Synthetic Oil

[Welker]

This probably is not a new topic so if there is one on this subject let me know. I have always used synthetic oil. As the car grows older and as the pandemic has limited driving time, I am only putting less than 1000 miles on the car in a year. All the advice about the use of synthetic oil says to follow the manufacturer's recommendations and if the mileage is very low, change the oil every 6 months. It seems that if the synthetics are so good, they should be not only mileage better than regular oil but time as well. Any suggestions or info is welcome.

[11TH GEN]

I also use full synthetic in my car and the wife's car. One is driven about 3,500 a year and one about 2,000 a year. I change them both at twelve months. Full synthetics are not suppose to break down like regular oil but with short runs and extended periods of no use I think condensation could happen in the filter. If I was using a car on a regular basis I would most likely change at around 7,500 miles or at 12 months whichever came first.

[BillyL]

I change the oil and filter once a year whether the mileage is at 5000 or not.

[HKS]

This probably is not a new topic so if there is one on this subject let me know. I have always used synthetic oil. As the car grows older and as the pandemic has limited driving time, I am only putting less than 1000 miles on the car in a year. All the advice about the use of synthetic oil says to follow the manufacturer's recommendations and if the mileage is very low, change the oil every 6 months. It seems that if the synthetics are so good, they should be not only mileage better than regular oil but time as well. Any suggestions or info is welcome.

Got a new 2021 Ford Explorer XLT Sport. Ford specifies 5W30 Synthetic Blend. Same as was specified doe my 2002 Tbird.
Change cycle is one year unless mileage is exceeded.
Tried full synthetic in the Tbird one time and engine (valve train) was noisier. Went back to Ford recommended blend.
Synthetic was so thin that I could not read it on the dipstick. Would not stick to dipstick.
HKS

[Alamobird]

Do any manufacturers not specify synthetic oil in their new car manuals?

[Quickdraw]

Do any manufacturers not specify synthetic oil in their new car manuals?

Ford recommends a synthetic BLEND....

[007Cruiser]

Ford recommends a synthetic BLEND....

Also recommended for our birds.

[CROW]

Just a small point on which FORD you are talking about!!!
My wifes 2018 EDGE Titainium 6V has printed in its owners manual for "US" use, fill crankcase with a Synthetic Blend. AND for CANADIAN use, USE Mineral Dinosaur juice.
One spec is American FORD and the other is Canadian FORD
Surprisingly the EDGE is built in Oakville, Ontario CDA. Dealer says to use dinosaur juice.
DO THEY REALLY KNOW THEMSELVES?

[Welker]

Had the synthetic changed yesterday along with the filter. I think Wally is right and nobody really knows but the recommendation by all the makers and providers of oil and synthetics say twice a year is minimum. It just seems dumb to change the synthetic stuff at less than 300 miles but there you go. Thanks for the input.

[PITTBIRDS]

When the oil companies list "Synthetic Blend Oil" do you really know what the percentage of synthetic oil is vs. regular oil? I've read that some companies list synthetic blend and it is an high as 90% regular oil. What's cheaper? What's cheaper to make? I have a Buick Lacrosse and the manual recommends Synthetic Blend. I am a believer of using 100% synthetic oil. When I installed 100% synthetic oil in the Buick the engine developed a slow leak. I took it in for service under warranty and they asked what oil I used. I told them and they said to use only synthetic blend oil. I went back to using regular oil to prevent further leaks.

[hippy_mailman]

the recommendation by all the makers and providers of oil and synthetics say twice a year is minimum.

well of course they would say that, its more $$ in their pockets

[HKS]

One more question. I mentioned this in post #4 that I could not see the synthetic oil on the dipstick.

The Jensen dealer put synthetic oil in that I could not see an the dipstick.
Next question for those of you that change your own oil and used a good brand like Mobile 1, have you been able to see the oil on the dipstick?
Who knows what car maintenance places put in your car if it comes out of a barrel.
I wonder what brand of synthetic oil will be visible on the dipstick.

HKS
P.S. There was some oil visible but not enough to let you know what the oil level was in the crankcase.
Scary situation if you don't know how much the repair shop put in..

[NotU]

I have been using Mobil 1 synthetic ever since I had the engine in my '65 TB rebuilt in 1996 and now in the 2005. I have it changed annually or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first.
and, yes, I can see the oil level on the dipstick.

[11TH GEN]

I also use Mobil 1 full synthetic 5w 30 . My car has no dipstick under the hood, but I can check the level on the dash cluster with a bunch of other informational data.

New Hondas recommend 0w 16

[HKS]

I have been using Mobil 1 synthetic ever since I had the engine in my '65 TB rebuilt in 1996 and now in the 2005. I have it changed annually or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first.
and, yes, I can see the oil level on the dipstick.

Randy, thank you.
The only explanation must be that some other synthetic oils would not be visible on the dipstick. Too thin, so it runs off the dipstick end too fast.
Maybe they make some other dipsticks that will hold the oil so one can read the level.
The oil Jensen put in was spotty on the stick, and I had no way of knowing if is was splashed on by engine parts or not.
Mobile1 would be worth a try but Ford is still recommending the Synthetic blend. It may be due to less engine noise with the blend like I discovered when I went back to the Ford blend.
HKS