Synthetic oil vs regular oil...

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
15,908
19
81
I heard that synthetic oil leaks/causes leaks in cars, but offers better performance, whereas regular engine oil will do a decent job and is better at longevity.

I know someone @ work who just put in mobil 1 in his car, and he's been raving about it ever since. Mobil 1 = synthetic yes? (i think?).

So I've been thinking, should I put Mobil 1 on my car, or do you guys have other recommendations?

So ya, I'm all for longevity. '97 ford explorer, 4L V6, 160k + miles still running well.

What should it be?


*official Car noob*

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: now w/ 100% more poll.

And please post your indept reasons if possible. Thanks.
Oh and any brand recommendations? hehe
 
Aug 27, 2002
10,043
2
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use the same oil, brand and weight that you have been using in it.


never never never never never change the brand/weight of oil you use in an engine once you make you're first oil change after the break in oil.
 

bret

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2001
2,099
0
76
mineral oil is good for breaking in an engine, then change to synthetic... i use mobil 1 5w 30.




 

chrisms

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2003
6,615
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Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
use the same oil, brand and weight that you have been using in it.


never never never never never change the brand/weight of oil you use in an engine once you make you're first oil change after the break in oil.

What the hell are you talking about.. who told you this?
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
'97 ford explorer, 4L V6, still running well.

nonsynthetic.

Synthetic is a waste of money in most cars. Unless you drive a high-performance car or a very new car, just stick to dino grease and save yourself some money.
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
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i use a heavier grade when i'm driving hard for at least a few days (like across Oz ;) ), and a lighter grade in town for the rest of the time...

 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
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Here, let me summarize how this thread will go:

alkhdnaoiusdhnaifkpodfmepfoidamsdoiahnfiuwoj change paisdjaoiuhdnsidoprmqwjeodjad oaifdjuaojfaikjweprjwqeohduw oil kjahdsauishdaoiujweoirhiudgh every sournewtpwontoirhoijwpijdferwpoierjwoiejrweoi 3,000 miles ahdaiusdhaiwodjqorbiugbuh liahduhdauwodjaioejwiejqei don't sdajfaohipesmjrtwptimwnqef switch apsmdaflknseiufwnefoie to aslidjaiusdhaiudojewdileniwe synthetic ajdoiuhdeiafheru before goihiurehjdoiajdqwrepoqjr breakin poaidhfeiuhfaiofjritohewyuij oil laisjndiahnds is oil laihoiuajdpoais is oil ahdsaiushdsdkas synthetic aoishdaudoaid oil piahsdiuhtodritj is aojiufeshfst a edjfoihjoer waste paojsfoishjst of paisdjuid money ohdfiuyadhgbuahureh your car oisadfhiufhjewrjtertijwmeik will leak khnfiejrhw more urehnweuybweufyhbe
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: Eli
Here, let me summarize how this thread will go:

alkhdnaoiusdhnaifkpodfmepfoidamsdoiahnfiuwoj change paisdjaoiuhdnsidoprmqwjeodjad oaifdjuaojfaikjweprjwqeohduw oil kjahdsauishdaoiujweoirhiudgh every sournewtpwontoirhoijwpijdferwpoierjwoiejrweoi 3,000 miles ahdaiusdhaiwodjqorbiugbuh liahduhdauwodjaioejwiejqei don't sdajfaohipesmjrtwptimwnqef switch apsmdaflknseiufwnefoie to aslidjaiusdhaiudojewdileniwe synthetic ajdoiuhdeiafheru before goihiurehjdoiajdqwrepoq2jr3 breakin poaidhfeiuhfaiofjritohewyuij oil laisjndiahnds is oil laihoiuajdpoais is oil ahdsaiushdsdkas synthetic aoishdaudoaid oil piahsdiuhtodritj is aojiufeshf9st a [edjfoihjoer waste paojsfoish8jst of paisdjuid money ohdfiuyadhgbuahureh your car oisadfhiufhjewr0jte0rtijwmeik will leak khnfiejrhw more urehnweuybweufyhbe

cliffs notes?
 

