Automotive Forums

In my previous post, i explained my past successful usage of regular motor oil in my auto. Again, my reasoning is reinforced with a trip to the local stores. Look at the prices of all the different oils. Synthetics are "supposed" to keep the engine tidier. I thought that was the filters job! The synthetics are also "supposed" to help the engine run easier. Last time I checked, a 5W-30 petroleum had the same lubricity as a 5W-30 synthetic. Lastly, the synthetics are    
"supposed" to provide the best protection in the worst conditions. I can't safely, or legally, drive my car in the worst conditions! All automotive oils come from the same base crude: it's the additives that make the difference. In summary, one only has to ask theirself: why all the promotion of synthetics? It doesn't cost the companies any more to make synthetic than it costs to make the regular oil. But boy, is there a profit,er,I mean a price difference(sarcasm).I look forward to the responses to this post. Keep it cheap!  

try checking amsoils website for info  

syntetic oils a scam. just check your oil level weekly and use regular or whatever the car seller or manuyal says.  

Its seems there are some individuals that just seem to have a hatred for synthetic oils and will do everything to discredit the products.  

The funny thing about this all is not the properties of the oils but the properties of the seals in the engines. Most oil seals in the engine are not designed to handle the synthetic oils. They will begin to seep and leak a little. You should check with the car manufacture to see if your car can use this type of oil and if it will void any warrenties.  

blueford:
In my previous post, i explained my past successful usage of regular motor oil in my auto. Again, my reasoning is reinforced with a trip to the local stores. Look at the prices of all the different oils. Synthetics are "supposed" to keep the engine tidier. I thought that was the filters job! The synthetics are also "supposed" to help the engine run easier. Last time I checked, a 5W-30 petroleum had the same lubricity as a 5W-30 synthetic. Lastly, the synthetics are    
"supposed" to provide the best protection in the worst conditions. I can't safely, or legally, drive my car in the worst conditions! All automotive oils come from the same base crude: it's the additives that make the difference. In summary, one only has to ask theirself: why all the promotion of synthetics? It doesn't cost the companies any more to make synthetic than it costs to make the regular oil. But boy, is there a profit,er,I mean a price difference(sarcasm).I look forward to the responses to this post. Keep it cheap!

Perhaps you should check reputable petroleum company and independent research websites for info before "closing the door" on the use of synthetic oil. Your decision to use or not use synthetic doesn't cost me sleep at night but your misinformation could cost newbies who read your post some unnecessary internal wear inside their engines. If synthetics were a "scam" then why would mobil 1 or other comparable synthetic brands be standard equipment in vehicles such as the Dodge Viper, many of Mercedes models (including all AMG models), Chevrolet Corvette, and countless others. These companies spend countless thousands of dollars on research and development to find which spark plug will perform best in the motor so i would *** their choice in oil was based on thorough research as well. I have personally been inside many motors that have been synthetic babies since birth and they exhibit exceptionally low internal wear. By the way, the cost of producing a quart of synthetic oil is at least twice that of mineral oil and the majority of the ingredients are "produced" hence the name synthetic. I spent many years battling old time opinions like this and some people just don't accept facts.  

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"Most oil seals in the engine are not designed to handle the synthetic oils. They will begin to seep and leak a little."

Synthetic lubricants do have an inherent detergency that cleans and removes conventional motor oil deposits left over in an engine. However, motor oils are designed to help swell seals slightly to prevent leakage. The only time you would observe seal leakage is if the seals are already damaged or showing signs of leakage around them. As long as the vehicle has been well maintained, and in good mechanical condition, it can be switched to a synthetic lubricant at any mileage.

I have used synthetic oil since the 1970's and never experienced any seals leaking.  How many cars/trucks that frequent Wal-Mart?  Go take a look at the parking lots and you will see a lot of oil spots from oil leakers.  For years, car manfacturers had big problems with seals leaking and to say that synthetic oil is a reason is just another one of those bs tales about synthetics.

Here are some more:

Myth: You should break in your engine with conventional oil, then switch to a synthetic oil like Mobil 1.

