synthetic oil
 

Hi all,

Just got a 93 w/67 000 on the clock. Original owner has put synthetic oil in it. Does the performance of the oil justify the $? Can I/should I switch back? If not, how long should I go between changes?

Jayson

Synthetic oil is better.

Is it worth the money? Only you can decide that.

You can switch back if you want. I switch back and forth all the time on the same engine with no problems.

Change your oil when it gets dirty, usually around 3000 - 5000 miles weather its synthetic or not.

I change at about 3000. Figured you would have to do so with synthetic as well. Think I'll switch back.

Jayson

Oil doesn't really wear out. The breakdown of the additives and heat cause it to get funky.

I always change my oil at 3,000 miles, whether dirty or not. I can't personally justify the cost of synthetic oil for everyday driving. If you're racing or have a real hot running engine, I understand synthetics hold up better under very high temps.

The die-hard synthetic user may have a different outlook than mine, but that's why you have a choice.

Syntehtic oil change = $25, a regular one is about $12. Threee to four times per year, is what, $40-$50 ? Now 10 years later the motor still has no gunk, runs reat, and you spent $500 in ten years extra. Whas it worht it???


Me, personally, I change my oil (no kidding) in May, July, and September. Or about every 1500 miles. Hve no regrets doing that either...

Definitely go synthetic. I sincerely believe that's why My engine is in such good shape for 167,000 hard earned miles! :)

definatley synthetic, i run mobil 1 and after 193,000 miles, and untouched short block i would say that it is worth it

synthetic is good!:D

I have used synthetic oil ever since I got my car. It had about 60,000 miles on it when I bought it, I have about 135,000 on it now and it runs just as good as the day I bought it. If I drove like my mom I would use conventional oil, but I am hard on things so I figured I better put good oil in it. My $.02

Not worth the money. I use Valvoline 10W30 every 3000 miles and when I opened up my engine at 62000 hard miles it looks like a new engine. I don't think it matters what kind you use if you keep it clean. I work with a guy that got 430,000 out of a Geo Metro and he used Valvoline. He just changed his oil every 3000.

The frequency with which you change your oil and filter are more important than the type of oil you use. That being said, I use Mobil 1 10w-30 and a Napa filter, and change them both every 3000 miles. I also add a quart of Slick 50 every 50k miles, too, but that's just me. Does synthetic make a difference? I think it does.

When I bought my truck, in August 1996, it had 19k miles on it. The first thing I did was to change the oil and filter, and I installed Valvoline 10w-30. Over the next 6 months, I added several things, including mechanical AutoMeter Sport Comp oil pressure, water temp, volt and vacuum gauges. I also tuned it, and changed the oil at least one more time, maybe two. In July 1997, my g/f and the kids and I made a 14 hour drive up to Oregon. I decided a few weeks before the trip to change the oil to synthetic. I installed Mobil 1 10w-30. I immediately noticed 4 differences:

1) It started quicker. It always started quick, but after the change, it was even quicker.
2) It started quieter. My truck has a 4.9L straight six in it, and they are notorious for almost sounding like a diesel when they first start, but after the change, the "diesel" noise all but went away completely.
3) My oil pressure was higher. My stock gauge didn't change, but my AutoMeter gauge showed an increase of between 5 and 10 psi at idle.
4) My truck ran cooler. The average running temp dropped by about 5 degrees, according to my AutoMeter temp gauge.

I'm not saying that everyone will have the same results I did, I'm just telling you what happened with me.

Is it worth the extra cost? That's up to you. I have used Mobil 1 ever since, and don't object to the cost, except when I'm at the store buying it. By the time I get home, I'm over it.

Although Mach 1 and others have had no ill effects from changing back and forth, I have read that switching from synthetic to standard, in an engine that is used to synthetic, can have negative effects. I can't back that up scientifically, though.

Take care,
-Chris

I've heard that as much as 7 hp can be gained by switching to synthetic fluids.

Personnally, I use Amsoil. Changed every 700-1000 miles or so. I know that sounds really low, but I don't drive my car much. Plus, I'm just anal. :D

E

the synthetic is definately a slippier oil and will be to some advantage for using it. I would not suggest however switching to synthetic on a high mileage motor because the seals and rings have grown tolerant to the oil that was currently used and you could start to see leaks and other problems. I use synthetic in the notch.

You have three stangs, all modded? Your just sick!!!! :)

I feel the same way when I'm shelling out $25 for oil and at least $5 for a filter, BUT when I get home and do the oil change, I'm glad I bought it.

My car has had Mobil 1 in it from the begining (according to the original owner) and runs good at 117,000 miles. It does burn about a quart when I am on a long 500 mile trip, but I can't complain.

I have also heard that if you use synthetic for a certain amount of time, then you should not switch back. However, I don't have any scientific evidence to support that either, but if I find some, I will post it.

I could run a viscosity test in the lab and compare the two, but I don't think I'll have enough time to do it this semester.

I just got a new engine built for my car and now that break in is done all i plan on using is synthetic. I personally found that synthetic starts better, especially in cold weather. And in muscle mustang and fast ford they did a dyno test after just swapping to synthetic fluids and it gained 5 hp by just swapping to castrol syntec(sept 2000). Is it worth it? it may costy a bit more now but like drudis said, it will pay for itself in the long run.

I would have to concur with that, as well. I was always taught (by who, I'm not sure) that it was not advisable to switch to synthetic in an engine with 50k or more conventional oil miles, but I have heard many real life examples that defy that.

Take care,
-Chris

What exactly would this "certain amount of time" be? Maybe just a ball park figure? And why?

I switched back and forth freqeuntly (oil change to oil change) so I wonder if that falls under the "certain amount of time" category?

The reason I switch is because I usually only buy snythetic if I happen to stumble across it on sale at wal-mart. Ive gotten the 5 quart jugs for around $17.00 before on sale.

Chris-
I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm pretty sure it refers to engines that have run the same thing for 50k or more.

Let me put it another way.

I have 7 cats. The five youngest ones eat whatever cat food is on sale. It changes month to month. They are no worse for it, and don't show any signs trouble due to their frequently changing diet. In fact, they are healthy and happy (actually, one is sick, but that's another story, and it ruins my analogy). The two oldest cats, on the other hand, have been eating the same brand and style of cat food for the past 5 years. If I were to change cat food on them, they'd start puking right away.

Get it?

Take care,
-Chris

Sh*t, I can't remember how long exactly. I should have said some amount of time. Maybe after 12,000 miles of running synthetic, you should not go back to petroleum based oils. I have not a clue, its just something I have heard from a number of people. Some mechanics, some not. I don't know if its true or not, thats why I said I don't have evidence to back it up. If and this is a big IF, I can find time to test the viscosities in lab with a high quality viscometer and find other evidence that it is a bad idea, I will have convinced myself that it is better not to switch after using synthetic.

Until then, its cheap insurance. When my radiator went out in stop and go traffic and I could not pull over and the temp gage shot up to the red, I am sure as hell glad I had sythetic in there because of its proven resistance to thermal breakdown.

BTW Mach 1, I got ya beat. I bought 5 quarts of Mobil 1 15W-50 for $15 at Wallymart. hehe I already have 3 quarts of 0W-30 lying around so, I'll probably mix the two to bring the weight down slightly for a little better flow when the oil is cold (startup).