Hi
 I did search but couldn't find. My Tracker will be a toad for the motorhome but when it gets used it will be on steep hills, very hot places or deep sand. I love Death Valley in August  With the Wife along that probably includes the AC running too . I know it gets hot because if I shut it down after a hard run and I don't let it Idle first if can turn over slowly. Will using a particular oil or grade of oil help keep that 24 year old motor alive? I like  Rotella in the diesel and I see they have a synthetic for gas. Would a heavier grade help or hurt? 

There is no one "best" oil, as there are way too many variables to consider.

Grab your owner's manual, there should be a chart in it listing several grades of oil as acceptable for use based on temperature range - use that to choose an appropriate grade of oil, and then consider a "high" mileage offering from whatever brand you favor.  The "high mileage" oil offerings are formulated with a different additive package, typically higher levels of detergent and also products that help to keep oil seals flexible and leak free.

You mention steep hills, very hot places and deep sand - if the vehicle has an automatic transmission, consider fitting an auxiliary transmission cooler, and fit it in the transmission outlet line to the heat exchanger in the radiator bottom tank so that it's between the transmission and the radiator - you'll be generating a significant amount of heat in the torque converter and with the auxiliary cooler first, you'll be dumping that heat into the atmosphere rather than into the vehicle cooling system, thereby reducing the heat load on the cooling system, you'll also still have the original heat exchanger in the radiator to warm the fluid on a cold day.

There is no one "best" oil, as there are way too many variables to consider.

Grab your owner's manual, there should be a chart in it listing several grades of oil as acceptable for use based on temperature range - use that to choose an appropriate grade of oil, and then consider a "high" mileage offering from whatever brand you favor.  The "high mileage" oil offerings are formulated with a different additive package, typically higher levels of detergent and also products that help to keep oil seals flexible and leak free.

You mention steep hills, very hot places and deep sand - if the vehicle has an automatic transmission, consider fitting an auxiliary transmission cooler, and fit it in the transmission outlet line to the heat exchanger in the radiator bottom tank so that it's between the transmission and the radiator - you'll be generating a significant amount of heat in the torque converter and with the auxiliary cooler first, you'll be dumping that heat into the atmosphere rather than into the vehicle cooling system, thereby reducing the heat load on the cooling system, you'll also still have the original heat exchange in the radiator to warm the fluid on a cold day.

Thanks. looks like I'll just use the 10w30 synthetic. I like your thinking about the trans cooler taking the heat instead of the engine. I will do that. The ones I have seen attach to the front of the radiator with a pass through  and end tabs. Is that OK or should I  get some hole tape and see if I can separate it a bit?

Personally I'd prefer the cooler NOT mounted to the radiator.

Personally I'd prefer the cooler NOT mounted to the radiator.

Thanks. Did not make sense to me either but it seemed to be what they recommended. I'll try to get it where air flows but not blocking the radiator. These trucklets sure are fun to play with.

I just mounted mine in front of the radiator, didn't have any issue once we replaced the transmission. 

Where do you buy that cooler?? Does it come with necessary brackets??

In front of the radiator is fine, attached to the front of the radiator is what I'd stay away from.

Looking a little closer your cooler appears to be attached to the radiator with those through-the-fin plastic stems - that is what I'm against.  I'll fabricate a bracket and hard mount mine.

It is just a generic transmission cooler from AutoZone.  They have several sizes for pretty cheap.

If you have time building a independent mount is best, but I have found the pull through works well enough if you are careful. But you do need to be careful to not tear up the fins. At this point we were pretty comfortable with how to make the mounts work between all the project cars.

Does your driving environment include washboard (or corrugated) road surfaces?  I think you'll find the stems won't stay tight enough to withstand the constant vibration and once there is movement the fins are going to be taking a beating.

Does your driving environment include washboard (or corrugated) road surfaces?  I think you'll find the stems won't stay tight enough to withstand the constant vibration and once there is movement the fins are going to be taking a beating.

Yea, it took a while to figure out how to get them to hold on properly.  I use zip ties on the back side of the brackets and that seems to work pretty well.  But if you have time to make a bracket I recommend doing it that way.