I was wondering what your opinion is on this. Does syntheic oil really increase horsepower and reduce engine wear? Has anyone ever dynoed before and after changing to syntheic oils? Thanks, HANKFAN

 

I've heard of people geting between 2-5 hp on the dyno from synthetic, but that is well with in the error band for the dyno, so I'm not really sure about the increased hp. I'm not totally sold on the reduction of Engine wear during use, but on my old diesel van, a full synthetic really help in winter starting, because if flowed very well at cold temps. That being true, I assume that it help reduce engine wear at startup.

 

Hey Looks it flows easier. That translates into less HP needed to move it around therefore that leaves more HP for going forward.

A lot of engine wear occurs at start up. Synthetic stays on the bering surfaces and cylinder wall longer and thicker than regular oil giving more protection at startup and less wear. It's worth the money but I run it longer than I ran reg oil which was 3000 max and therefore the additional initial price becomes less. Your gas mileage will improve with synthetic oil. Mine has on every vehicle I have put it in.
noelvm
It might interest you to know that the only car that can really beat us, the corvette, comes from the factory with synthetic oil in it. The old wives tale that an engine will not breakin with synthetic oil is BULL*****.

 

Just look at NASCAR! Big Money is on the line. Cars typically run 0-30 Mobil 1 during the race and an EVEN LIGHTER grade for qualifying. And yes, it makes a difference on top end speed and usable horsepower. Anyone not running a synthetic in a supercharged engine simply isn't getting the maximum lubrication benefit.

 

Just got off the phone with a ford tech about this issue. Coming from someone who has been inside the motors and has seen first hand the wear and tear, he recommends 10 w 40 valvoline on a 3,000 mile change routine. He says synthetic is good if changed regularly. However he thinks most people are going to the synthetic so they will not have to change as often and that is not good.

 

Sorry, reading through. Just would like to comment..

1) I put 235k on a 92' Escort using just Havoline 10w30 and regular 3-3.5k oil changes with no leaks in sight when I sold it. I drove it hard the last 100k it got.

2) I put Synth. Mobil 1 in my 2k 3.8L Mustang which can be see here: ( http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/News/select1141.htm ) Which my father owns now as he traded in his Perf. Red 2k Stang to me for a trade in on the 2k Silver L. No need to waste all those mod's. I change it religously with Synth and had 1) to get the gaskets replaced by Ford, lost power due to friction on the engine which I believe the synth Mobil 1 did cause (5 bucks a bottle) and it only has 20k miles on it. I drove this car pretty hard to. It saw some 15 sec times at the track. Not bad for 190hp at crank.

Also you can't take advantage of the 5-7k oil changes due to the filter not lasting but 3k at best.
So I am just using regular ford premium oil and filter that the dealer supplies. If you are going to use just a racing oil I would suggest Royal Purple or AMSOIL that is if you are stressing the engine daily. I opted to get the Lightning instead of droppin another 3k on 8psi of boost on the 3.8L. Although my friend Pete Campbell is running low 13's with his Powerdyne running 8lbs of boost with a modified pro-m.

-Mike


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2000 Lightning
Color: Silver
Mods: None

 

twiztid, I also use Royal Purple in my Lightning and I know this sounds funny but I can tell when Ford changes my oil back to the ford stuff for maintence reasons without even looking at the repair list.

Purple is far superior and more free rev'ing to any oil that I've ever used, including Mobile 1 IMHO.

 

Yeah, personally I used Mobil 1, too thin at 5w30 like water which is good but is bad because there is a broken bond when its that thin. Royal Purple is light but has a viscosity that holds up (sp?) I dunno, maybe my retailer sucks with the mobil 1 but at 3k changes I think the stock stuff will be fine, I don't redline the truck (not that I haven't hit rev limiter) but I also tend to drive at 1.5 to 2k rpms around town. It drives just like a regular 5.4L v8 but Punch the gas and its like it is a regular 5.4 on Crack! MUAHAH.

I like.

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2000 Lightning
Color: Silver
Mods: None

 

I wish I could stuff a 5.4L S/C lightning engine in the stang I had. They sell them complete Crate at www.karkraft.com

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2000 Lightning
Color: Silver
Mods: None

 

Well, the new C5 Owners manual says to change the oil every 6,000 miles. I've heard the big oil companies aren't too happy abou that, including Mobil 1 which is the factory supplier for the C5. I do know this, you can switch from synthetic to normal, but not from normal to synthetic. This applies only to an older engine, not a newer one..... I would say use what Ford advises you to use. That's what they pay the high price engineers for. If it's harmful to your engine, they damn sure wouldn't tell you to use it. If synthetic would be that much better for the Lightning, I'm sure Ford would ship them from the Factory with synthetic.....

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'00 MY C5

 

the tech that he talked to ,must have been from his local ford lube shop. in the svt owners book tells to use and only use a syntheic oil.and the truck is shipped with fords brand of syntheic oil.

 

I believe the Motorcraft oil is a synthetic blend. I saw some at Wal Mart last week.

 

Wow, I can't believe your brought up a thread that is six years old about freakin oil