Reality: You can start using Mobil 1 with SuperSyn Technology in new vehicles at any time, even in brand new vehicles. In fact, Mobil 1 with SuperSyn Technology is original equipment (it is installed at the factory) in:


   * Aston Martin
   * Bentley Amage and Bentley GT
   * Cadillac CTS, XLR, SRX and STS
   * Chevrolet Corvette
   * Dodge Viper
   * Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles
   * Mercedes SLR
   * Mitsubishi EVO
   * Pontiac GTO
   * All Porsche vehicles

One of the myths that surrounds synthetic oils is that new engines require a break-in period with conventional oil. The fact is, current engine manufacturing technology does not require this break-in period. As indicated by the decisions of the engineers who design the high-performance cars listed above, Mobil 1 can be used starting the day you drive the car off the showroom floor.




Myth: Using Mobil 1 will void the warranty on my new car.

Reality:   Mobil 1 with SuperSyn Technology will not void new car warranties, with the exception of the Mazda rotary engine (Mazda does not recommend any synthetic motor oil). Mobil 1 exceeds the API and ILSAC motor oil service requirements for all new vehicles, both import and domestic. If in doubt, always check your vehicle owner's manual or contact your vehicle's manufacturer.

Since most new car warranties call for shorter service intervals than those enabled by Mobil 1 Extended Performance, we recommmend you follow the recommendations in your owner's manual while your car is under warranty.




Myth: I need to flush my engine before switching to Mobil 1.

Reality:   No special preparation is necessary when switching from conventional motor oil to Mobil 1 or Mobil 1 Extended Performance.




Myth: Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Extended Performance require a special oil filter.

Reality: While ExxonMobil recommends that you use a high-quality filter, you can use the same type of oil filter that you would normally use with conventional oil. ExxonMobil does offer a very high-quality oil filter that is a perfect companion to Mobil 1. The Mobil 1 Extended Performance Oil Filter contains synthetic fibers instead of the typical cellulose filter media. With a 99.2 percent efficiency rating (under SAE J1858 Multi-Pass Efficiency Test), the Mobil 1 filter is much more efficient than a typical oil filter.  Its new high-capacity design stores more contaminants (two times the capacity of the leading brand).




Myth: Motorcycles can't benefit from synthetic oil.
Reality: ExxonMobil offers three Mobil 1 fully synthetic motor oils for motorcycles:

   * Mobil 1 MX4T is recommended for on-road, high-performance, 4-cycle sport bikes, which are typically liquid cooled. It can also be used in air-cooled engines calling for a 10W-40 oil.
   * Mobil 1 V-Twin is a 20W-50 oil recommended for 4-cycle V-twin engines, particularly those that are air cooled and tend to run hotter than other types of engines.
   * Mobil 1 Racing 2T is recommended for two-cycle motorcycle engines that specify the use of a pre-mix, two-cycle engine oil.



Myth: Mobil 1 can't be used in diesel engines.

Reality: Mobil 1 will provide excellent service for passenger car and light duty truck diesel engines (API CF or CD), as well as European diesel cars that require oils to meet specific car builder approvals or ACEA-quality oils. (This is the oil specification used in Europe and developed by European car companies.)  Additionally, Mobil 1 Truck & SUV Formula is designed specifically for light-duty diesels that require an API CI-4 oil. Be sure to check the oil quality recommended in your owners' manual for your diesel engine.

Heavy duty truck engines that require API CE, CF-4, CG-4, CH-4 or CI-4 should use one of the products from the Delvac® line — Mobil Delvac 1® synthetic engine oil or Mobil Delvac 1300 Super®. Mobil Delvac 1 synthetic oil can help improve fuel economy, extend oil drain intervals, extend engine life, provide enhanced wear/cleanliness protection and reduce oil consumption. Delvac products can be purchased at a large number of truck stops across America and select retail and auto parts stores, as well as ExxonMobil distributors.




Myth: Mobil 1 will leak out of the seals of older cars.

Reality: Mobil 1 does not cause leaks. In fact, new Mobil 1 was tested in dozens of industry standard and OEM tests to prove its seal performance. It is fully compatible with the elastomeric materials from which all automotive seals and gaskets are made. If an older engine is in good condition and does not have oil leaks, Mobil 1 provides the same advantages as when used in a new engine. ExxonMobil recommends taking measures to repair the leaks, then using Mobil 1. ExxonMobil also recommends following the automobile manufacturer's manual for the proper oil to use.  

any reason why you're advertising for mobil 1 so strongly, or is it just because thats the kind that you use?  

