Synthetic oil?

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Does anyone have any experience using synthetic oil in their car? Is it really better? Worth it? Would you recommend it? I'm looking at buying a new car pretty soon, and I've heard synthetic oil is quite a bit better than regular oil if you start when the car is relatively new. My old car is a POS, I'm just going to crumple it up in a ball and throw it in a trash can.
 

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
I got 3k more miles to go before my next scheduled service.

I'll be using Amsoil after.
 

rubenswm

Golden Member
Aug 12, 2000
1,871
0
76
Originally posted by: isekii
I got 3k more miles to go before my next scheduled service.

I'll be using Amsoil after.

Amsoil is awesome. A little expensive at $8/qt, but with the hi-flow amsoil filter you can go 25,000 miles or 1 year (whatever comes first). I couldn't find the filter so I just went with a Honda OEM (Fvck fram and their chep cardboard filters)

Amsoil XL-7500 is 7,500 miles or 6 mo whatever comes first. This is the option I'd reccomend to most people. The only reason I got the regular amsoil was NAPA was out of the 5W-30 for the XL7500.

As far as other synthetics such as Mobil One, they will do a better job of keeping your vehicle well lubricated. Sometimes you can see increase gas mileage too.
 

rubenswm

Golden Member
Aug 12, 2000
1,871
0
76
I mean, better than a traditional oil.
As far as amsoil it's a bad option for a lot of people because it can be hard to get and expensive because of this.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: snik
What will be your new car?

2003 Civic or Accord Coupe, not sure yet. I'm not going to be going around racing people or anything, I'm just wondering if it's all they say it is, because apparantly you can go a heck of a lot longer between oil changes and such. And it's supposed to keep your engine in better condition, right?
 

freebee

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2000
4,043
0
0
I never noticed much of a difference, either in performance or fuel economy. I've used combinations of mobil 1 oil/filter to regular oil/fram filter. As long as the oil is changed frequently on the range of 2-3k, it doesn't really matter what you use.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
There is no refuting the fact that it is better than conventional oil.

However.. Your oil filter could almost be considered more important than the oil you use.

Even the best military designed space age government certified oil is completely useless if it has solid particulates in it.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: rubenswm
Originally posted by: isekii
I got 3k more miles to go before my next scheduled service.

I'll be using Amsoil after.

Amsoil is awesome. A little expensive at $8/qt, but with the hi-flow amsoil filter you can go 25,000 miles or 1 year (whatever comes first). I couldn't find the filter so I just went with a Honda OEM (Fvck fram and their chep cardboard filters)

Amsoil XL-7500 is 7,500 miles or 6 mo whatever comes first. This is the option I'd reccomend to most people. The only reason I got the regular amsoil was NAPA was out of the 5W-30 for the XL7500.

As far as other synthetics such as Mobil One, they will do a better job of keeping your vehicle well lubricated. Sometimes you can see increase gas mileage too.
ONLY if you change your oil filter.

Under no circumstances should you go 25,000 miles (or even 10,000) on the same oil filter.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Should I use 5w-30 ? or 10w-30 ?

I live in NJ

5W-30.

What would be the main difference betwene that and 10w-30 besides temperature thingie :)
Nothing. The xW is a measure of it's cold temperature viscosity.

At temperature, they are both 30 weight oils.
 

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Should I use 5w-30 ? or 10w-30 ?

I live in NJ

5W-30.

What would be the main difference betwene that and 10w-30 besides temperature thingie :)
Nothing. The xW is a measure of it's cold temperature viscosity.

At temperature, they are both 30 weight oils.


Cool then 5w-30 it is with a Denso (JDM) filter.
For some reason the JDM denso filters are better made than the USDM ones. well atleast for my car anyways.
 

rubenswm

Golden Member
Aug 12, 2000
1,871
0
76
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Should I use 5w-30 ? or 10w-30 ?

I live in NJ

5W-30.

What would be the main difference betwene that and 10w-30 besides temperature thingie :)
Nothing. The xW is a measure of it's cold temperature viscosity.

At temperature, they are both 30 weight oils.


Cool then 5w-30 it is with a Denso (JDM) filter.
For some reason the JDM denso filters are better made than the USDM ones. well atleast for my car anyways.

It's going to depend on what season it is, isekii. For summer you'll want a 10weight oil..for winter a 5weight oil. You may lose a little hp with the 10weight (very very marginal) but you'll definitely want that protection for summer.
 

rubenswm

Golden Member
Aug 12, 2000
1,871
0
76
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Should I use 5w-30 ? or 10w-30 ?