bret

Platinum Member
Mar 14, 2001
2,099
0
76
Originally posted by: Eli
Here, let me summarize how this thread will go:

alkhdnaoiusdhnaifkpodfmepfoidamsdoiahnfiuwoj change paisdjaoiuhdnsidoprmqwjeodjad oaifdjuaojfaikjweprjwqeohduw oil kjahdsauishdaoiujweoirhiudgh every sournewtpwontoirhoijwpijdferwpoierjwoiejrweoi 3,000 miles ahdaiusdhaiwodjqorbiugbuh liahduhdauwodjaioejwiejqei don't sdajfaohipesmjrtwptimwnqef switch apsmdaflknseiufwnefoie to aslidjaiusdhaiudojewdileniwe synthetic ajdoiuhdeiafheru before goihiurehjdoiajdqwrepoq2jr3 breakin poaidhfeiuhfaiofjritohewyuij oil laisjndiahnds is oil laihoiuajdpoais is oil ahdsaiushdsdkas synthetic aoishdaudoaid oil piahsdiuhtodritj is aojiufeshf9st a [edjfoihjoer waste paojsfoish8jst of paisdjuid money ohdfiuyadhgbuahureh your car oisadfhiufhjewr0jte0rtijwmeik will leak khnfiejrhw more urehnweuybweufyhbe


that took me a min but i got it...
 

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
15,908
19
81
Originally posted by: dug777
Originally posted by: Eli
Here, let me summarize how this thread will go:

alkhdnaoiusdhnaifkpodfmepfoidamsdoiahnfiuwoj change paisdjaoiuhdnsidoprmqwjeodjad oaifdjuaojfaikjweprjwqeohduw oil kjahdsauishdaoiujweoirhiudgh every sournewtpwontoirhoijwpijdferwpoierjwoiejrweoi 3,000 miles ahdaiusdhaiwodjqorbiugbuh liahduhdauwodjaioejwiejqei don't sdajfaohipesmjrtwptimwnqef switch apsmdaflknseiufwnefoie to aslidjaiusdhaiudojewdileniwe synthetic ajdoiuhdeiafheru before goihiurehjdoiajdqwrepoq2jr3 breakin poaidhfeiuhfaiofjritohewyuij oil laisjndiahnds is oil laihoiuajdpoais is oil ahdsaiushdsdkas synthetic aoishdaudoaid oil piahsdiuhtodritj is aojiufeshf9st a [edjfoihjoer waste paojsfoish8jst of paisdjuid money ohdfiuyadhgbuahureh your car oisadfhiufhjewr0jte0rtijwmeik will leak khnfiejrhw more urehnweuybweufyhbe

cliffs notes?


change oil every 3,000 miles don't switch to synthetic before breakin oil is oil is oil synthetic oil is a waste of money your car wil leak more
 

TheChort

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
4,203
0
76
synthetic oil is thinner than regular oil, which explains the leaks

In older cars where tubes are more worn out, you run the risk of leaks in switching to synthetic.
 

d3n

Golden Member
Mar 13, 2004
1,597
0
0
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
use the same oil, brand and weight that you have been using in it.


never never never never never change the brand/weight of oil you use in an engine once you make you're first oil change after the break in oil.

I'll tend to agree with this. However I think this goes for more of a high mileage vehicle that was previously dino juice. Going Synthetic can really knock allot of the build up loose and clog everything up after a couple years have gone by. I know that it has 'killed off' some cars. I figure you would be ok on the first year or two if you switch from regular to synthetic.

Since you have a 97 I would go for Castrol High Mileage Dino.

Mobil One rocks. It lets me stretch oil changes to every 7500-10000 miles.

Dino I would go with a strait 3-5000 mile change interval.

The new Toyota I have Mobile One in since the wife often has the van tied up from getting oil changes. The Volvo 850 Brick I drive uses Castrol High Milage at 140,000. Still runs like new.
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
Originally posted by: dug777
Originally posted by: Eli
Here, let me summarize how this thread will go:

alkhdnaoiusdhnaifkpodfmepfoidamsdoiahnfiuwoj change paisdjaoiuhdnsidoprmqwjeodjad oaifdjuaojfaikjweprjwqeohduw oil kjahdsauishdaoiujweoirhiudgh every sournewtpwontoirhoijwpijdferwpoierjwoiejrweoi 3,000 miles ahdaiusdhaiwodjqorbiugbuh liahduhdauwodjaioejwiejqei don't sdajfaohipesmjrtwptimwnqef switch apsmdaflknseiufwnefoie to aslidjaiusdhaiudojewdileniwe synthetic ajdoiuhdeiafheru before goihiurehjdoiajdqwrepoq2jr3 breakin poaidhfeiuhfaiofjritohewyuij oil laisjndiahnds is oil laihoiuajdpoais is oil ahdsaiushdsdkas synthetic aoishdaudoaid oil piahsdiuhtodritj is aojiufeshf9st a [edjfoihjoer waste paojsfoish8jst of paisdjuid money ohdfiuyadhgbuahureh your car oisadfhiufhjewr0jte0rtijwmeik will leak khnfiejrhw more urehnweuybweufyhbe

cliffs notes?


