Automotive Forums

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!

spoken like a King of ignorance.  I've read many opinionated/ignorant posts on many forums but this one is the poster child for the UNeducated...one who speaks on what he knows nothing about...  

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

Scam?  Please, enlighten us on your evidence.  Be sure to cite literature, lab studies, oh, and by the way, make sure you send all of that info to every person that flies a jet aircraft (like the US military), and folks that race.  I'm sure they'll be glad to know you have all the evidence that proves that synthetic lubricant technology (first discovered in 1940's-and improved ever since) has absolutely no benefits whatsoever regardless of astm testing.

While you're at it, please go ahead and tell us the differences in crude petroleum/mineral oil refining, hydrocracking, PAO's, POE's, FAE's, group I, II, III, IV, and V base stock synthetics and synthetic blends.

I did a dyno test on 3 vehicles, 2 were 4x4 trucks twice each in a 2 year period.  In every case, synthetic lubricants in front/rear differentials, transfer case, transmission, and motor had decreased temperatures, more horsepower at same rpm as dino oil, and ran smoother.  I've used Amsoil, Royal Purple, Redline, Neo, Mobil 1, and in every case both by personal accounts, and from friends and family's vehicles, the syns outperformed the dino oils.  

Don't get me wrong, I think the prices are terrible for synthetic, and I've only seen a jump of roughly 1-1.5 mpg in the trucks, but to state that it's a scam?  I'd like your evidence...

AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU READ THIS:  http://www.motor-oil-engineers.com/  

Big Kahuna could not be more wrong.   Synthetics are far superior to regular oil.  The jet engines on the airplane I fly cost $ 2,500,000.00 each and use ONLY synthetic oil, period.

Safety is even more critical to a jet engine, and again, they ALL use ONLY synthetic oils.

Only an idiot would say all oils are the same.  

i wonder if the small jump in gas mileage actually makes up the cost for the more expensive synthetic oil?  

h3nry:
i wonder if the small jump in gas mileage actually makes up the cost for the more expensive synthetic oil?

No, at least not on any of the many cars I've ever tracked.  But you also need to factor in the increased longevity of the engine, a-ssuming it's properly maintained.  Then the answer becomes probably.  

H3nry,

You missed the whole point of why you should use synthetics.  Its for increased engine reliablility and longer life.  

Track the cost of being stranded on the side of the road, or having to rebuild your engine.  This is NOT about fuel milage...  

JetPilot:
H3nry,

You missed the whole point of why you should use synthetics.  Its for increased engine reliablility and longer life.  

Track the cost of being stranded on the side of the road, or having to rebuild your engine.  This is NOT about fuel milage...

Sorry Maverick, synthetic oil DOES NOT increase reliability, no matter how many times you type that it does.  

I have done much study on this subject.  To all you "anti-synthetics"--remember -- when you have drive your cars for a while, better turn around, would want to fall off the earth now would ya?

I have found that Castrol, a brand I have been devoted to for years is not a FULL synthetic. In fact it has angered me to the point that I will no longer use Castrol brand oils.  The "carrier" is good old dino oil.  They can call theirs synthetic due to "hyper" refining and synthetic additives and blah blah marketing.   I am switching to Mobil 1 Extended.

Remember, all oils must meet certain criteria to obtain the specific codes on the bottle,  If your oil has this code, then you can be *** that using it protects you, and more specifically your engine, and meets all your manufacturers warranty criteria.

But you still must follow your manuf. oil change periodicity for warranty protection.  In this case it makes no sense to change to synthetics for "longer", not "Better", protection and pay more to not use it.

The only benefit I can see, and the one by which I am using to change to synthetics, is the longer change interval (drain period).  I am only doing this so that I may pollute less.  Yes, less oil changes means less oil to recycle.  Both my vehicles are out of warranty and I am changing to synthetic for longer drain periods.