synthetic vs. mineral oil

40th GT · Nov 26, 2004

Joes95GT said:
Additionally, I hear/read people make comments about synthetics contributing to the longevity of motors. Remember the following: 1) No two motors are the same. 2) You will probably trade your car in before it's got any significant amount of miles on it 150k+. 3) You will more than likely blow-up/hurt your motor from something you did mechanically (especially high performance work) before it would fail because the oil broke down/failed/got too hot/properties/etc.

Joe

2) I actaully DO intend to keep the car for more than 150k miles, because it's my first car/Mustang. I'm going to give it proper maintenance, and drive it until...god knows when. But it's definitely not going to get traded in. Because by then it won't be worth much more than $2-3k and it just won't be worth selling. If I get tired of my Mustang, I'll just buy another one and keep my first car.
3) I'm not going to do any hardcore engine mods (forced induction, cylinder heads/cams). Only thing I've done to the engine is a K&N. (if that counts)

With that said, I've decided to stick with Mobil 1 for every single oil change from now on. (I have 3k on the clock) But I do appreciate your responses, keep them coming.

twogts4us · Nov 26, 2004

Gearbanger 101 said:
LOL....do you think that that "thin" barrier of so called protection that Amsoil provides does all that much to protect an engine from initial start up? Metal on metal is stil metal on metal.

OK, you're right - it's all a scam.

Big Steve · Nov 26, 2004

Good, bad, or indifferent--I think it comes down to personal preference. People who don't believe in synthetics will argue with people who do till they are blue in the face. Do most people need synthetics? Nope. If they did, then synthetic would outsell dino. My question is : Why do you think that some manufacturers of very hi performance engines insist on synthetic oil? Answer: Because it protects better than conventional oils do in hi temp, hi stress situations.
What really sold me on synthetic was the difference on cold (below 20degrees) startups. My old 5.0's would crank real slow and the engine would labor upon startup. Not so with synthetic. They would start as if if were 60 out. I also noticed decreased oil useage at high RPM's. To me it's worth the extra money and piece of mind. But that's just me.

stang74 · Nov 26, 2004

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

Seraphitia102 · Nov 26, 2004

i never thought that this thread would continue on so far.

i personally will always stand by synthetics.

Cobra-R's, Mercedes AMG, Dodge Viper and Corvettes are all factory filled with synthetic for a reason.

I doubt that these auto manufacturers would just fill in synthetic just because. Everything is economics today, so why spend extra money on something that is supposedly the same quality as conventional oil?

raykrv6a · Nov 26, 2004

Mobil 1's formula has been upgraded a number of times since it first came out. In the oil tests I've read, it's near the top in vicosity retention. Petroleum oils start degrading in 1500-1700 miles. If your changing at 3k, probably not a big difference.

It seems Mobil 1 is especially good at preventing wear during cold starts and extreme loads for more miles then petroleum oil. The difference is price over conventional oil is only 200-300 bucks if your doing it yourself.

Another oil that had high marks for vicosity retention is Shell Rotella.

ShadowGT · Nov 26, 2004

Everything you need to know can be found right here:

http://www.nordicgroup.us/oil.htm#Problems with Coffee

drummer · Nov 26, 2004

Synthetic oil increases horsepower too as it minimizes friction.

Joes95GT · Nov 26, 2004

Big Steve said:
Good, bad, or indifferent--

What really sold me on synthetic was the difference on cold (below 20degrees) startups. My old 5.0's would crank real slow and the engine would labor upon startup. Not so with synthetic. They would start as if if were 60 out. I also noticed decreased oil useage at high RPM's. To me it's worth the extra money and piece of mind. But that's just me.

Exactly. I respect your opinion. These oil threads become more of an opinion based "well this is the best so I'll use it," rather than, "well, what would be best for me - economically versus performance?" If some don't have to think that way, then god bless them. My pockets certainly aren't that deep. Christ, I'm a college kid and I already have to think that way. I don't have any bills to pay and I already think that way.

I'll continue lurking to keep playing the devil's advocate.

Joe

Joes95GT · Nov 26, 2004

I'll ask this (hypothetical) question to you guys. When I asked my fellow synthetic loving pushrod guys, I got never got an answer. For some of you mod motor guys, you may not understand.

What if I'm running Mobil 1. I go 5000 miles in between oil changes and I drive the car daily.

