Just like the thread title reads... what are the benefits of synthetic oil over conventional oils? Durability, Protection? What are some experiences with both...?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Benefits of Synthetic oil over Conventional
- Thread starter cjman15
- Start date
stangbear427
Active Member
Much better friction protection. Runs a bit cooler theoretically, and allows parts to move faster and smoother, while taking far longer to break down than conventional oil.
1970 slantroof
Founding Member
My experience has been that your oil pressure will come up quicker on cold mornings and it does tolerate high temperatures better. I run it in everything but my Ford tractor. Also much better with a turbo because it prevents "coking" in the turbo bearings.
It costs more but you get what you pay for.
Howard
It costs more but you get what you pay for.
Howard
Ray III
New Member
super302
I'd do anything for free Bapples
I'm not a sceintist but...
Synthetic oil is smaller on the molecular level, so even if it generally flows the same, it will get into the little places regular oil has a hard time to get into. This can also make larger leaks out of smaller leaks. They synthetic is more slippery, that is why your not suposed to use in when breaking in an engine. It can stand the extreme temps better. I know this because with my old car I at first used regular oil and I had a bad habbit of spilling a little oil on the converter, but drive it 10 miles dealing with the smell, and it all burnt away. Switched to synthetic and it just wouldn't burn off until I cleaned it off. Synthetic oil does not break down near as fast as conventional.
Synthetic oil is smaller on the molecular level, so even if it generally flows the same, it will get into the little places regular oil has a hard time to get into. This can also make larger leaks out of smaller leaks. They synthetic is more slippery, that is why your not suposed to use in when breaking in an engine. It can stand the extreme temps better. I know this because with my old car I at first used regular oil and I had a bad habbit of spilling a little oil on the converter, but drive it 10 miles dealing with the smell, and it all burnt away. Switched to synthetic and it just wouldn't burn off until I cleaned it off. Synthetic oil does not break down near as fast as conventional.
stangbear427
Active Member
True, but there's another reason. Unseasoned parts and blocks have no oil content, and metals actually are porous, so they do soak up a hefty amount of oil in the first few thousand miles. Synthetic doesn't work the same, and is more likely to coat than soak in. It's a good idea to let a new engine season for four to ten thousand miles (depending on if it's a rebuild with machining and new parts, or a completely virgin block etc) before switching to synthetic.90mustangGT said:
Michael Yount
Mustang Master
If you really want to understand the differences, do a search (google, not this forum) on synthetics vs. conventional oils -- there's literally more than you can read out there that's been written on the topic.
As a practical matter, I don't think the question of the benefits is a particularly interesting one. What's more interesting in my mind is are you gonna be able to really take advantage of the benefits. Unless you're gonna take advantage of extended change intervals (most enthusiasts are changing even their synth at 3-5k intervals), or the engine's running near the redline for long periods of time, or you have to deal with extreme oil temps (high or low) - I don't think there's much practical benefit to synth over quality conventionals. And for the majority of street cars in this country - they don't fall into the categories described above. For most street applications, the biggest benefit I see is cold flow characteristics - if I lived way up north and the car sat outside at night and had to endure extreme cold starts - I'd want synth. Otherwise, in my mine, it's pretty much a toss up. In my racers along the way - synth everywhere I could use it because of the continued long term thermal stress on the oil.
As a practical matter, I don't think the question of the benefits is a particularly interesting one. What's more interesting in my mind is are you gonna be able to really take advantage of the benefits. Unless you're gonna take advantage of extended change intervals (most enthusiasts are changing even their synth at 3-5k intervals), or the engine's running near the redline for long periods of time, or you have to deal with extreme oil temps (high or low) - I don't think there's much practical benefit to synth over quality conventionals. And for the majority of street cars in this country - they don't fall into the categories described above. For most street applications, the biggest benefit I see is cold flow characteristics - if I lived way up north and the car sat outside at night and had to endure extreme cold starts - I'd want synth. Otherwise, in my mine, it's pretty much a toss up. In my racers along the way - synth everywhere I could use it because of the continued long term thermal stress on the oil.
My car has 150k miles on it and i've run conventional most of tha time i've had it. how about blended oils?
I have 140,000 miles on a Jeep 4.0 engine, 135,000 with Castrol Syntec oil. No foaming ever (granted the Jeep hardly sees above 5000rpm). I used to own a '70 Mustang with a 351c with 4V heads. I used Castrol Syntec in it as well and it did see high rpms (the only way to get air through those huge ports) and never saw any foaming.Mhypertext said:
You should run regular oil until the rings seat - NEVER use synthetic to break in a new engine unless you like burning oil. You can then switch to synthetic at ANY time after that (wait about 5k). It is recommended that you never switch back however as it can cause problems but exactly what I don't know.
