:?: Would it be adviceable to change the 10W30 blend to a 10W40 oil blend, since I will drive my car for over 12 hours in the Texas heat? Also, does anyone know where I could buy Royal Purple motor oil in the Chicago area?

I never heard of that motor oil and for the 10W-40? Don't get me lying. I wouldn't be able to answer that. Do you use the synthetic? If not try that instead, if you do maintain!

My opinion is that it'* less important than it used to be years ago. A couple years ago I read the results of a big test on different oils from different companies, and all the oils now are so good that the results said there was no significant difference between brands.
I don't think you would hurt anything, except you might notice a slight power loss and fuel mileage from the heavier oil.
Personally I would just keep running 10-30.

I went to college with a kid from south Texas who brought his Bug up to KC,MO for school. When the first 10 degree day came that winter, his engine wouldn't turn over. I asked him what oil he ran in it, and he said 'straight 30 weight.' It was pretty funny.

IMO, I would stick with the regular 10/30 Dino and just change it AND your Oil Filter around 3,000 miles. I don't think you are getting any more protection using a 10/40. In fact, I believe the engine has to work harder moving that thicker oil around and thus creating more heat for the engine to dissipate. Your BEST bet would be to change your thermostat to a 180 degree unit and add a transmission oil cooler to beat the heat.

[quote="brminder"]My opinion is that it'* less important than it used to be years ago. A couple years ago I read the results of a big test on different oils from different companies, and all the oils now are so good that the results said there was no significant difference between brands.
I don't think you would hurt anything, except you might notice a slight power loss and fuel mileage from the heavier oil.
Personally I would just keep running 10-30.
quote]
I agree... I used the expensive motor oils for the longest time but hought to myself the oil is only going to stay in there for 3000 miles anyways so.... I started putting WalMart 10w30 that was 89 cents a quart and it held up better then the Quaker State I was running in my car before. So as you can see it doesnt matter Oil is Oil.

I thought that penzoil products (penzoil & quakerstate) where bad oils because supposedly they built up crud in the engine or something?

and I also heard that you cant just put in sunthetic oil if your car always ran with regular oil because it would break up all the deposits and crud already on the engine?

correct me if I am wrong though?

Do you know the thermostat degree amount on the stock engine? My temp gauge is usually between 180-200 degrees, with 180 on the highway.

Yes, I too am intrested in adding a transmission oil cooler. How would I go about doing this. I really don't know to much about transmissions, except changing the fluid & filter. I'm on my second trans and don't want to put another one in, so any help that you can give will be helpful.

My $0.02 is this....
First, I recommend you stick with whatever is stated on your oil filler cap as to oil weight. The reason for this simple, your engine was designed to run on that oil weight for proper bearing clearences.
As to what KIND of oil to run, well I run Amsoil Synthetic 10W30 year round in my 92 SE. I've used synthetic oil for all my cars for years now. It provides a better quality than conventional oil, it lasts longer between changes when it comes to thermal breakdown and it'* actually cheaper in the long run too if you add up all your present changes per year as compared as to ONE SINGLE change with Amsoil per year!
regarding T-Stat & Trans Cooler mods, I highly recommend these two for the first additions to ANY vehicle!
Stock T-Stat is 195 degrees.