Malibu LT2 2009

I believe the Owners Manual says to use 5W30. I did live in PA. I moved to Santa Fe, NM.

It is of course, hot but it can get cold. REAL cold at night. The elevation is 7,000 feet.

But I do not drive at night except for a few times a year before 9PM and not necessarily in the winter. I actually do not drive very much.

What would happen with my warranty if I went to 10W30?

I am not ready for an oil change. Do I add 5W30 or can I add 10W30 now?

When my oil is changed, should I use a synthetic? And again, 5W30 or 10W30.

They do not carry Mobil here. They seem to use Pennzoil and a few others.

I need some real hand holding. The bottom line is not voiding the warranty.:confused:

As long as it is a synthetic, the small difference won't matter. Also, don't miss the Mobil 1, it is one of the lowest rated synthetics. Stick with Shell, Pennzoil or Amsoil.

Lowest rated by who?

Mobil 1 5W30 is readily available at Wal-Mart or any fast oil-change place that I know of, and it is approved by Chevrolet.

If the manual says to use 5-30, then that's what you should use, period.

What would happen with my warranty if I went to 10W30?

I am not ready for an oil change. Do I add 5W30 or can I add 10W30 now?

When my oil is changed, should I use a synthetic? And again, 5W30 or 10W30.

They do not carry Mobil here.

Unknown about the warranty. Theoretically, as long as the top number is the same (30) the performance at high temps should be the same.

If possible, you should add oil (only if you need to) of the same brand, type and weight as is in there already........but a half-quart of anything similar would be just fine.

As for "should I use a synthetic", that's a thorny question, as there are not many TRUE synthetics left on the market now. Most that are labeled as synthetic really are NOT. Even though I know that, I still use Mobil 1 because it is somewhat less prone to thermal breakdown than conventional formulations. As much as I detest Amsoils marketing "techniques" I may have to investigate it soon because they still make true synthetic.

Us poor mortals pretty much have to trust the recommendations from GM.
They say 5W30, synthetic blend, so 5W30 synthetic should be a tiny bit better.

I'll bet that your GM dealer carries Mobil 1, as well as auto parts stores like Auto Zone and NAPA........but where IS "here".

Summary: My opinion is don't try to outguess the GM engineers. Use what they recommend......at a minimum. Take note of your temp. gauge and notice that the temperature INSIDE the engine really doesn't vary that much regardless of what the outside temp. is.

Lowest rated by who?

Mobil 1 5W30 is readily available at Wal-Mart or any fast oil-change place that I know of, and it is approved by Chevrolet.

Oil tests, this has been gone over on here before. Mobil 1 is a below average synthetic, well known on Bob the Oil Guy forum too...

Stick with the 5w30 and go Synthetic, Penz ULTRA or Platinum would be my choice ;)

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I will keep looking for Mobil brand but I don't think they have it out here. There is a Chevy Dealer so I will check there too.

I looked online and in stores and oil change depots and so far, none of them carry Mobil out here. I read that Pennzoil worked best in this type of climate. Why that is claimed I do not know. Walmart, Kmart, Pep Boys and on and on did not have Mobil.

I was told by my dealer I had Mobil 5W30 non-synthetic so will add this viscosity and will most likely make it synthetic when I change my oil.

Here is Santa Fe, NM. Elevation of 7,000 feet so it is not as hot as a lot of NM in summer but it is mid 80's to high 90's much of summer, going over 100 here and there. But the sun beats down really bad. I am sure that heats the car up nicely.

It is just easier to withstand the dry heat than the PA humid Philly area heat. It is even hotter there now than here, stifling with humidity.

I had to get black out curtains in my bedroom. The sun is really bright and very hot by 9AM. The temperature pretty much does not matter. Low 80's and the bedroom is roasting.

NM had the coldest winter in 50 years this past year. One night it went down to 29 below where I am. That is not counting the winds. It was pretty cold, single and low double digits for a lot. And if it was warmer, well one night gusts were up to 67 mph.

Walmart, Kmart, Pep Boys and on and on did not have Mobil.

A lot of places don't carry Mobil conventional oil but ALL of the places you listed DO carry Mobil 1 Synthetic....all of them.....at least every one I've ever been in.

I think you have been looking in the wrong place when in the stores......or looking for the wrong thing.

I believe what you have in your car now is a synthetic blend.

EVERY Chevy dealer should have Mobil 1 because synthetic has been specified for several years for Corvettes.

I just looked on the shelf yesterday at Auto Zone and the Mobil 1 5W30 is labeled as "Extended Performance", a gold colored label I think.

A lot of places don't carry Mobil conventional oil but ALL of the places you listed DO carry Mobil 1 Synthetic....all of them.....at least every one I've ever been in.



Trust me. They don't. I have not seen it yet but they have all the other brands, specifically Pennzoil. But, I am going to contact the Chevy Dealer.

