Running Bear's August 2026 Coffee Shop

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chadbag said.......... I'm willing to take the risk as I didn't like the images I saw of engines damaged by too light of oil.
I agree.

I would not run 0W anything in any vehicle, especially in Texas. A "one weight fits all" choice just does not work for me. You have to consider the overall climate where you live and how you drive. I use Mobile 1 full synthetic 10W-30 in all 3 of my vehicles. I also use the Mobil 1 filters. I have 150,000 miles plus on my 4.8 liter Chevy truck. It still has 50 lbs oil pressure on average, does not smoke and runs great, no sludge build up in the rocker covers. If I lived in Canada or in a northern state, maybe 5W-30 would be a choice. Common sense tells me that in a hotter running engine
( a four banger with a turbo ) it will need a thicker oil because heat will thin the oil.....just a fact. Heat is always the enemy in an internal combustion engine.
In a multi grade oil, it is designed to run thinner when cold and thicker when hot. However, if you check the oil on the dipstick, when cold, let it drip and observe the "thickness", then drive for an hour and pull the dip stick out and check the thickness again, the oil is always thinner when hot, no matter what the weight of oil you run. Any 0W oil would be, for me, just way to thin when hot.
Just my opinion. It works for me.

Everyone have a great day.

John
 


chadbag said:
I think it is Chevrolet that had an issue with a motor specced at 0W20.
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I can only speak from my own experience. But I do know that all oils are not created equal which is why i skipped the free dealer oil changes, they use a bulk synthetic blend, I only use full synthetic oils.

I bought my 2020 Chevy Equinox new. When I saw it called for 0w20 my first thought was WTF! Assuming GM used a synthetic blend I immediately changed the oil using a premium extended life (20000 mile) full synthetic oil, but I stayed with the recommended viscosity (0w20) and used an oil that met GM specifications; Dexos 1 Gen 2, the active gasoline‑engine specification from 2017 through 2022.

Since 2023 I've been following the new specification; Dexos 1 Gen 3, the lastest for gasoline‑engine specification from GM which is backward compatible. I also change my oil every 5000 miles and I have never gone more than a hundred or so miles over. Is it overkill, maybe but oil is cheaper and much easier than engine work. Especially now that i can no longer do the work myself. I won't "roll the dice".

My 4-cylinder turbo Equinox will hit 220,000 miles when I change the oil this week. The hot idle oil pressure never falls below 28 psi, which is great! I check it every day when I park the car, and that tells me the engine is still healthy with no signs of excessive internal wear. My Equinox, like most modern cars, uses a variable-displacement oil pump with ECM-controlled pressure targets. I don’t completely understand how it works. A modern engine might show 20–30 psi at hot idle and 50–70 psi under load. I’m not sure why it can be so high under a load. But I do know that hot idle oil pressure has always been a reliable indicator of an internal combustion engine’s health.

As I mentioned before I’m not an engineer; I’m a former mechanic. The technology in modern engines is way beyond me, and I wouldn’t even think about trying to reengineer a modern car. All i do is use the very best oil I can get that meets GM specifications and change it on time every time.
 
Man, the forum is at it again.....8:35 pm

It will be a miracle if my I post takes today.

Got this today.......... Seems my package was accepted at Philadelphia, at 7:16pm before it arrived at 8:31pm ?????

Mon, Aug 10
Arrived at USPS Facility
PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER
8:31pm

Mon, Aug 10
Accepted at USPS Facility
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19115
7:16pm

Mon, Aug 10
7:16pm
Estimated delivery date updated to Fri, Aug 14

Mon, Aug 10
Shipping Label Created
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19115
3:22pm

John
 
Bruette said:
I can only speak from my own experience. But I do know that all oils are not created equal which is why i skipped the free dealer oil changes, they use a bulk synthetic blend, I only use full synthetic oils.

I bought my 2020 Chevy Equinox new. When I saw it called for 0w20 my first thought was WTF! Assuming GM used a synthetic blend I immediately changed the oil using a premium extended life (20000 mile) full synthetic oil, but I stayed with the recommended viscosity (0w20) and used an oil that met GM specifications; Dexos 1 Gen 2, the active gasoline‑engine specification from 2017 through 2022.

Since 2023 I've been following the new specification; Dexos 1 Gen 3, the lastest for gasoline‑engine specification from GM which is backward compatible. I also change my oil every 5000 miles and I have never gone more than a hundred or so miles over. Is it overkill, maybe but oil is cheaper and much easier than engine work. Especially now that i can no longer do the work myself. I won't "roll the dice".

My 4-cylinder turbo Equinox will hit 220,000 miles when I change the oil this week. The hot idle oil pressure never falls below 28 psi, which is great! I check it every day when I park the car, and that tells me the engine is still healthy with no signs of excessive internal wear. My Equinox, like most modern cars, uses a variable-displacement oil pump with ECM-controlled pressure targets. I don’t completely understand how it works. A modern engine might show 20–30 psi at hot idle and 50–70 psi under load. I’m not sure why it can be so high under a load. But I do know that hot idle oil pressure has always been a reliable indicator of an internal combustion engine’s health.

