Change to Syn

TresCrows · Sep 24, 2003

Pruntyc, I don't know what fight is going on about some language somewhere about but I still say that the Bob person is not an expert. Anyway, since I have a Masters plus 30 in Geology (a couple of other degrees as well plus another Masters), did work some as something of a jr chemist as well as an exploration geologist for a major oil comany doing this and that and they did do fleet oil tests on competitors oil I could say then I am an expert as well. Nah, just opinion and Bobs opinion is that, opinion.
Hey, since everyone believes in conspiracy and "they", guess what, yeah, we all sat around up in the big bosses office with "they" and him dreaming up ways to gouge consumers and laughing about all the money we were making /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif--nah, the company I worked for was super patriotic, extremely sensitive to gouging. The "big boss" was a simple man who liked to work in his yard and golf and his peronal car was an old clapper and there is no "they". Nope, there is no "Big Oil" conspiracy either and there are experts on oil and lubrication but I don't think Bob is one of them, at least from what I read. The sky may well be falling but if there is Mobil 1 it will provide the lubrication to prevent earth to sky contact and viscosity breakdown under such pressure. J

pruntyc · Sep 24, 2003

TresCrows, I kind on get the idea, that you like Mobil 1, someone else likes Amsoil. We all have our likes in oils. I personally like Valvoline, regular oil, using 5W-30 in just about everything. Some like Bob I think says it doesn't have Moly in it, so not as good as like Castrol. But I emailed Ashland and they said they have an additive that does the same thing as moly in it. Well, I have had good luck with it, over 100 thousand in a 77 pickup, and no troubles with it. I have it in my 4 cyl. Camry, over 44 thousand and it and it doesn't use a pint between changes, at 5,000. So I like it. Now in my Town Car, I bought used this spring, it has Castrol in it and "they, you know the experts" tells me I should keep using the same thing that has been used in it. So I may, can't make up my mind on that. I know you probably would change it to synthetic, but I won't, so what do you as an "expert" think, Valvoline, or Castrol in it???

shady1701 · Sep 24, 2003

Oil is oil and no one can realy say one oil will make an engine last any longer than the next because oil constantly changes. Mobil 1 says that they got 300K out of a bmw with there product but who knows it might of done that with brand x.

upgw · Sep 24, 2003

If it's got a 351 small-block (Windsor) V8, I'd pay very close attention to the oil pressure guage if it has one, or have it tested if it doesn't. These engines are notorious for hammering their bottom ends out, I've seen many with nearly zero oil pressure at hot idle with less than 100K miles on them. Make sure you check it out. 302s seem to be OK.

- Patrick

Bob_In_MN · Sep 25, 2003

Thanks for the info on the 351's Patrick

It's got the 302, but I'm still going to have the garage do a lot of preventive stuff when it goes in. Since we will put less than 10K per year on the van, I'm thinking we should get 5-6 years out of it before we need to consider replacing.

Bob

TresCrows · Sep 25, 2003

Well, Pruntyc, as you might have seen, I said I was not an expert, same as Bob. In any case, Mobil 1 does have Moly in the 15W-50 but not sure in the others. As to Valvoline or Castrol, I think it would be just fine to switch oils as long as it is similar grade and range but if you have no preference why bother.
Yeah, oil is oil, whatever, some people think the earth is flat, well, it looks flat /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif.
Like I said, there have been fleet tests by the majors, they don't publish results because of legal reasons and "conspiracy" (oil companies could make oil that never wears out your car and gives 1000 miles per gallon but their in cahoots with the auto companies /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif) but in the tests--that I saw informally the results--there where huge differences and I know which 1 came out on top by heads and shoulders above the rest--wonder which 1 it was? That was 20 years ago, oils have changed and gotten better but I know what I saw then, course, I already had known that 1 even then. J

pruntyc · Sep 25, 2003

Well, really the only concern I have is the Valvoline is a paraffin base, at least that is what I have read. And they say the Castrol is a petroleum base, so it would be changeing base oils. That is why I have been wondering if it was alright to change from one base to another one. Not sure if it might cause a problem, which of course I don't want, it cost too much to fix them. So I will ask what your opinion is on this, as even on Bob's web site I haven't found anyone addressing this issue. Maybe it's not a issue is why, I don't know.

Junkman · Sep 25, 2003

The both brands come from crude oil /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. There is very little difference which one you use if you change the oil regularly. Was with an an automotive specialist today discussing the benefits of standard oil vs synthetic and he said that for the cost difference it is better to dump the regular oil at closer intervals than to keep the synthetic in for longer periods. If you kept the synthetic in for 6000 miles and used the regular oil for 3000 miles, that the cost of the two oil changes would still be less than the cost of the one synthetic oil change..... $4.00 qt vs. $1.00 qt. Getting back to the original question, if you use a paraffin based oil, it will build sludge faster if you don't change it regularly has been my experiance.... Then on the other side of the coin, it has been said that the Pennsylvania based oils are the best for engine use..... ask enough people and you will finally get the answer you like or want....... When it comes to oil, it seems that opinions are like noses, everyone has one!

pruntyc · Sep 25, 2003

I change my oil at 5,000 miles. But again I don't make any trip of less than 20 miles and generally about 150 miles. If I were to be makeing short trips of only a couple of miles at a time I would think it probably should be changed more often. I am thinking I may go with Castrol in all of them, as it does have moly in it, and the people I read, says it does better in tests that tells how it held up, after driveing it for 3 to 5 thousand miles. Not a big difference probably, but I want to use all the help I can get to make them last longer. Oh by the way, my wife got me to slow down, I probably should at my age anyway, but on the Town Car at 65 and 70 I was getting 20 to 21. Now at 55 I'm getting 25 to 27. So I think if it takes a little longer, so what I'm saving quite a bit. See there is some benifit to getting old and slowing down.

TresCrows · Sep 26, 2003

They are both petroleum based oils. Both companies also offer semi synthetic blends and pseudo synthetic oils. Mobil 1 and is a true synthetic.
A lot of people really like the Valvoline products and especially that new Valvoline product for higher mileage cars. I think I would go with that in th new, old car you are buying.
It has been a long day and I am not up to my usual informative self, sorry /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. J