Being new to this forum, I've taken to reading and reading and reading some more. I've found some helpful tips, a fabulous fix to that dang gas smell in the cold and a scary revelation on Fram oil filters.

So, I figure what better way to solve the age old debate than to see what everyone else does.

I've got a 2002 Sportage 4x4. Regular oil changes every 3K or there abouts. I use Fram filters (not for much longer the way I read it), Pennzoil 5W-20 (or 30? I forget what the bottle says now), and Prolong additive.

What's in your engine?

Welcome to the Wire! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I also run 3K mile OCI's (Oil Change Intervals)

Castrol GTX 5W-30.

Purolator L14610 oil filter. I was a Fram user too but I've since seen the light. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

And yes, reading that oil site (bobistheoilguy.com) can leave you dazed and confused. I'm sticking with 3K OCI's on my Sportage because it doesn't get driven much. Dispite what some "experts" on that site say. I agree that motor oil was vastly improved over the years and extended OCI's can be justified if you do an oil analysis. But I guess I'm stubborn.

And the whole debate with 5W-20 oil. As far as I'm concerned the jury is still out on that one. I would NOT recommend running 5W-20 in the Sportage. If your Pennzoil is indeed 5W-20 I'd switch back to 5W-30 on the next change. I own 2 other vehicles that do spec 5W-20. A 2004 Honda Civic and a 2003 Ford Taurus. But I run 5W-30 Mobil 1 in both of them with 6K mile OCI's. Both Ford and Honda went to the lighter oil in response to CAFE mileage requirements. If you look at Honda's oil recommendations for other countries they do NOT spec 5W-20. So draw your own conclusions. Will 20W cause the engine to wear out faster? That remains to be seen as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, that's my take and I'm sticking to it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

But I DO agree after alot of research that Fram oil filters are junk. I won't use them anymore. I've personally never had a problem with them but I'm not taking any additional chances. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

Oh yea...almost forgot...that Prolong additive. It's SNAKE OIL. Totally worthless.

I got tired of changing oil, so I got myself a gallon of 10/30 Mobil 1 15,000 mile synthetic oil. I have not changed the oil in 6 months and the truck runs nice. I, too, will change to another filter and stop using Fram. The only thing I like about Fram is that Walmart has it in stock and it has that nice rough cover that makes it easy to remove.

i mustve missed something... whats wrong with the fram filters?

Read this....

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=003425

Start there. There's plenty more Fram bashing threads on that site.

I read some time ago in one of our threads that most filters are made of cheap paper including Fram. In addition, the person who did the checking up by opening a few of them noticed they were very similar looking, I felt he was trying to imply that the same company makes them and then they are sold at different prices. I don't doubt it. Funny, my wife saw a nice pair of pants in Guatemala and did not buy them because she wanted the real thing. We traveled to Houston and she found the real MaCoy at a higher price. To her surprise, they were made in Guatemala and I think they were the same. Goes to show...

not to sure about all that... when i shopped around fram was the cheapest, so everything in that other forum about the price of a fram compared to others is bunk. (at least, where i shop/live...) as far as which filter is better, i really dont care. if fram had a serious flaw where it was regullary actually plugging the oil system and starving the engine of oil, i might be worried. as it is, a filter is a filter is a filter.

everyone is entitled to thier own opinion. i know a guy that will never use penzoil oil in his rigs because "i once lost an engine to penzoil". yeah, right. it was the oils fault and not something else? he had no idea what ACTUALLY caused the engine to fail, but blamed it on the oil "breaking down". My point is everyone is entitled to thier own opinion. i dont belive everything i read... it was definatly an interesting thread though!

I run Mobil 1 synthetic Extended Performance 10w30 with a Mobil 1 filter. I change my oil about every 5,000 miles.

Been running Mobil 1 synthetic oil since I got the Kia used about 5 years ago when it had about 55,000 miles. We're up to about 120,000 miles now.

Ok, since I haven't used Prolong in some time what other additives would you recommend?

None. They aren't required and do nothing but cost you money.