Would synthetic oil benefit me?

[scsims]

I agree with the general consensus here.

Technology has improved oil BIGTIME. A good synthetic and a high quality filter and you can easially go 8-10k+.

But to elaborate on a few things mentioned. When people say a quality oil filter, they arent refering to a "ph" fram or STP either.

I know there are more but I'll name a few of the "quality" filters IMO

Napa GOLD, WIX, Purolater, "xg" series fram, K&N

These are some examples of quality filters but expect to pay ~$10 each, not $2-$3.

Also, if you extend your interval, be sure and check the oil often until you get to "know" your engine and how much oil it burns.

All engines burn oil. And according to most manufactures, 1 quart burned ever 1000 miles is still an acceptable level before an overhaul/rebuild is required. So if you never check your oil, you may be burning a quart or more every 3000 miles. But you may never know if you are always changing it @ 3000mi and only a quart low. But now if you push it to 5-6k miles, you are now going to be 2 qts low. You get the idea.

My saturn gets oil changes ever 10k. It burns about 1/2 qt every 1500-2000miles, which isnt bad. And if I did oil changes @ 3k, would be no big deal. But since it only holds 4qts, if I never checked it, it would be bone dry well before my next change.

Also, my personal filter of choice is the fram "XG" series. Fram got a bad rap, but the XG's are top notch. Good synthetic media, etc.

I looked on the back of a Fram TG series filter that I have. The XG claims it catches 95% of particles. The TG say it catches 99%. So I guess their TG Tough Gaurd one are better?

 

[texasjohn]

Best discussion of oil I've ever seen is here. It is truly comprehensive and it seems unbiased to me.

Welcome

I have used synthetic for many years..... frequently go 10K miles or more. Highly recommended.

 

[PoorMansCat]

Mobil1, Fleetguard, Baldwin, Donaldson, Cat, the "high end" Napa filters (aka WIX) AC Delco, are all examples of quality filters.
Modern gasoline engines do not require as frequent of oil changes. Honda simply goes by the OLM, and Mazda recommends the same. Changing the oil more frequently is a waste of resources and money.

 

[DarkBlack]

I was just wondering what the consensus is. It would be worth it to me I could go 5k with synthetic oil between changes instead of the 3-3500 I have been doing with conventional oil. It's good for the sponsoring companies

Is that safe? I drive my truck. Off road miles, dust, heavy towing (for a gas pickup) for a few k a year, most of my trips are a couple miles.

Does it even matter:

Does it matter- NO!.
You will either trade or junk your truck for reasons other than the engine oil you ran. normal oil will allow your oil lubricated engine parts to outlive the rest of your truck, and at 5K intervals- just use a good air and oil filter. Beleive me, your truck will most likely die of rust, crash, transmission failure, wheel bearing failures, cooling failures. But if you want to throw away money- use the synthetic engine oil.

 

[DarkBlack]

To be fair, I have to say I am aware that some people today are made afraid of everything, because of the media hype, and the ever changing technology.
To that end I can concede that to some people, the cost of something, let's use synthetic oil...is worth the price because to them they have just bought an insurance policy. So... when I make a hard real world based post like my past post, I must admit that I have not factored in the new 'sleep good at night' cost that many will glady buy in the face of reality. Feeling good about your decisions is important. If you have the money- then sure- you should buy the synthetic.

 

[sw03]

Best discussion of oil I've ever seen is here. It is truly comprehensive and it seems unbiased to me.

unbiased??? You have not been there for a long time. I have seen posted removed, altered etc since it is VERY biased...Just need to look.

Why do you think several sponsors left..

 

[clemsonfor]

To be fair, I have to say I am aware that some people today are made afraid of everything, because of the media hype, and the ever changing technology.
To that end I can concede that to some people, the cost of something, let's use synthetic oil...is worth the price because to them they have just bought an insurance policy. So... when I make a hard real world based post like my past post, I must admit that I have not factored in the new 'sleep good at night' cost that many will glady buy in the face of reality. Feeling good about your decisions is important. If you have the money- then sure- you should buy the synthetic.

The benefit most use it for is extended drain intervals. The viscosity stability allows this to work better. Also there is a miniscule MPG increase. I cant tell but supposedly its there. I dont buy it for this reason though. Mobil 1 (the reason i mention them is cause thats what i try to use all the time) costs $24/gallon at walmart. Walmart Brand dino oil is $11. If you change the walmart oil at 5K and the Mobil 1 at 10K its basically the same price if you say the filter is the same price. But buy an oil like Castrol, valvoline, penzoil or any of your other favorites your looking at something like $15-20/gallon so if you run those 5K and the Mobil 1 10K you do see a cost savings and the fact that you dont have to do it as often!! My first job was 110 mile round trip to work. I changed oil at 3K then. That meant i changed my oil every month!! I wish that truck did not burn oil so it would have been fesiable to use the syn oil. I still have it and the only reason i dont use syn is that it burns several qts every 3K miles so it would get pricy to run a syn oil in it.

Just pointing another view.

 

[kenmac]

For what it's worth,,,Quality oil & filters cost $. If you buy a cheap filter ,you are going to get lower quality. Same with oil. $3.00 per qt. oil just isn't going to compare to $8.00 per qt. oil.

 

[texasjohn]

unbiased??? You have not been there for a long time. I have seen posted removed, altered etc since it is VERY biased...Just need to look.

Why do you think several sponsors left..

I do hope people look at the site and, being an intelligent reader, they should decide which of the several opinions and arguments, expressed both here and there, they wish to believe and apply to their oil change habits. Given the diversity of opinions, there should be a conclusion to suit the predispositions of everyone.

I suppose sponsors themselves would have to document their support or lack thereof.

 

[lostcause]

i run synthetic in one car because that is what it ran from the factory. if the manufacturer did it, then i may as well too.

i also switched to rotella t6 synthetic in one truck too. not because i was worried about less frequent oil changes, but because on cold days this winter the diesel would actually start, but it would not pump the 15-40 oil through it. the 5-40 synthetic is noticeably easier on the engine at startup.

my other vehicles all have conventional oil, and i've never had any issues and i believe that virtually every vehicle out there will tell you that you can go 5000-7500 miles on it, and i'm sure that new oils won't break down like old ones, but they still hold dirt, and dirt is the enemy. personally, i think 3-5k is good on any oil - regular or synthetic.

i'm not a dirt expert, so when a filter says it stops 95 or 99% of the particles, or that it is 1 micron, or 5 micron, or whatever... it's all greek to me. i have no idea how small the dirt particles can get, or whether they can or will sneak by... i suspect that have of the number game is marketing anyways.