shop that did the swap. He filled it with Castrol Syntec 5w30 for the first 500 mi of the break-in. I'll do another change then I think at 1,000 or 1,500. Question is, what kind of oil is going to give me the best protection and longest life in this car?

I got 241,000 miles on the first engine before burning a valve (you may remember my post from a few weeks ago). That was using LE Monolec oil from when I got the car used at 19,000 and changing it about every 15,000. The place I was buying LE has recently decided to stop carrying it, so I am considering other oils.

Give me your feedback and reasons you use what you use. I don't mind paying $6 or more for a quart of oil if I have to change it 1/3 as often and get superior protection.

[Steve]

We've had alot of dealings here at the office with some of the top engine builders in USA and Im only speaking of what they say and that is never to break in a new motor with synthetic oil. I cant tell you why because Ive never asked but you may want to research it further.

edit: dont get paranoid, not a huge deal im sure

[xsnrg]

Originally Posted by Steve

We've had alot of dealings here at the office with some of the top engine builders in USA and Im only speaking of what they say and that is never to break in a new motor with synthetic oil. I cant tell you why because Ive never asked but you may want to research it further.

edit: dont get paranoid, not a huge deal im sure

great...now I am paranoid...

well, too late in a sense because she is picking it up as we speak and driving it about 2 hrs back here tonight. Do you think I should change the oil to a crude based tomorrow for the rest of the break in?

Also, I used to hear a lot of hype about not switching back and forth between synthetic and crude based oil... what do you know of that? More recently, I'm told that was just so garages could fleece you for a full flush and 'conversion'.

[Steve]

Not worry, engine builders are anal. Definately dont switch back though. keep running synthetic. I will call one of the shops and see what there reasoning behind it is. Maybe in the meentime someone here will have the answer.

[Steve]

Ok,
I just called one guy and he said that the viscosity of synthetic does not allow "as good" seal and ring break in.

[JMSinMD]

Once it breaks in go with Mobil 1 Synthetic extended 15,000 mile oil and Mobil 1 filter and change both oil and filter every 10k. Jon.

[toyomoho]

There is still a lot of discussion on this subject among users. The thought was synthetics are to “slippery” requiring more time to seat the rings. Mobil and Quaker State say synthetic is OK for breaking in of new car engines. They also state the non-synthetic and synthetic can be switched with no problems.

You might think about changing the oil and filter early. There will be metal particles left over from the rebuild and break in process.

[xsnrg]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

There is still a lot of discussion on this subject among users. The thought was synthetics are to “slippery” requiring more time to seat the rings. Mobil and Quaker State say synthetic is OK for breaking in of new car engines. They also state the non-synthetic and synthetic can be switched with no problems.

You might think about changing the oil and filter early. There will be metal particles left over from the rebuild and break in process.

I will be following the break-in instructions that came with the engine in order to meet the conditions of the warranty. I believe they are at 500 miles and then 1000 or 1500.

It's good to know I can switch back as I please...as soon as I find another source for LE Monolec, I think I'll just go back to it since I know it worked for me last time.

[xtychx]

Just keep running whatever you are running or run mobil 1.

Dont worry about the synthetic vs regular oil debate, engine tolerances in this day and age have outperformed most engineers on the subject :p

most supercars nowadays run synthetic on breakin from the factory. Its not a big deal.

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by xsnrg

I will be following the break-in instructions that came with the engine in order to meet the conditions of the warranty. I believe they are at 500 miles and then 1000 or 1500.

It's good to know I can switch back as I please...as soon as I find another source for LE Monolec, I think I'll just go back to it since I know it worked for me last time.

Here's a contact form for the makers of LE Monolec oil. Why not send them an e-mail if you are looking for a new source for their oil:

http://www.le-inc.com/contactus/contactus.cfm

There is also an 800 number if you go to the bottom of their home page.

Mike

[xsnrg]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

Here's a contact form for the makers of LE Monolec oil. Why not send them an e-mail if you are looking for a new source for their oil:

http://www.le-inc.com/contactus/contactus.cfm

There is also an 800 number if you go to the bottom of their home page.

Mike

I used the contact form twice over the last few weeks to no avail.... however yesterday I called the number because I actually thought of it during business hours and I was able to get the number of a rep that covers my city. He let me know of a couple of shops that he sells to in town and also is going to call my regular shop, who had told me in the past they were impressed with my oil performance and were interested in carrying it.

[marc780]

Give me your feedback and reasons you use what you use. I don't mind paying $6 or more for a quart of oil if I have to change it 1/3 as often and get superior protection

.

My friend, i have owned 10 cars of all makes, (except Ford - Gah! ). And oil breakdown has never been a factor in any of their demise.
I have been in the car fixing biz for 30 years and still in it. You asked for advice, here it is.

1) Dont use synthetic for at least 5,000 miles! Break in is not a myth, the parts need to "seat" and mate with each other, as it were.
2) My experience is even if you use dino, you will be just fine. The key is to change it! and my own opinion, 2,000 - 3,000 miles is the most i feel safe leaving it in. I'm sort of anal about this, no excuse, i guess. I've Pulled too many engines to want to do even one more!

I have used mobil 1 in the past, many times. And IMO there's no better oil you can buy, based on experience ( we have police cars using mobil 1 for testing, at work with a gazzilion miles and they all run like new.)

And sometimes i will mix in 1 qt of same with an oil change. BUT even when i had a crankcase full of mobil 1 (for driving to Vegas in August etc.), and logically knew it was good for 10,000 miles, i still changed it out. I just couldn't stand it somehow, lol.

Final word, use ANY name brand of motor oil and just change it often. Oil filters, doesnt really matter if you use a $2 walmart name brand or spend $10 for fram's latest over-hyped rip off. If you change your oil, you are throwing it away anyway, so it is of no consequence.
Change your oil, doesnt matter what you use as long as it meets API. Same goes for the filter.

BTW i have a 1988 Nissan pickup Z24 engine, and it has almost 300k. Drives like new. And passes brutal CA smog checks every time!