Skip to main content
Topic: Synthetic Oil (Read 1921 times) previous topic - next topic

Synthetic Oil

Is it as big a scam as I think it is:nkhk:

Ok seriously, I know its not a scam, but I was wondering if anyone has seen or experianced any real benefits to using it, which outweight the hefty price tag.

The reason this comes to mind was the number of people using synthetic in the "what weight oil do you run" thread.

I have always used dino oil, simply because synthetic is so expensive and still has to be changed just as often.  I change my oil every two months, and I priced out switching to synthetic and it roughly doubles my oil change cost: from ~$10 to $20.

Two out of my three vehicals have over 300,000km all on 5W30 or 0W30 shell dino oil, and my diesel work truck has 750,000, on 15W40 dino all with no engine work done.  So, with regular oil performing this well, where does synthetic come into play for the average driver?

I'm not trying to start a fight or arguement, I'm just curious because in "my world" no one uses synthetic and online so many people do.

Synthetic Oil

Reply #1
Ive had to idle a few down that i have ran it in, so there must be some friction loss.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1974 maverick lsx powered turbo car SOLD
1973 maverick Tijuana Taxi Tribute
1957 chevy LSX Turbo project (race car)
Owner of Joe Dirt Fabrication

Synthetic Oil

Reply #2
Royal Purple consistently makes more power in my cars (truck dropped 2 tenths just changing the oil) and gas mileage (truck went from 16 to 21, GP GT from 19 to 24). I get MUCH longer oil intervals out of them. I beat the snot out of the truck, especially off-road, and I go 6000 miles inbetween oil changes (still change the filter at 3K). The GP GT goes 9000 miles between changes. Royal Purple actually saved the crank in Layla's motor from spinning a bearing when the rear main went! I run fully synthetic Royal Purple in EVERYTHING I own, even the lawnmower.

Synthetic Oil

Reply #3
I've read up on Royal Purple on some Mustang boards.  People claim you can gain up to 5hp by changing to RP in the engine, trans, and rear end.  Sounds pretty good to me.  I'd switch to RP in my engine if I already didn't have oil loss.

Synthetic Oil

Reply #4
Actually, a few months ago Hot Rod and MM&FF did some testing, both mags used a different car and changed the oil, tranny oil, and gear oil, and both cars made 10HP more to the wheels.

Synthetic Oil

Reply #5
Dino oil 5W30 = 32mpg

Mobil1 5W30 = 41mpg

My car also uses about double the oil between changes on the synthetic (leaky turbo seals) and runs smoother.


Just my personal experiences.


Scott
1980 birds X 3, 1982 bird, 1984 XR7, 1988 TC

Synthetic Oil

Reply #6
you can feel the difference... i run RP 10W30 and if you put a little on your fingertips and rub them together  your fingers are slick all day... the dino oil breaks down faster the gan to pitching in 3-4$ more a qt is you save wear on your bearings.

allthough... i need to bump up to 10W40 stupid lifter chatter.

Synthetic Oil

Reply #7
I swear on it though I never felt HP difference ill tell you this, I use it in my enduro car and I got my temperature so hot it pinned the meter stopping at 320 so it was hotter then that before I pulled off w/ no real damage raced the car the next race. And there would be guys at the track how say they will never waste there money on it but run 220-240 pull off with bent push rods and other damage. Some of you might feel that’s hard to believe but swear on this stuff. Oh and I use mobile-1 I find it’s the best price and it’s always done me right.

Synthetic Oil

Reply #8
I was running Royal purple 20w50 and my motor ran smoother and stronger with it.
Quote from: Krazy_Kling;210178
Honda owners are like rabbits......they hide under your shed during the winter and then 30 of them come popping out around spring.
ASE certified parts specialist.
1988 Mercury Cougar Blue Max edition. SOLD
2004 Impala
My Cardomain http://www.cardomain.com/ride/799588

Synthetic Oil

Reply #9
After I runned My rebuilded 232/3.8 for around 1000miles, I putted a full synthetic on the engine, and I noticed when it's hot the engine pressure stay the same at the same engine temperature, for an example:

35psi at 190' with castrol xlr
40psi at 190' with synthec...

But I tried that on My 300.000 miles in My truck, inline six 300ci, and never again, the engine probably too slack or wathever...
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]1985 Thunderbird 3.8 carbed 57k original, summer car.
1980 Econoline inline 6 300ci 300k, winter/working.
1988 Base Bird finally crushed... RIP.

Dominique,  The Ridiculous, Fordus, crazyous!!!  :birdsmily:

Synthetic Oil

Reply #10
Thanks for the responces.  If I ever get a newer vehical, or one day when I have to rebuild the 302 in my thunderbird in a performance oriented fashion,  I'll switch over to synthetic.  Its clear their is a performance improvement. 

A lot of manufacturers advertise synthetic is much thinner at cold temperatures, but the funny thing is no one around here (where winter tempshiznit -45) runs it.  I guess change just takes time and someday it will catch on. 

One other thing, are you still suppost to change synthetic every 3000miles or can you go longer, with "extreme duty"
ie: extreme cold and lots of idleing.

 

Synthetic Oil

Reply #11
The oil wont break down as fast so you can run it longer, i'd atleast change the filter if you want to go longer on the oil.


Scott
1980 birds X 3, 1982 bird, 1984 XR7, 1988 TC