Safe to put synthetic in an engine with 42k?

[InlineFive]

Hello everyone,

Based on the advice received here and my own personal opinions after driving several vehicles I picked up an '07 Ford Fusion V6 SE with 42k. My mechanic looked over the car and said that it looked fine and didn't have any leaks. Given this I opted to have Mobil 1 put in the car. Based on what I've read I think this should be a pretty safe decision. However, what does ATTG think?

Thanks,

I5

 

[jlee]

yep.

 

[brblx]

it'll be fine. you want to avoid switching to synthetic in a really high mileage engine because sythetic has a tendancy to find and exploit small leaks (or potential leaks, even).

just don't go to nutty oil change intervals just because you have synthetic. the oil resists breakdown better, but it still needs to be changed. if doing something like 7.5k oil changes, i'd still put a filter change and a topup in the middle.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I did a swap to synthetic at 86k with high mileage mobil 1. Valvetrain is a little quieter now I noticed.

 

[BassBomb]

yes

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: brblx
it'll be fine. you want to avoid switching to synthetic in a really high mileage engine because sythetic has a tendancy to find and exploit small leaks (or potential leaks, even).

just don't go to nutty oil change intervals just because you have synthetic. the oil resists breakdown better, but it still needs to be changed. if doing something like 7.5k oil changes, i'd still put a filter change and a topup in the middle.

Actually, it isn't even about breaking down, it's the fact that you have particles from the combustion of fuel and dirt being sucked in the air filter but not being filtered by the oil filter, causing friction and this results in more engine wear.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: brblx
it'll be fine. you want to avoid switching to synthetic in a really high mileage engine because sythetic has a tendancy to find and exploit small leaks (or potential leaks, even).

just don't go to nutty oil change intervals just because you have synthetic. the oil resists breakdown better, but it still needs to be changed. if doing something like 7.5k oil changes, i'd still put a filter change and a topup in the middle.

Actually, it isn't even about breaking down, it's the fact that you have particles from the combustion of fuel and dirt being sucked in the air filter but not being filtered by the oil filter, causing friction and this results in more engine wear.

What?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: brblx
it'll be fine. you want to avoid switching to synthetic in a really high mileage engine because sythetic has a tendancy to find and exploit small leaks (or potential leaks, even).

just don't go to nutty oil change intervals just because you have synthetic. the oil resists breakdown better, but it still needs to be changed. if doing something like 7.5k oil changes, i'd still put a filter change and a topup in the middle.

Actually, it isn't even about breaking down, it's the fact that you have particles from the combustion of fuel and dirt being sucked in the air filter but not being filtered by the oil filter, causing friction and this results in more engine wear.

What?

I think he's saying that even if you had oil that never ever "broke down" it would still get dirty.

 

[Gillbot]

yep

 

[Viperoni]

Yup no problem.

 

[exar333]

I switched to synthetic in my last car at 36k (thats how many miles where on it when I purchased it) and it ran like a champ. Go for it.

 

[DVad3r]

Yes.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

No. I mean, yes.

 

[franksta]

I switched at 100,000 miles in my truck.

 

[brblx]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: JLee

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: brblx
it'll be fine. you want to avoid switching to synthetic in a really high mileage engine because sythetic has a tendancy to find and exploit small leaks (or potential leaks, even).

just don't go to nutty oil change intervals just because you have synthetic. the oil resists breakdown better, but it still needs to be changed. if doing something like 7.5k oil changes, i'd still put a filter change and a topup in the middle.

Actually, it isn't even about breaking down, it's the fact that you have particles from the combustion of fuel and dirt being sucked in the air filter but not being filtered by the oil filter, causing friction and this results in more engine wear.

What?

I think he's saying that even if you had oil that never ever "broke down" it would still get dirty.

...which is why you change the filter. you're never going to get all the carbon and combustion byproducts out of the oil, but it can go a surprisingly long time on filter changes.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: brblx
it'll be fine. you want to avoid switching to synthetic in a really high mileage engine because sythetic has a tendancy to find and exploit small leaks (or potential leaks, even).

Does anybody use non-detergent oils in their engines these days?

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: brblx

it'll be fine. you want to avoid switching to synthetic in a really high mileage engine because sythetic has a tendancy to find and exploit small leaks (or potential leaks, even).

just don't go to nutty oil change intervals just because you have synthetic. the oil resists breakdown better, but it still needs to be changed. if doing something like 7.5k oil changes, i'd still put a filter change and a topup in the middle.

BS

Synthetic doesn't have any magical powers to defeat gaskets.

 

[brblx]

and you certainly don't have any magical reading powers.

did i say synthetic caused leaks? nope. i said it exploited weak spots, which it does. the molecules in synthetic oils are smaller and far more uniform that dino oil, which, despite correcting the shearing problems of conventional oils, also makes it more prone to leak.