I go about 10k between changes. Motor is spotless and I use 1/2 -1 quart between changes. Oil changes are not something I do religiously on the Jeep (10k usually) so synthetic is a good match for me , however, for people who do 3k changes IMO it is overkill and a waste of money.
My 91lx uses conventional oil and I do change it every 3k. When I rebuild the motor I will go synthetic after break in.
mattkimsey
I've compiled a list to recap this thread:
At what point is it too late to switch to synthetic oil? 100k? 150k?...How often should it be changed? Ive heard 6k.
Engine oil has three primary repsonsibilties: 1) lubricate engine components, 2) cool engine parts, and 3) carry contaminents away from engine parts and to the oil filter.
You do not have to subject synthetic oil to operating extremes (i.e. excessively low or high ambient temperatures, (sustained) high RPM levels, extending drain intervals, etc.) to reap the benefits. Syntehtic oil WILL maintain a lower operating temperature regardless of how hot the ambient or engine's temperature is. It doesn't have to be 110º outside, and the engine (coolant) doen't have to be running at 210ºF, and the drain intervals don't have to be 12K miles for synthetic engine oil to blow away conventional (dinosaur) oil. Syntehtic oil WILL be less resistant to contaminents (i.e. unfiltered particles, combustion byproducts, coolant, etc.), shear pressures, etc., regardless of how many miles it's been in service.
And as other people have already said, changing syn oil at 3K miles is downright stupid and wasteful. Do you trade in or sell your cars every 25K miles? Do you replace your engine every 50K miles? Do you get new tires every 10K miles? Why change the oil when it's not yet necessary? Three-thousand mile intervals have been around for what, 25 years now? Oil technology, sythetic or convetional, has improved greatly over that time. Three-thousand mile intervals are total malarkey.
A scientific (read: done by a labratory) oil analysis will tell you when an engine oil is in need of a change. How it "looks" or ____'s (insert your Internet or track buddy's, or mechanic's, or father's/grandfather's name here) opinion cannot ever displace that.
You do not have to subject synthetic oil to operating extremes (i.e. excessively low or high ambient temperatures, (sustained) high RPM levels, extending drain intervals, etc.) to reap the benefits. Syntehtic oil WILL maintain a lower operating temperature regardless of how hot the ambient or engine's temperature is. It doesn't have to be 110º outside, and the engine (coolant) doen't have to be running at 210ºF, and the drain intervals don't have to be 12K miles for synthetic engine oil to blow away conventional (dinosaur) oil. Syntehtic oil WILL be less resistant to contaminents (i.e. unfiltered particles, combustion byproducts, coolant, etc.), shear pressures, etc., regardless of how many miles it's been in service.
And as other people have already said, changing syn oil at 3K miles is downright stupid and wasteful. Do you trade in or sell your cars every 25K miles? Do you replace your engine every 50K miles? Do you get new tires every 10K miles? Why change the oil when it's not yet necessary? Three-thousand mile intervals have been around for what, 25 years now? Oil technology, sythetic or convetional, has improved greatly over that time. Three-thousand mile intervals are total malarkey.
A scientific (read: done by a labratory) oil analysis will tell you when an engine oil is in need of a change. How it "looks" or ____'s (insert your Internet or track buddy's, or mechanic's, or father's/grandfather's name here) opinion cannot ever displace that.
You can find info on this all over the net. I run synthetic for one reason only - it saved two of my engines that developed cooling problems and the dumb azz women driving them (wife once and daughter the other) didn't want to stop the car when the overheating light came on. Are you sure you'll see a coolant temp spike in time to save an engine? Say if the stat sticks, the system develops a leak, or the pump stops working?
I change my Mustang synthetic every 7,500 miles. Engine's clean as a whistle. I think if you find Royal Purples' or Red Line's web site, they used their syn oil in a race car, then a tow vehicle and other engines and when tested at about 25,000 miles, it's lubrication properties were still within acceptable specs.
I change my Mustang synthetic every 7,500 miles. Engine's clean as a whistle. I think if you find Royal Purples' or Red Line's web site, they used their syn oil in a race car, then a tow vehicle and other engines and when tested at about 25,000 miles, it's lubrication properties were still within acceptable specs.
93 teal terror
Founding Member
My car had full synthetic in it starting at 6k miles. When I got the car it had 73k miles. I switched over to regular at about 90k. Now the car has 125k miles and I really havnt noticed a difference except that now oil chagnes dont cost $35.
ironmedic
New Member
yeah i swapped to synthetic and it made my rear main seal even worse LOL! i lost a whole quart in 1 week! now i definitely need to change it ASAP.
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