change oil every 3,000 miles don't switch to synthetic before breakin oil is oil is oil synthetic oil is a waste of money your car wil leak more

:beer: cheers :)
 
Aug 27, 2002
10,043
2
0
Originally posted by: chrisms
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
use the same oil, brand and weight that you have been using in it.


never never never never never change the brand/weight of oil you use in an engine once you make you're first oil change after the break in oil.

What the hell are you talking about.. who told you this?
if you lose an engine, (I've lost 2) and the fault is with the oil, the oil company pays for your replacement engine. if you can't prove that you've had the same oil brand/weight in the engine from the get go, you pay for your replacement engine. go ask any certified mechanic.

of course if you don't know what was used all along, or have already switched oils in the past, it really doesn't matter that much, as long as it's quaility oil, if you have build up problems, I'd use an additive like Restore for one oil change and continue using what you're using now. aluminum block engines don't have near the same issues as steel blocks, and longivity is more of an issue of wear, and worn out gaskets. (my 99 ranger had 287k miles on it with out anything done to it aside from normal maintance....brakes/shocks/tranny service/etc.) when I traded it in.

Penzoil paid for my 2nd engine that blew btw.
 

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
15,908
19
81
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Originally posted by: chrisms
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
use the same oil, brand and weight that you have been using in it.


never never never never never change the brand/weight of oil you use in an engine once you make you're first oil change after the break in oil.

What the hell are you talking about.. who told you this?
if you lose an engine, (I've lost 2) and the fault is with the oil, the oil company pays for your replacement engine. if you can't prove that you've had the same oil brand/weight in the engine from the get go, you pay for your replacement engine. go ask any certified mechanic.

hmm. interesting.
 

chrisms

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2003
6,615
0
0
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Originally posted by: chrisms
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
use the same oil, brand and weight that you have been using in it.


never never never never never change the brand/weight of oil you use in an engine once you make you're first oil change after the break in oil.

What the hell are you talking about.. who told you this?
if you lose an engine, (I've lost 2) and the fault is with the oil, the oil company pays for your replacement engine. if you can't prove that you've had the same oil brand/weight in the engine from the get go, you pay for your replacement engine. go ask any certified mechanic.


That has nothing to do with what you said. The oil company, let's say Mobile isn't going to pay for your engine if you've been using both their product and Chevron oil on and off for the past few years when your car breaks down. They'll tell you to go talk to Chevron. This is simple business, nothing to do with auto mechanics.
 

KarenMarie

Elite Member
Sep 20, 2003
14,372
6
81
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
use the same oil, brand and weight that you have been using in it.


never never never never never change the brand/weight of oil you use in an engine once you make you're first oil change after the break in oil.


That is EXACTLY what my b/f said... he is an expert....

he said that if you were gonna change, you should have done it after break in. Now you need to stick with what you already have.
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
use the same oil, brand and weight that you have been using in it.


never never never never never change the brand/weight of oil you use in an engine once you make you're first oil change after the break in oil.


That is EXACTLY what my b/f said... he is an expert....

he said that if you were gonna change, you should have done it after break in. Now you need to stick with what you already have.

especially if you live in a place with extremes of winters/summers temps, you'd be fvcking mad not to change your oil types :p
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
lol, ok.. i'll read the thread.

First and foremost, synthetic oil absolutely does not cause leaks. IF your car is already leaking oil externally, the leak MAY get worse if you switch to synthetic, the reason being that it's molecules are much more uniform. That's what gives synthetic oil it's low temperature performance.

What exactly do you mean by offers "better performance"? There are many facets to "performance". If you mean fuel economy, forget about it. If you mean oil longevity, you may be onto something. If you mean engine longevity, there are more important things than the specific oil you use.

It looks like your engine has pretty high milage already, at 160k. What has your oil change schedule been like?

