Synthetic verses conventional motor oil

[Lonestar]

Re: Synthetic verses conventional motor oil

I haven't done much reading the last while on Oils, is the US still the only place that allows group III oils to be marketed as "Synthetic"? If so does anyone in Canada know if they offer a Motorcraft "Full Synthetic"
Also is Mobil 1 still truly synthetic, I'm assuming Castrol still is group III, but I'm not up on who else is.

Yes, in North America, naturally including Canada, a Group III petroleum based oil can be called synthetic. That can not be done in other parts of the world. I do not know if MC full synthetic is marketed in Canada. I believe the MC product available in Canada is made by a Canadian producer under license and not made by Conoco-Phillips.

Mobil 1 is now a Group III oil (and has been for a few years now) and not as good as it once was based on many UOAs available for viewing. Mobil 1 Extended Protection in all viscosities has some Group IV in the mix and Group IV is in the blend of Mobil 1’s 0W20, 0W30, 0W40, and 5W40. With the exception of German Castrol and Castrol Edge, Castrol is a blend Group II+ and Group III base stocks. Castrol Edge is Group III but has some Group V in it.

[Lonestar]

Re: Synthetic verses conventional motor oil

I thought the reason for the synthetic was that it would last longer then conventioal oils if it starts breaking down at 5k I think I'll put my wife's monte carlo back on a standard motor oil and change at 10k lot cheaper I use a lab out of Co. that I send an oil sample every 20k on my commerical trucks and it comes back back oil totaly useable unless an engine problem dilutes the oil with coolant,fuel etc and these engines are under far more severe usage than these gasoline motors.

Please re-read my post. what I noted was that MC 5W20 Synthetic Blend is getting pretty much spent @ 5K miles. MC 5W20 is priced less then many named brand conventional oils so based on that I feel MC is good bang for the buck and it turns in excellent UOAs. If you want extended oil change intervals then there are oils that are formulated to provide you that like Mobil 1 Extended Protection, Castrol Edge, and boutique oils that are available. However, UOAs in some engines indicated that oils like Pennzoil Platinum and Pennzoil Ultra that are not advertised a extended drain oils out perform M1 Extended Protection and Castrol Edge.

[Chuck]

Re: Synthetic verses conventional motor oil

Just more of an FYI which will probably spark a healthy debate but I have read more than 1 article that says using an extended drain oil is all well and good from an oil perspective but you should still change your oil filter at the regular 3,000 mile interval. So for me, since I have to climb under the car or truck and get the spent oil drain pan dirty anyway might as well just change the oil while I’m at it.

[Lonestar]

Re: Synthetic verses conventional motor oil

The 3K / 3 month oil and filter change rule of thumb is generally now only promoted by the quick change places for obvious reasons. Most passenger cars in the US have minimum oil & filter change recommended intervals of every 5K / 6 months and they are ever increasing due to oil and filter quality improvements. Fritz probably laughs at us for Euro intervals are up to 2 years assuming the correctly spec’d oil / filter is used for the vehicle and if oil cost us as much as it does him we would probably want to go 2 years between changes.

To address the requirements of extended drains some companies are marketing extend drain oil filters that are advertised to be good for up to 15K miles. These include Mobil1, Bosch Distance Plus, Wix Gold, and naturally Amsoil. Except for the Wix Gold, these filters are not available for our cars. The OEM oil filter for our Thunderbirds is not an extended drain filter but should easily go the recommended interval noted in the manual.

I think many of the 2011 Ford vehicles are now calling for 10K OCIs using the standard ol’ Motorcraft filters. Interestingly however, some specific manufactures are amending their manuals and strongly suggesting much shorter oil change intervals than originally recommended. These include the Subaru turbos, Infinity/Nissan 3.7 engines, VW/Audis gas and turbo engines, some Lexus/Toyota (due to bad sludging). These along with others are simply trashing oils, regardless of brand, in short order. Even Amsoil, the king of extended drain oils, has a list of vehicles they recommend to shorten the change interval on if using their products. Honda, Toyota, and Nissan all have their own formulated oils they are strongly recommending and for 2011 GM recommends only oils that meets their new Dexos specs.

[tbird6t4]

Re: Synthetic verses conventional motor oil

I have been using Valvoline Synpower for years in both my Retro and 64 Flairbirds with good results. Both usually get an oil change every spring because 5,000 miles is never reached in either recent years.


http://www.valvoline.com/faqs/motor-...c-motor-oil/37

This product is available in the U.S. and Canada and throughout the world for that matter. Valvoline Oil Co. is a division of Ashland Chemical Co. (K.Y.)

My 2 cents worth.

[Lonestar]

Re: Synthetic verses conventional motor oil

I have been using Valvoline Synpower for years in both my Retro and 64 Flairbirds with good results. Both usually get an oil change every spring because 5,000 miles is never reached in either recent years.


http://www.valvoline.com/faqs/motor-...c-motor-oil/37

This product is available in the U.S. and Canada and throughout the world for that matter. Valvoline Oil Co. is a division of Ashland Chemical Co. (K.Y.)

My 2 cents worth.

Ya know Gord, Today's Valvoline is an interesting oil. When you look at a Valvoline virgin oil analysis (both conventional and synthetic) there is simply nothing there that impresses, in fact it is real ho-hum. However, the used oil analysis it products always show very good wear numbers in a verity of cars and applications. It does not have a very strong Total Base Number so it is not wise to extend its use beyond recommended change intervals but Valvoline is certainly an oil that can be used with confidence. And then on top of that it is very reasonable in price, at least here in the US.

[Chuck]

Re: Synthetic verses conventional motor oil

Even Amsoil, the king of extended drain oils

Says who? They do for sure and maybe King of Fully Synthetic Oil Advertising and other brand bashing but of extended drains, here's an example of one of the comparisons I've read -->
http://www.zag.si/~jank/public/bmw/oil_bible.pdf.

[Lonestar]

Re: Synthetic verses conventional motor oil

Chuck - I am not sure what you mean when you say, "Says who?" I am not promoting any specific brand in this discussion. I did indeed go to the link provided and I have read this material before. One thing however, the comparisons in the link are really no longer valid. All the oils compared are SL and some were even SJ, specs. These specs are dated. Current US spec is SM and later this year SN will be the standard. To achieve theses specs virtually all, if not all, companies have re-formulated their products since the SL days.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Synthetic verses conventional motor oil

I've been using 5W30 full synthetic since each of my birds have had 1,000 miles on them - not for the gas mileage but for the extra protection. I change the oil in them every spring - I know I'm throwing money away but I usually put a little under 1,000 miles on the cars a year.

I'm with you on this one. One of the real advantages to synthetic that is all too often NOT taken advantage of is found in the idea that it doesn't "breakdown" and lose it's protection value the way conventional oils do.

You still have to change the oil.......nothing is that good yet but changing it every 3 months/ 3,000 miles is no longer the rule it was when using conventional oil.

I put a few more miles on than you do, approximately 3,000-4,000 average each year, but even so I don't drive my cars in dusty conditions EVER ........so once a year is plenty for me too in the summer rides. I'll do it in the fall, when I park 'em. I like the idea of a clean fill and filter while the cars wait out the winter in the garage.

As for the year round drivers twice a year seems like plenty. Spring and fall.

Even this often is probably more often changed than necessary but let's face it. Most of us here were brought up to believe that oil needs changing every 3 months. Just cutting that in 1/2 was a HUGE step for me.

Those old, out of date in-bedded habits, and beliefs really don't die easy.

........it's a process..........