Interesting article on motor oils
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From: NY/NJ
Thanks bolt for the great info. Now I know I am ready for synthetic. Bob
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From: La Habra, CA
Most of you will probably freak out about this, but I have been using extended drain intervals for 7-8 years now.
Typically, I change oil every 10,000 miles on my Lightning, with filter changes every 3-5,000, depending on the type of driving. I have been using Redline Synthetic for that entire time. Typically, I use 10w30. I also use K&N or Donaldson Synthetic oil filters.
I ran my 95' Mustang Cobra 130,000 miles in Los Angeles, stop and crawl traffic without ever having the engine opened for any repairs. I changed oil every 15,000 miles and filters every 5000. Again, I useed Redline Synthetic oil and K&N or Donaldson Synthetic oil filters.
I would guess this equals 150,000-175,000 miles if you consider all the time we spend stopped with the engine running, but no miles accumulating.
The synthetic oils just do not breakdown from normal use. You must have to seriously overheat them, to make them breakdown. There would be more serious engine damage than just overheated oil, if the engine were heated to that point.
I went this route because of simple economics and time. Because of the miles I travel, I would be changing oil at least once a month on my truck alone. There are four fulltime vehicles in my family. I could concievabley be changing oil 2-3 times per month.
From a cost standpoint, it is much less expensive to use synthetic oil at $8 per quart, and only change it 3 times per year, as opposed to 12 or more times per year, on my vehicle alone.
Typically, I change oil every 10,000 miles on my Lightning, with filter changes every 3-5,000, depending on the type of driving. I have been using Redline Synthetic for that entire time. Typically, I use 10w30. I also use K&N or Donaldson Synthetic oil filters.
I ran my 95' Mustang Cobra 130,000 miles in Los Angeles, stop and crawl traffic without ever having the engine opened for any repairs. I changed oil every 15,000 miles and filters every 5000. Again, I useed Redline Synthetic oil and K&N or Donaldson Synthetic oil filters.
I would guess this equals 150,000-175,000 miles if you consider all the time we spend stopped with the engine running, but no miles accumulating.
The synthetic oils just do not breakdown from normal use. You must have to seriously overheat them, to make them breakdown. There would be more serious engine damage than just overheated oil, if the engine were heated to that point.
I went this route because of simple economics and time. Because of the miles I travel, I would be changing oil at least once a month on my truck alone. There are four fulltime vehicles in my family. I could concievabley be changing oil 2-3 times per month.
From a cost standpoint, it is much less expensive to use synthetic oil at $8 per quart, and only change it 3 times per year, as opposed to 12 or more times per year, on my vehicle alone.
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From: TEXAS
Jay
Let me start by saying I use Mobil 1... But being devils advocate here....
If you are gonna change the filter every 5k why not change the oil too ?
And if you spend $8.00 a quart and run the oil 3 times as far, if I pay less than $2.66 a quart and change it 3x as often, the money is the same. Just wondering....
One more question if Synthetics are so great and dont break down, and have higher flash point, why do they turn dark just as quick as conventional oil ?
Doug
Let me start by saying I use Mobil 1... But being devils advocate here....
If you are gonna change the filter every 5k why not change the oil too ?
And if you spend $8.00 a quart and run the oil 3 times as far, if I pay less than $2.66 a quart and change it 3x as often, the money is the same. Just wondering....
One more question if Synthetics are so great and dont break down, and have higher flash point, why do they turn dark just as quick as conventional oil ?
Doug
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From: North Royalton, Ohio, USA
That's an interesting article. I've been using Redline, but I've also been using the stock oil filter. Maybe I'll change to the Amsoil oil filter. Are these easily available in auto parts stores?
Tom
Tom
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From: Warner Robins, Ga, CSA
Silver: Maybe the dark coloration is from the syn. oil holding combustion by-products in suspension--as it should.
I read all of the pages and one thing stuck out at me------'dry' start ups create the most internal damage to an eng.---already knew that but, I didn't know(or had just forgotten) that syn. oil adheres to the internals--even over long non-start conditions. This 'coating' apparently protects the parts that 'touch' each other but still stays at a low friction level viscosity(unlike STP--ugh!).
Dan
I read all of the pages and one thing stuck out at me------'dry' start ups create the most internal damage to an eng.---already knew that but, I didn't know(or had just forgotten) that syn. oil adheres to the internals--even over long non-start conditions. This 'coating' apparently protects the parts that 'touch' each other but still stays at a low friction level viscosity(unlike STP--ugh!).
Dan
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From: Santa Fe, NM
I am an Amsoil believer, I have seen engine after engine in normal everyday driven cars & trucks go 200,000 + miles with minimal wear. Amsoil also has a bypass filter which has allowed for example a semi to go 450,000 miles without an oil change and show minimal wear. My bolt now has 6,000 miles on it and ready for it's second oil change, I will be converting the entire truck over to amsoil. BTW Amsoil does make 5-20W for our trucks (one of the few oil makers who do.)
Andy.
Andy.
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From: La Habra, CA
Doug, mainly it's the time involved. We have four cars currently operating full time in our family. With all the miles that are accumulated on the vehicles so quickly, I'd be changing oil on something EVERY WEEK. If I can lenghen the time on each vehicle, I'm probably doing an oil change once a month.
It's a convenience thing.
As far as costs are concerned, I was changing oil so often, I started having it done a Juffy Lube, while I was working. That was every 3-4 weeks with the miles I travel. That cost $30 every time. That's $360 per year.
If I change it 3 times per year myself, that's $175.00 per year.
Time is money to me. I learned a long time, that if I have enought time, I can fix anything. I soon found out that some things weren't worth fixing, and hence got replaced. It was cheaper to replace broken things, than spending hours fixing them.
It's a convenience thing.
As far as costs are concerned, I was changing oil so often, I started having it done a Juffy Lube, while I was working. That was every 3-4 weeks with the miles I travel. That cost $30 every time. That's $360 per year.
If I change it 3 times per year myself, that's $175.00 per year.
Time is money to me. I learned a long time, that if I have enought time, I can fix anything. I soon found out that some things weren't worth fixing, and hence got replaced. It was cheaper to replace broken things, than spending hours fixing them.