The dealer that I got the car at in PA said it was non-synthetic. I actually am planning on calling him again to make sure, but he made that clear.

Trust me. They don't. I have not seen it yet but they have all the other brands, specifically Pennzoil. But, I am going to contact the Chevy Dealer.

The dealer that I got the car at in PA said it was non-synthetic. I actually am planning on calling him again to make sure, but he made that clear.

Buy the Pennzoil, it is worlds better then Mobil 1 anyway.

I actually am planning on calling him again to make sure, but he made that clear.

Why ? It really doesn't make any difference.

Trust me. They don't.

I can't really say anything else because I can't see into your stores but I can't see any reason that would be the case. I've been ALL over the country and have yet to see a WalMart that didn't carry it.

Buy the Pennzoil, it is worlds better then Mobil 1 anyway.

I'm beginning to think I need to reconsider my choice of synthetics and really don't want the hassle of finding Amsoil.......and don't care for the company anyway......so what leads you to believe that Pennzoil is better ??
Please leave out any propoganda directly from Pennzoil.

I believe that it is a Group 3 "pseudo-synthetic" like Mobil 1, right ??

I'm beginning to think I need to reconsider my choice of synthetics and really don't want the hassle of finding Amsoil.......and don't care for the company anyway......so what leads you to believe that Pennzoil is better ??
Please leave out any propoganda directly from Pennzoil.

I believe that it is a Group 3 "pseudo-synthetic" like Mobil 1, right ??

As I said before in this thread. I have read many independent tests, and I am on Bob the Oil Guys site. Mobil 1 always scores at the bottom with Royal Purple. Is it bad? No, but for the same price you can get a better oil like Shell, Amsoil or Pennzoil.

Mobil 1 always scores at the bottom with Royal Purple. Is it bad? No, but for the same price you can get a better oil like Shell, Amsoil or Pennzoil.

Well, how about sharing your resources.

I wonder who exactly does the tests and in what category(s) it turns up low.

Of the three you listed, I believe only Amsoil is a "real" synthetic.

I had to get black out curtains in my bedroom. The sun is really bright and very hot by 9AM. The temperature pretty much does not matter. Low 80's and the bedroom is roasting.


You have no A/C???

Just get 5X30 full synthetic and be done with it. As long as you change the oil regularly, the brand is irrelevent - marketing hype.

Just get 5X30 full synthetic and be done with it. As long as you change the oil regularly, the brand is irrelevent - marketing hype.

Ya know, I think that's probably the best suggestion put the simplest way I've ever seen.

Everglades rocks!

You have no A/C???

You see, it is not necessarily hot temperature wise. You don't need the A/C. I might use a fan. So, before 9AM, it can be mid 70's or low 80's. But the SUN bares down. The blinds do nothing. It is amazing how bright and hot it is. And this happens before 9AM.

My cousin said driving to work, if he was in shade, he was cold. When you get into sun, you are real hot. Temperature can be irrelevant.

OK - I think I will probably do the 5W30 full synthetic. Thanks.

Just did my semi-annual oil change this morning, 5w30 Pennz Platinum and Wix filter, good idea to go with a synthetic ;)

Mobil 1 always scores at the bottom with Royal Purple. Is it bad? No, but for the same price you can get a better oil like Shell, Amsoil or Pennzoil.

BUMP.

I would really like to see the ratings data that you are talking about because I would like to research alternatives to Mobil 1.

Would you be so good as to point me to a place where I could find that, please ??

I think there are a few others on here that would be interested in that too.

Would you be so good as to point me to a place where I could find that, please ??

Well I guess it's not going to happen.
I wonder why ?? :confused:

Sorry, I don't have time to re-read all threads. I told you where to find your info. As I said, it had been talked about on here before. Use the search button, and read the site I mentioned...

Sorry, I don't have time to re-read all threads.

Even the ones you are participating in ??
Search doesn't work with "oil".....or any other 3 character words, I think.

Since I see that you are an "Administrator" I will say no more.

Even the ones you are participating in ??
Search doesn't work with "oil".....or any other 3 character words, I think.

Since I see that you are an "Administrator" I will say no more.

I don't quite understand the reference there. Care to explain? I'm an "Administrator" too!

Even the ones you are participating in ??
Search doesn't work with "oil".....or any other 3 character words, I think.

Since I see that you are an "Administrator" I will say no more.

I don't have the time to re-read threads over and over, especially when I told you what to do. I did a quick search and found three threads about oil related to this, and as I said, go look on Bob the Oil Guy. There is tons of info on oil there.

There also was no need to bump this thread up multiple times....move on.

I don't quite understand the reference there. Care to explain? I'm an "Administrator" too!

Cause if I wasn't an Admin I am sure he would have made a stupid comment Bob....

I advise all to move on before this gets locked and further action is taken.

Thanks.

Why ? It really doesn't make any difference.

OK. I am a nervous nelly :eek: but if it doesn't matter then I will just get synthetic. Thanks.