I like synthetic oil... I like changing my oil at 5k instead of 3k, I
like how clean the engine components stay... I liked checking my rod
bearings in my Neon at 95k and them looking brand new despite me
revving it to 7500rpm all the time... I also like the cold start flow
properties of it in cold weather. We generally have a few days of -20
degree weather in the winter around here when Canada's weather "rolls
downhill". The first time you see a quart of conventional oil turn to
jello in -20 degree weather makes you ache for your poor cars trying
to suck that through the oil pump pickup.
The truck's driving is mostly stop and go traffic, 3 miles a trip (to
and from work). The protection of the synthetic oil also appeals to
me there too.
I'm such a synthetic nut that when my next Amsoil delivery arrives
this week, I'm off to lube the chassis with synthetic grease, change
the front and rear diffs to synthetic "Severe Gear" gear oil, change
the transfer case lube to a couple quarts of M1 synthetic ATF I have
laying around. The tranny I've not decided on yet... I could use the
Mopar ATF+4 I have laying around or fork out the money for some
synthetic ATF.
Then there's me sitting on a Costco coupon for $10 off a 6 quart case
of Mobil 1 that's calling my name... 3 case limit. $4 a quart is a
price I've not seen in a looong time.
MattB
On Sun, 24 May 2009 17:07:03 -0400, jon@dakota-truck.net wrote:
> I can't speak to switching over a high mileage engine, but I do
>have some high mileage engines which I haven't switched over, if that
>tells you where I stand. :-) Oil is really pretty good these days,
>and synthetic is way overkill for most operating conditions. If you'd
>like to extend your oil change intervals or have an extra reserve of
>protection, then synthetic may make sense for you. Synthetic may make
>the most sense for the folks who rely on oil analysis reports to
>determine oil change interval as opposed to a certain mileage or oil
>changes. Usually though, its the additive package which tends to
>break down first as opposed to the base oil.
>
> I switched my '96 Dak over to Mobil 1 at about 10,000 miles. It
>was my first new vehicle, I purchased it new, and basically wanted the
>the best for it. Plus, I bracket raced it weekly and felt the
>additional expense of the synthetic made sense for maximum protection.
>I will probably continue to use synthetic in that engine simply
>because that is all it has gotten since 10K. All of my other engines
>though I use regular dino juice. As long as you replace the oil
>before it is used up, I'm not really going to realize a tangible
>benefit from the synthetic. (Sure, it might free up a couple of
>horsepower, like I'm going to notice that.) :-) Since there's no
>real benefit to synthetic the way I drive those vehicles and there's a
>very real possibility of the synthetic eating away the old deposits
>and creating more projects for me to work on, its kind've a no-brainer
>for me to stick with the old stuff, especially since it is so much
>cheaper. The only engine I might consider switching over to synthetic
>is the 440 in my Barracuda. Its only got a few thousand miles on it
>since the previous owner rebuilt it so it shouldn't have any leaks,
>and I redid the entire top end a few years ago. (The transmission on
>the other hand, is a territory-marker.) ;-) That motor is a bit
>of a beast and generates a lot of heat, so synthetic may provide me
>with an extra buffer and be less likely to wear out as quick as dino
>oil would. My engine oil temp in that car routinely runs 230 degrees,
>which is probably higher than it should be for maximum oil life and
>engine protection. (The oil temp sensor is in the pan, so its got to
>be even higher in the engine itself.)
>
> So anyhoo, the cliff notes version of my opinion is synthetic is
>probably not worth the extra expense and potential hassle of plugging
>leaks as long as the vehicle is properly maintained and driven
>relatively "normally".
>
>
> Yep, plus if you think about it - is a leak that is plugged by oil
>really a leak? What's the difference between a layer of oil buildup
>and a gasket? :-) Its kinda like self-installed RTV... ;-)
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Jun 01 2009 - 00:37:01 EDT