I like both Valvoline and Castrol, Pennzoil is the kind that I won't buy.
Myself, I wouldn't put synthetic oil in anything old. In the past, the vehicles that I used synthetic in, always seamed to be major leakers later on.
When changing the oil in one of my trucks, I usually raise up the drain pan by putting it on a couple blocks of wood, that way it doesn't splash as much.
John