The motor for some strange reason, runs dirty. It fills the oil filter (which would have been changed at 3000 miles with a conventional oil) and soon skanks up the motor. A little piece of chit clogs a lifter and causes it to collapse. That collapsed lifter causes carnage - doing something like beating the cam in the tunnel or allowing the pushrod to jump around and a valve wacks a piston.

Could this have been prevented running the basic 3k mile oil change interval with conventional oil? Is the risk of running past 3k miles with a synthetic oil worth it?

Joe

Gearbanger 101 · Nov 26, 2004

twogts4us said:
OK, you're right - it's all a scam.

As oppose to being a sucker plopping down my hard earned bread on this “so called superior protection 99% of their manufactures claim?” I’d rather be a rich willingly ignorant fool, than a broke gullible sheep!

Just because it’s endorsed by….well, the people who make it and or sell it? I’m not saying it’s a scam, The scam is not the product, the scam is the way it’s being marketed! It’s not a necessity, nor is it a magic ingredient that’s going to double the life of you’re engine, give you an additional 20hp or an additional 5mpg, like a lot of their manufactures would have you believe! I agree that their usage in extreme climate is warranted. If you look back in this thread, I already noted that. What I’m saying is, that for your average every day car, it’s not worth the extra money. It’s like $10,000.00 worth of forged internals into an engine that’s only gonna see 5,000RPM! If synthetic oil was so superior and conventional oil so inferior, you would be forced by car manufacturers to use it or risk being denied warranty claims. But over the last couple of years, just the opposite has happened. Many car manufactures not only continue to endorse the use of conventional oil, but now state that instead of every 3,000-miles between oil changes, you may now change your oil every 5,000-miles.

What were they thinking?

raykrv6a · Nov 27, 2004

Joes95GT said:
I'll ask this (hypothetical) question to you guys. When I asked my fellow synthetic loving pushrod guys, I got never got an answer. For some of you mod motor guys, you may not understand.

What if I'm running Mobil 1. I go 5000 miles in between oil changes and I drive the car daily.

The motor for some strange reason, runs dirty. It fills the oil filter (which would have been changed at 3000 miles with a conventional oil) and soon skanks up the motor. A little piece of chit clogs a lifter and causes it to collapse. That collapsed lifter causes carnage - doing something like beating the cam in the tunnel or allowing the pushrod to jump around and a valve wacks a piston.

Could this have been prevented running the basic 3k mile oil change interval with conventional oil? Is the risk of running past 3k miles with a synthetic oil worth it?

Joe

When I read a bunch of oil tests, I also looked into filters. Big difference in filters between brands. A lot of filters won't flow oil when cold and the bypass valve kicks in to bypass the element until the oil warms up.

First time I heard of a piece of dirt large enough to prevent a lifter from pumping up. Must be pretty gunked up.

raykrv6a · Nov 27, 2004

Gearbanger 101 said:
As oppose to being a sucker plopping down my hard earned bread on this “so called superior protection 99% of their manufactures claim?” I’d rather be a rich willingly ignorant fool, than a broke gullible sheep!

Just because it’s endorsed by….well, the people who make it and or sell it? I’m not saying it’s a scam, The scam is not the product, the scam is the way it’s being marketed! It’s not a necessity, nor is it a magic ingredient that’s going to double the life of you’re engine, give you an additional 20hp or an additional 5mpg, like a lot of their manufactures would have you believe! I agree that their usage in extreme climate is warranted. If you look back in this thread, I already noted that. What I’m saying is, that for your average every day car, it’s not worth the extra money. It’s like $10,000.00 worth of forged internals into an engine that’s only gonna see 5,000RPM! If synthetic oil was so superior and conventional oil so inferior, you would be forced by car manufacturers to use it or risk being denied warranty claims. But over the last couple of years, just the opposite has happened. Many car manufactures not only continue to endorse the use of conventional oil, but now state that instead of every 3,000-miles between oil changes, you may now change your oil every 5,000-miles.

What were they thinking?

Ok. I would agree that not all engines would benefit from synthetic oil.

But my 04 GT 4.6 2V comes from the factory with Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 Premium Synthetic Blend Motor oil and Mobil 1 Synthetic tranny fluid. So, I'm going with the synthetics for my changes.

Seraphitia102 · Nov 27, 2004

synthetic vs. mineral oil

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