Regular vs. Synthetic blend motor oil

[Texun]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: Arkaign
No, it's really better.

Goes like this :

Best = Paraffin-based (Amsoil, Royal Purple, etc)
Better = Regular Synthetic (Syntec, Mobil 1, etc)
Good = SynBlend (Syntec Blend, etc)
Ordinary = Major-Brand non-synthetic
Questionable = Mystery-Brand non-synthetic

How many miles, and what kind of vehicle do you have? That will greatly help us make a recommendation. Also, how long do you want to keep it (miles/years).

5.3L Silverado with 40K.

Man, if you're going to keep that sucker for a long time, I'd recommend going with Amsoil............

Another vote for Amsoil. I tried several different blends and brands on my bike and none of them ever came close to Amsoil. It's expensive but man what a difference! I know we not comparing bikes to cars but if it I can feel the difference using it with the bike I know it's a top quality product.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

It is a Grp3 syn (Tech2000), same as castrol syntec and most other syn oils now. Not the best syn but I have used it before and would again. Same goes for the Tech2000 oil filters.

No, each company has a different additive package. The wisdom on the street right now say Pennzoil Platnium is very good and can easily go 10k. Mobil 1 EP is also very good and can go 10k - 15k, but has fuel dilution problem (not too good for short trip). Castrol Syntex if it is 0w30 or 0w40 from Europe is good (some green, some gold color). Amsoil and Royal purple are good but expensive, Redline .... group 5 ester base, very good but expensive too.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally posted by: Xcobra
This is what I was wondering too. Is it really necessary for older vehicles that have 150000+ mileage? I have a 96 altima and I am debating as to whether to go syn or not. How about for the transmission?

I personally use syn in 2 cars for 2 reasons: 1 has a timing chain and is hard on oil, so that gives extra protection just in case (that car is expensive), and 1 has reliable engine and I use syn for 7500 miles to save time of oil change. The old cars that has a minor problem (minor head gasket leak i believe), i change with dino every 3k just to flush out the potential coolant mix.

 

[GL1500]

"Goes like this :
Best = Paraffin-based (Amsoil, Royal Purple, etc) "

Wonder where you saw that Amsoil is a paraffin based oil?
It IS full synthetic polyalphaolefin (PAO), Group IV based oil.
Dino oil has the paraffin.
I use Amsoil in my vehicle, motorcycle and riding mower.

 

[Zorba]

So if you change your oil every 3K miles, is there any point in Syn?

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: PandaBear
I personally use syn in 2 cars for 2 reasons: 1 has a timing chain and is hard on oil, so that gives extra protection just in case (that car is expensive), and 1 has reliable engine and I use syn for 7500 miles to save time of oil change..

The timing chain statement is funny to me. Engines have been coming with a timing chain nearly forever. If anything is hard on oil it would be a timing gear, like in a Ford straight six, or on diesel engines. There would be alot more shear force onthe oil there.

Originally posted by: PandaBear
The old cars that has a minor problem (minor head gasket leak i believe), i change with dino every 3k just to flush out the potential coolant mix.

Good bye to bearings....any just slight mix in the oil causes instant wear and tear. I lost a head gasket, changed it right away and still ended up throwing in new rods and main caps. Coolant is horrible.

Originally posted by: Zorba
So if you change your oil every 3K miles, is there any point in Syn?

No one can answer that truthfully. Get an oil test, see if you current oil is breaking down, if it is either change it sooner or go synthetic.

Air cooled engines are about the only engine where synthetic has big guarenteed benifts over dino at the same intervals.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Zorba
So if you change your oil every 3K miles, is there any point in Syn?

Why would you want to change syn every 3k miles?

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Zorba
So if you change your oil every 3K miles, is there any point in Syn?

Why would you want to change syn every 3k miles?

Heck a good "dino" oil can go 5k in most cars/trucks. Just use Havoline, motorcraft, etc... 5w30 and a good filter (NOT Fram) and you should be good for 5,000miles.

 

[Zorba]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Zorba
So if you change your oil every 3K miles, is there any point in Syn?

Why would you want to change syn every 3k miles?

Heck a good "dino" oil can go 5k in most cars/trucks. Just use Havoline, motorcraft, etc... 5w30 and a good filter (NOT Fram) and you should be good for 5,000miles.

I change mine every 3K because it doesn't cost that much and I don't mind doing it. (Usually ends up being like every 3.5K because I put it off for a nice day.)

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Zorba
So if you change your oil every 3K miles, is there any point in Syn?

Why would you want to change syn every 3k miles?

Heck a good "dino" oil can go 5k in most cars/trucks. Just use Havoline, motorcraft, etc... 5w30 and a good filter (NOT Fram) and you should be good for 5,000miles.

isn't motorcraft a semi-syn? And I thought "not fram" was an incorrect assumption.. it was "not the crappy frams, but the good ones." Unfortunately, I can't remember offhand which ones... I don't care too much, I just bought a box full of wix filters and called it a day, heh