Interesting article about oil change interval

[gsxr1100]

ok, no saying synthetic is the "way to go" in all apps, but in auto I feel when looking at the benefits, it is a plus.

 

[slowzuki]

I feel in automobiles for us northern folk the tranny and diffs can be one of the most $ effective place to use synthetic. It can go a long time there and save $$ every winter you drive. I'd bet I would save 100$ a winter if I filled the diffs and tranny with synthetic.

Our last car had this done (a 4wd) and it was beautiful to pull away in the morning without the engine struggling and labouring, the shifter moved nice and smooth and you didn't drop to a stop between shifts.

At -30 C dino 90w90 gets sticky!

 

[jimg]

So does synthetic oil have a greater capacity to hold waste in suspension and prevent sludge build-up than nonsynthetic? Even if it does conventional oil filter technology isnt sufficently advanced to continue correct filtration over the advertised working life of synthetic oil. Im not seeing the advantage of synthetic engine oil.

 

[gsxr1100]

By reading your post, it would not matter since your post says “conventional oil filter technology isnt sufficently advanced”. I guess Fleetguard, Mobil, Amsoil and Redline are all wrong by some TBN people.

I am doing longer drains it yes, it works too! It has for over 30 years.

 

[awlchu]

Mike,

Not to hijack this thread but related.....

My wife's new truck has an on-board oil sensor that displays a % life left in the engine oil. What exactly is the sensor measuring?

Any ideas?

Brian

 

[_RaT_]

Time?

 

[1962]

my 2 cents worth on the synthetic... i switched over from mineral base to amsoil 20-50 air-cooled V-TWIN. i use this in the "02 harley-davidson heritage... what i can say about it is that in the heat of the summer riding, it(amsoil) runs about 10 degree's cooler than the H-D 20-50 mineral base oil.
it also does not clunk when shifting, since i added amsoil to the primary transfer case and tranny... on cold starts it is more fluid, and in theory should pass thru the filter instead of the bypass valve, alot sooner than the mineral base....

 

[jimg]

Hi Mike,
Not real sure what your answer is....sorry to be dull. However, no current filter is going to keep any type of oil clean for the longer period that synthetic is capable of running. The oil is capable but associated technology isnt. This is the main reason Ive never gone for synthetic...b/c I cant see running dirty oil for extended periods. If you know something diff than Id like to know about it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JJT]

Going from dino to syn I've tripled my drain intervals based on used oil analysis and I've picked up .5miles/gallon in fuel economy. For me it's cheaper to run synthetic, (and that doesn't count my labor costs). I also notice a significant differnce in those -20 starts. I'm running 0W30 in the gas vehicles and 5W40 in the diesels.

 

[_RaT_]

I would like to know what "dirty" oil is. When oil goes from light amber to black, it does not necessarily indicate it is now time to change it and that any more wear then usual is taking place. Some folks look at the color of oil to determine the condition of things. My understanding is that that is quite inaccurate.