Don't use Mobil 1 at all although it came as OEM fill in my 2005 Cadillac CTS.  I have been using Asmoil since 1975 and it has never let me down.  Never wore out an engine, tranmission or differential as of yet.

That info was handy to show the naysayers about they myths people spread about synthetic oils.  Syntheic lubes have been used in aircraft for decades but some seem to think its no good for a car/truck engine.  

blueford:
In my previous post, i explained my past successful usage of regular motor oil in my auto. Again, my reasoning is reinforced with a trip to the local stores. Look at the prices of all the different oils. Synthetics are "supposed" to keep the engine tidier. I thought that was the filters job! The synthetics are also "supposed" to help the engine run easier. Last time I checked, a 5W-30 petroleum had the same lubricity as a 5W-30 synthetic. Lastly, the synthetics are    
"supposed" to provide the best protection in the worst conditions. I can't safely, or legally, drive my car in the worst conditions! All automotive oils come from the same base crude: it's the additives that make the difference. In summary, one only has to ask theirself: why all the promotion of synthetics? It doesn't cost the companies any more to make synthetic than it costs to make the regular oil. But boy, is there a profit,er,I mean a price difference(sarcasm).I look forward to the responses to this post. Keep it cheap!

I would admonish any new car owner who does not know any better to ignore the ignorance of the posters dismissing the superiority of synthetic oils vs. mineral based i.e. traditional oils.  I dont' think anyone who knows anything about lubrication would believe any of this ignorant position.  Synthetic oils were specifically developed originally to replace mineral oils in certain environments due the shortcoming of mineral oils under extreme duress. As a matter of historical fact they HAD to be invented because of the lack of suitability of mineral based oils to some task and environments.  The best example which comes to mind is aviation.  It against FAA rules [i.e. the law] to use anything but synthetic oils in modern, internal combustion engined aircraft and has been for decades.  The reason is simple, more reliable, more stable and less likely to let you down at the wrong moment.  Hopefully this helps those whom might care about the life of their moving components.  

In a comparison of any oil you should explore the viscosity attributes of the oil in question. The main positive quality of synthetic oil is that it has a longer viscosity life than petroleum based products. Viscosity is the oils ability to "cling" or attach itself to moving parts as it flows through the system and this "coating" is what protects the moving parts from breakdown and failure. New petroleum oil has a very good viscosity when new but looses this after extended subjection to heat and friction. This is a variable thats hard to measure as every engine is under a veriety of different driving conditions.
So if you have an oil burner that takes a quart of oil every tank of gas you would'nt want to use syntetic for economic reasons but for extended time between oil changes the viscoity stability would last two to three times that of petroleum base products.  

The main reason that you see oil leaks in components that are using synthetic oils is due to the size of the molecules, synthetics have smaller molecular structure and find weaknesses in seals petroleum oils don't find. The main byproduct of the internal combustion engine in the crankcase is contamination from gasses that get past the rings into the crankcase, the contamination results in corrosive gasses and deteriorates the lubrication properties of the oil. Vehicles that are continuously driven short distances never burn off the corrosive gasses and can suffer from excessive wear normally seen in higher mileage engines.  

I just wanted to add a correction here as the owner of a piston engined aircraft.  There is no FAA requirement to use synthetic motor oils in aircraft engines.  There are in fact no fully synthetic piston aircraft oils.  Shell and Exxon both market a product which is a blend of regular mineral oil and synthetic oil.  There was a version of Mobil 1 that was marketed about 15 years ago but it was withdrawn from the market because it did not do a good job of suspending the lead that ends up in the oil from burning leaded aviation gasoline.  Lycoming, the largest producer of piston aircraft engines specifies that only mineral oil with no additives (detergents etc) be used for engine break in but this has no bearing on the use of synthetic oils in new car engines   Oh, you will be interested to know that there is much debate about the benifits of semi-synthetic oils in aviation circles just like in the automotive world.  I come down on the side of synthetics for both my car and airplane.  

Amsoil did make a piston aircraft synthetic oil some years back (>10) but quit because of poor sales.  The guy who flew around the world, Rutan?  Well I beleive he was using Amsoil as I recall seeing a photo of his plane with an Amsoil logo on it.  

I think I still have those old Pipeline magazines with the story about this.  Now I am intriqued and have to look for them..  

What about Castrol Syntec?  Anyone had any experience with it?  Is it comparible to Mobil 1 or Amsoil?

Thanks