They're all SOPUS products. Slightly different additive packs though.
Motor oil is a lot like anything else, people have their faves and their dislikes. Pennzoil is normally accused of being the "sludge" motor oil, lol. Unless you were a Chevy guy and blamed Motorcraft oil instead, lol.
Use what works for you. IMO they are more alike than different.
My favorite brand is named "On Sale".

I saw severe problems with Mobil 1 30-some years ago. Not that the oil itself was a problem, but the cans used to say "allows 25,000 mile oil changes"...and people actually did that. Yuck.

 

Holy crap! They actually claimed 25k mile intervals?!?! I'll bet the oil wasn't good enough to oil a squeeky door at that point! Imagine the metal particles!

 

Just boil down some Vaseline and cut it with transmission fluid.




(JK, don't do that)

 

 

with 900 mile intervals for the next few, I honestly don't think any filter or oil will matter for now I'm just adding the marvelmysteryoil to aid in the cleaning.
I'm just doing this to get the thick crap out of it.

The previous owner had it for 3.5 years and looks like he didn't change the oil... bastard!
then I'll go back to my favorite, Motorcraft Synthetic Blend Motor Oil, 5W20 and a WIX filter changed at 3,000 intervals. I've had great results with that, also Rotella oils- but I'm cheap these days :|

 

The problem wasn't helped any by short trips and 70's tech cars. They drove to the store. Church. Aunt Bessie's....and did it in carb'd cars that dumped the fuel in when cold.
The oil may well have been OK, but not with 25K miles worth of condensation, fuel dilution and exhaust dumped in.

 

The problem with the Frams isn't the filtration ability but the crummy anti-drainback valve. The filters are tipped at an angle in the Cherokee that allows them to empty back out if that valve doesnt' work, resulting in a longer wait for oil at startup. May not be the best situation even with short change intervals.
Just FYI in case it is of interest.

 

Radi,

Oh...

The place that did and will do the next few oil changes is a NAPA place... I'm sure they don't use fram there.
But I'll make sure when I go.

thanks!

 

if they use NAPA filters, ask for the NAPA gold... same as a wix.

 

Lots of great info here, thanks for sharing it with us. My girlfriends son is buying a 99 xj shortly so Im sure Ill be on here picking your brains! What brand water pump did you replace your with? I looked but didnt see, sorry if you already posted it. Thanks again for all the info!

 

I used autozone's new parts with lifetime warranty parts.
all the parts including the HD fan clutch came out just under $150.
Since the radiator was only 2-3 month old I didn't have to change that... or I would have too lol

 

I had the XJ inspected at a shop today to see if it was worthy of a big $ investment and also if it needed anything before.

Report from shop:
No rust.
never been off road.
never had any accidents (other then the already noted quarter panel)
needs wheel alignment.
needs tires.
stock suspension is all original and very worn.
needs all fluid changed.
brakes all good.
not a single problem.

As for the suspension, tires, alignment and fluids... It's all getting changed anyways! so who cares! LOL

So the plan is to have the BDS 3" with full leaf springs and adj front lower arms installed the end of next week.
I'll report with that when it happens... til then I'll keep the little stuff coming.

 

BDS with a full spring pack... Spare no expense why don't you.

 

If I can... I will.
work smart, not hard.
do it right or do it twice.
being cheap costs at least twice as much.
Money, it grows on trees.
You only live once, don't die from a mistake.

Things I say to myself...
so when I do drop some $ on a project of mine I hopefully won't feel too bad LoL

 

Well... You'll still need an adjustable track bar, maybe some longer brake lines, possibly an SYE, and maybe some LCA's. I mean... If you REALLY want to do it right.