As much as I'm a conventional type of guy,I hadda give in to the superior protection offered by most FULL synthetics. Synthetic oil will stand higher temps. without breakdown. Of course,if you have an òil burner',then the synthetic might not make sense.
For you all that like to change oil often,synthetic is not for you(you get the extra cost of it back when you extend the oil change intervals).I only change oil every 9-10K on my cars(I sometimes spin-on a new filter at around 5K miles),and almost never on my Backhoe,since I put very few hours on it.
Now for the mechanics out there who have changed the oil on overdue engines, I know YOU know what I'm saying when I describe the oil being changed as `not very slick with little body'. I'll tell you when I change the synthetic even at up to 12K miles,the slick,full body feeling of the oil is still there.
Anybody out there agree....disagree...never noticed it? don-ohio ^)
As much as I'm a conventional type of guy,I hadda give in to the superior protection offered by most FULL synthetics. Synthetic oil will stand higher temps. without breakdown. Of course,if you have an òil burner',then the synthetic might not make sense.
For you all that like to change oil often,synthetic is not for you(you get the extra cost of it back when you extend the oil change intervals).I only change oil every 9-10K on my cars(I sometimes spin-on a new filter at around 5K miles),and almost never on my Backhoe,since I put very few hours on it.
Now for the mechanics out there who have changed the oil on overdue engines, I know YOU know what I'm saying when I describe the oil being changed as `not very slick with little body'. I'll tell you when I change the synthetic even at up to 12K miles,the slick,full body feeling of the oil is still there.
Anybody out there agree....disagree...never noticed it? don-ohio ^)
Using the computer for oil change will never hurt you when using synthetic as the owners manual on my truck says that the computer is programmed for using straight dino oil, so even if you go over a bit with synthetic you will still be protected. I don't put a lot of miles on my truck and about once a year oil change is good which is what the GM book recommends or per computer which ever comes first. Last time, I went a bit over a year ,16 months and the oil was still in good shape. As some have said, if you are going to change it every 3-5K then don't waste your money on synthetic as regular oils will be just as good for that short life cycle.I agree, that is what sold me on it. The first time I tried synthetic (valvoline synpower) I changed at around 4500 miles, just to be sure and like you said- it still felt like oil! I have been using it ever since and now use the oil change interval of "when the car tells me to change it" which is usually between 7-8k, and the oil still feels slick.
I understand what you are talking about/describing Don. Seems people either over or under-change their oil.
High cost synthetics often only make $/cents sense at high mile oil changes.
The one thing to watch, as with any oil, is the Time/Use profile. Even a really good oil can get badly beaten up with short trips in cold weather. (Thinking retired folks, not wanting to drive much in Winter, just picking up groceries now/then - can get pretty wicked water condensation in the oil around here).
Doesn't sound like you are running low miles Don. Just hate to see somebody use an expensive synth, then not change it for 4 years because they don't drive much - I've seen turbos killed by this.
Rgds, D.
Would it be ok to use Rottela T heavy duty 15w40 in yanmar diesel? reason asking I can get all I need from work -freebie
Thanks in advance
An engine heats up pretty quickly nowadays,Dave,but yeah,if they abuse their car by just driving lil`short trips,they will pay a price with any oil. They'll also be kinda'hard on their tranny fluid and exhaust systems.too.I had a friend who,believe it or not,even in the summer,would ALWAYS warm his lil'toyota truck up 15 minutes to 30 minutes before driving off. He said that's how he got such longevity out of his engine.LOL!
I drew his attention to the fact that he was wasting enough gas to do an engine overhaul every so many thousands of miles.To each his own! I feel like that ol'coot on TV that said.....`Boy,I couldn'live like that' to another ol'coot.HaHa! don-ohio ^)