What weight oil do you use?

Does your engine use any oil? Does it leak?

It's way too easy to get hung up on the oil, when thare are half a dozen things that are more important to the longevity of your engine.

Edit: Oh dear lord, the thread has already gone to hell in a handbasket.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
Originally posted by: TheChort
synthetic oil is thinner than regular oil, which explains the leaks
Wouldn't it be retarded if synthetic didn't come in the same viscosity grades?

 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Umm, incase any of you didn't get it, that was a joke... lol


Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
use the same oil, brand and weight that you have been using in it.

never never never never never change the brand/weight of oil you use in an engine once you make you're first oil change after the break in oil.
Please. Complete horsesh!t.
Originally posted by: bret
mineral oil is good for breaking in an engine, then change to synthetic... i use mobil 1 5w 30.
Bleh, you can use whatever oil you want for breakin. There is not an oil on the planet that will "prevent" an engine from breaking in. Should anybody invent such a thing, well.. we'll all know about it.

Synthetic oil manufacturers don't recommend using their oils for breakin because it is pointless. Why bother using expensive synthetic oil when it is going to be fouled because of solid particles in ~1,000 miles? Use the cheapest oil you can find. There's no need to go non-detergent or anything "fancy", unless you know what you're doing and are going to break it in, in your garage and around the block. Most people just drive normally during break-in, and in that case the additives in regular engine oil are going to help, especially if they go beyond the specified break-in period.
Originally posted by: dug777
i use a heavier grade when i'm driving hard for at least a few days (like across Oz ;) ), and a lighter grade in town for the rest of the time...
Careful there. City driving is actually severe service compared to highway travel.
Originally posted by: TheChort
synthetic oil is thinner than regular oil, which explains the leaks

In older cars where tubes are more worn out, you run the risk of leaks in switching to synthetic.
Synthetic oil is NOT "thinner" than regular oil.

Worn out tubes huh? What tubes are you speaking of? :p

If the engine does not leak before synthetic, it is unlikely that it will leak aftwerwards.
Originally posted by: d3n
I'll tend to agree with this. However I think this goes for more of a high mileage vehicle that was previously dino juice. Going Synthetic can really knock allot of the build up loose and clog everything up after a couple years have gone by. I know that it has 'killed off' some cars. I figure you would be ok on the first year or two if you switch from regular to synthetic.

Since you have a 97 I would go for Castrol High Mileage Dino.
There is nothing special about Castrol or the "High Milage" oils. They may have a bit more aggressive additive package, but.. you should have that anyway.

There is no evidence that synthetic oil will "knock" anything loose. While quality synthetic oils do contain a more robust additive package, the detergency difference isn't that profound.

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
if you lose an engine, (I've lost 2) and the fault is with the oil, the oil company pays for your replacement engine. if you can't prove that you've had the same oil brand/weight in the engine from the get go, you pay for your replacement engine. go ask any certified mechanic.

of course if you don't know what was used all along, or have already switched oils in the past, it really doesn't matter that much, as long as it's quaility oil, if you have build up problems, I'd use an additive like Restore for one oil change and continue using what you're using now. aluminum block engines don't have near the same issues as steel blocks, and longivity is more of an issue of wear, and worn out gaskets. (my 99 ranger had 287k miles on it with out anything done to it aside from normal maintance....brakes/shocks/tranny service/etc.) when I traded it in.

Penzoil paid for my 2nd engine that blew btw.
Ok, I was with you for the first paragraph, and then you recommended using an oil additive. Folks, DO NOT under any circumstances put ANYTHING into your crankcase but pure, virgin, unadulterated engine oil.

Let's hear more about these replaced engines. First, how on Earth did you go about proving beyond a reasonable doubt that it was the oil's fault that your engine failed? It's virtually impossible, although they would probably oblige you IF you prooved that you had been using nothing but Pennzoil for the entire life of the engine. Was this indeed the case?
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
That is EXACTLY what my b/f said... he is an expert....

he said that if you were gonna change, you should have done it after break in. Now you need to stick with what you already have.
If your boyfriend said that, he may be an expert - but it's not at engine oil. :) There is no logical reasoning for that stance. It doesen't make any sense.

*pant*
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Dan needs to answer the questions I asked in my first post before I can seriously recommend something for him.

In addition, where do you live? What's the terrain like?