Synthetic oil myth or fact?

[puckgrinder85]

We've had a few customers that have switched to synthetic (from us) from our conventional oil and have started burning oil for 3-4 oil changes which seems to subside after that timeframe, no apparent leaks.

 

[Tig]

"I do enjoy the smell of two stoke Klotz or Castrol racing castor.....

Beanz-oil, smells like race track.

 

[Browneyesvictim]

diesel lover- (original poster)- It seems this has gotten a bit off topic. Obviously there are applications for synthetic oils for many different types of systems and each have their own unique applications: 2-stroke engines (mix), hydraulic systems, gearboxes, Jet engines and gas and diesel engines, etc. You didn't say if your truck in question was gas or diesel, but assuming by your online name it would be the latter. In any case, hope you got your answer. Here is a link with some good information about synthetic oils, and help clear up "myth vs. fact"

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/256235-synthetic-oil-synthetic-not.html

 

[Blade Breaker]

In my 1500 Gold Wing I used to run the standard oil and had no problems. I changed to there HP4 synthetic/mineral blend because I liked the idea of more miles between oil changes and I could tell a slight difference in how it shifted. There was never a problem with the shifting but it just got slightly smoother.

Also I am confused when it is said to not mix synthetic with standard oil. Some of these oils are blends as are other brands.
http://motorcycle.honda.ca/Content/...nericContent_FFH/oils-and-applications-en.pdf

 

[3930dave]

In my 1500 Gold Wing I used to run the standard oil and had no problems. I changed to there HP4 synthetic/mineral blend because I liked the idea of more miles between oil changes and I could tell a slight difference in how it shifted. There was never a problem with the shifting but it just got slightly smoother.

Also I am confused when it is said to not mix synthetic with standard oil. Some of these oils are blends as are other brands.
http://motorcycle.honda.ca/Content/...nericContent_FFH/oils-and-applications-en.pdf

I don't think it's quite as bad as "Letting the Beams Cross", in Ghostbusters....

If you have a specific high-end additive pack in an oil, you may end up watering it down with another lower cost brand.

At factory OCI intervals, I don't consider a bit of mixing to be the end of the world. If you are pushing out OCI (as already stated, best done with Used Oil Analysis), then yes, I'd stick with top ups with the same brand of synthetic oil.

In terms of engine damage/wear, most of it is coming from lack of oil, or driving way past the OCI.

Rgds, D.

 

[Coyote machine]

You have a leaking seal. You may never be able to pinpoint why it started leaking. If it were me, I'd change the seal and do whatever I could to buy the most affordable oil, regardless of synthetic or dino, and a quality brand filter and change both at reasonable mileage intervals. One can speculate until the end of time. Seals wear, mileage adds up, colder climates wreak more harsh results. YMMV, but it's still your issue to solve in the end, regardless of why.

 

[crazyal]

I'm a "what ever is on sale" type of oil guy. My Kubota was the first to get synthetic for two reasons. First is can get below -30F in the winters and secondly my tractor may not get used for weeks so any oil that was clinging to things like the cylinder walls has now made it's way back to the oil pan which increases the chance of wear. I now have a Toyota that uses 0w20 that only seams to come in synthetic. But they also recommend 10k miles between oil changes under normal use. For the price of the oil vs the mileage difference it actually works out cheaper to use synthetic.

 

[jlawso21]

Synthetic is the way to go, all the time, and forever. I bought a GMC Envoy new and it now has over 240,000 miles on it. It does not use any oil between changes and I change it when the oil adviser on board tells me to, or 10,000 miles whichever comes first.

I would not use anything else in my vehicles, including mowers and boats

 

[ray66v]

Synthetic is the way to go, all the time, and forever. I bought a GMC Envoy new and it now has over 240,000 miles on it. It does not use any oil between changes and I change it when the oil adviser on board tells me to, or 10,000 miles whichever comes first.
I would not use anything else in my vehicles, including mowers and boats

The same results happen with mineral oil.

I have a van with 235,000 that doesn't burn oil, or have any blow by, and it has never seen synthetic oil.

Plus, I have always used Fram oil filters in it, which everyone says are junk. :thumbsup:

Every vehicle I have ever owned, has gone very high in mileage, with no oil related issues, using mineral oil.

All name brand oils are very good quality today.

 

[diesel lover]

diesel lover- (original poster)- It seems this has gotten a bit off topic. Obviously there are applications for synthetic oils for many different types of systems and each have their own unique applications: 2-stroke engines (mix), hydraulic systems, gearboxes, Jet engines and gas and diesel engines, etc. You didn't say if your truck in question was gas or diesel, but assuming by your online name it would be the latter. In any case, hope you got your answer. Here is a link with some good information about synthetic oils, and help clear up "myth vs. fact"

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/256235-synthetic-oil-synthetic-not.html

Its a 97 1/2 ton with a 4.2 v6. Perfect truck for me. Good Fuel economy. I had been convinced to change to a synthetic due to this winter being cold. It got down to -14 degs F. I didn't want to go full synthetic so I went to a blend. Truck started every time and I used my block heater as much as I could and as it was needed below 5degs F. I have a freeze Plug block heater and always let my engine warm up before driving. Changed to a blend right before winter and when winter was mostly over I went back to conventional.

I added half a quart of lucas and it seems to be helping. I use lucas when needed but I normally use 1/2 a quart to 5.5 quarts engine oil. No need to use more than needed. I can say I may try synthetic in a vehicle that has less miles in it or a vehicle that had synthetic before,