As I mentioned before I’m not an engineer; I’m a former mechanic. The technology in modern engines is way beyond me, and I wouldn’t even think about trying to reengineer a modern car. All i do is use the very best oil I can get that meets GM specifications and change it on time every time.
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I believe changing your oil at 5000 miles and going to "full synthetic" has had a lot to do with your results.
Oil breaks down over time and the 5000 mile interval really closes the window on that happening.

This is the same practice I follow............it works.

John
 
Picture from the Jeep Logo on Sunday. My rig is the middle one.
Jeep Logo.jpeg


This happened today somewhere in Iowa between Walcott and Iowa City. Based on the cut up the side I think I ran over something. It was sudden.
Tire.jpeg
 


westtexjohn said:
Oil breaks down over time and the 5000 mile interval really closes the window on that happening.
Click to expand...
It’s not so much time as mileage. A lot of cars recommend 10000 miles or 1 year. But a car driven 3000 miles in that year doesn’t show the same oil breakdown as the one driven 10000 miles. I read an article in a car magazine online that said the mileage is the most important. You can safely go more than a year if your only doing 3000 miles a year or whatever.

Tomorrow I’ll post some interesting info I found about VW brand engines and oil recommendations in Europe. It’s very interesting. They don’t use a fixed interval.
 
Got back from vacation to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Tetons. Sure had fun, lots of driving, lots of hiking to see some sites. Pics don't do the majesty justice. Anyway, just a couple. Sky is now much smokier I hear and of course the snow has melted. Odd to realize we're living on a ball of molten stinky stuff.

PXL_20260722_164833022.jpg
PXL_20260722_170802611.NIGHT.jpg
PXL_20260730_013516057.jpg
 
Well, the hyped up typhoon, that was supposed to kill billions of people and wreck the billions of houses that they live in, ain't happening, yet. Was supposed to hit us at 1400, it is now 1930. It rained a little bit and is now not doing anything at all. I have everything tied down, weighted, secured. Didn't change the water in my pond that I had planned for as I figured the torrential rains would do that for me. It is so sad when the guessers can't get a typhoon right. Rain - we need some.
 
Morning All

Yesterday Maria got up just after I did. Not her usual thing. She was complaining of not being able to breath with pain in her upper back. So off to the ER we go at 0400. Got her breathing stabilized with Ubatrol ( what ever ) then checked the heart enzymes because of the pain. Those were rising so they also suspected 'heart event'. Cabinet Peaks was whispering 'stint'. She got an Ambulance ride to Logan Health in Kalispell with me following. At least it was not Acute, or it would have been a $55K chopper ride. Ya, Ambulance chaser. You should have seen the pages and pages of questions that were asked. Also, they shaved her groin area. Because of that, I do expect that a stint is going to happen. Got her settled in the room and headed back home to check on house and animals. She is doing 2 or 3 scans this morning, then to the CathLab in the afternoon. I should be there around noon. These folks are *very* sparse on details. Can't tell me anything of a timeline for what is gonna happen, or when she gets done and come home. Can't even tell me if there is a 24 hour 'watch her' window after the insertion. So will have to play that by ear. Suspect that I will come home again tomorrow afternoon and get her on Wednesday. She is in good spirits and her typical self. Motels in the area are $200, so I will drive 90 minutes each way.

L8r
 


ctclibby said:
Morning All

Yesterday Maria got up just after I did. Not her usual thing. She was complaining of not being able to breath with pain in her upper back. So off to the ER we go at 0400. Got her breathing stabilized with Ubatrol ( what ever ) then checked the heart enzymes because of the pain. Those were rising so they also suspected 'heart event'. Cabinet Peaks was whispering 'stint'. She got an Ambulance ride to Logan Health in Kalispell with me following. At least it was not Acute, or it would have been a $55K chopper ride. Ya, Ambulance chaser. You should have seen the pages and pages of questions that were asked. Also, they shaved her groin area. Because of that, I do expect that a stint is going to happen. Got her settled in the room and headed back home to check on house and animals. She is doing 2 or 3 scans this morning, then to the CathLab in the afternoon. I should be there around noon. These folks are *very* sparse on details. Can't tell me anything of a timeline for what is gonna happen, or when she gets done and come home. Can't even tell me if there is a 24 hour 'watch her' window after the insertion. So will have to play that by ear. Suspect that I will come home again tomorrow afternoon and get her on Wednesday. She is in good spirits and her typical self. Motels in the area are $200, so I will drive 90 minutes each way.

L8r
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Sorry to read this. Before they send her home they definitely will give a list of things she cannot do. Been there done that.
 
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