I live in NJ

5W-30.

What would be the main difference betwene that and 10w-30 besides temperature thingie :)
Nothing. The xW is a measure of it's cold temperature viscosity.

At temperature, they are both 30 weight oils.


Cool then 5w-30 it is with a Denso (JDM) filter.
For some reason the JDM denso filters are better made than the USDM ones. well atleast for my car anyways.
w3rd to denso..JDM denso radito0r r0x0rs j00r b0x0rs
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: rubenswm
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Should I use 5w-30 ? or 10w-30 ?

I live in NJ

5W-30.

What would be the main difference betwene that and 10w-30 besides temperature thingie :)
Nothing. The xW is a measure of it's cold temperature viscosity.

At temperature, they are both 30 weight oils.


Cool then 5w-30 it is with a Denso (JDM) filter.
For some reason the JDM denso filters are better made than the USDM ones. well atleast for my car anyways.

It's going to depend on what season it is, isekii. For summer you'll want a 10weight oil..for winter a 5weight oil. You may lose a little hp with the 10weight (very very marginal) but you'll definitely want that protection for summer.
It doesen't matter.

10W-30 offers no more protection than 5W-30. The only difference is their low temperature characteristics. They are both 30 weight oils.

He may as well just use 5W-30, and get better on-startup lubrication.
 

rubenswm

Golden Member
Aug 12, 2000
1,871
0
76
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: rubenswm
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Should I use 5w-30 ? or 10w-30 ?

I live in NJ

5W-30.

What would be the main difference betwene that and 10w-30 besides temperature thingie :)
Nothing. The xW is a measure of it's cold temperature viscosity.

At temperature, they are both 30 weight oils.


Cool then 5w-30 it is with a Denso (JDM) filter.
For some reason the JDM denso filters are better made than the USDM ones. well atleast for my car anyways.

It's going to depend on what season it is, isekii. For summer you'll want a 10weight oil..for winter a 5weight oil. You may lose a little hp with the 10weight (very very marginal) but you'll definitely want that protection for summer.
It doesen't matter.

10W-30 offers no more protection than 5W-30. The only difference is their low temperature characteristics. They are both 30 weight oils.

He may as well just use 5W-30, and get better on-startup lubrication.

Uh, that's a generally accepted rule. oilanalysis.com
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: rubenswm
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: rubenswm
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Should I use 5w-30 ? or 10w-30 ?

I live in NJ

5W-30.

What would be the main difference betwene that and 10w-30 besides temperature thingie :)
Nothing. The xW is a measure of it's cold temperature viscosity.

At temperature, they are both 30 weight oils.


Cool then 5w-30 it is with a Denso (JDM) filter.
For some reason the JDM denso filters are better made than the USDM ones. well atleast for my car anyways.

It's going to depend on what season it is, isekii. For summer you'll want a 10weight oil..for winter a 5weight oil. You may lose a little hp with the 10weight (very very marginal) but you'll definitely want that protection for summer.
It doesen't matter.

10W-30 offers no more protection than 5W-30. The only difference is their low temperature characteristics. They are both 30 weight oils.

He may as well just use 5W-30, and get better on-startup lubrication.

Uh, that's a generally accepted rule. oilanalysis.com
What do you mean?... Think about it. The only difference between 10W-30 and 5W-30 is the cold temperature viscosity. What's the point in using an oil that's thicker on startup in the summer?

The 5W-30 is going to be less viscous on those warm mornings than the 10W-30, but that doesen't mean it's offering less protection. They both thin out to 30 weight at operating temperatures.

Just save yourself the trouble of buying different oils and use 5W-30 all year around.

Hell, use 0W-30 if you want. It doesen't matter. You should want to use the oil that flows the best at cold temperatures.
 

OS

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
15,581
1
76
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: rubenswm
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Should I use 5w-30 ? or 10w-30 ?

I live in NJ

5W-30.

What would be the main difference betwene that and 10w-30 besides temperature thingie :)
Nothing. The xW is a measure of it's cold temperature viscosity.

At temperature, they are both 30 weight oils.


Cool then 5w-30 it is with a Denso (JDM) filter.
For some reason the JDM denso filters are better made than the USDM ones. well atleast for my car anyways.

It's going to depend on what season it is, isekii. For summer you'll want a 10weight oil..for winter a 5weight oil. You may lose a little hp with the 10weight (very very marginal) but you'll definitely want that protection for summer.
It doesen't matter.

10W-30 offers no more protection than 5W-30. The only difference is their low temperature characteristics. They are both 30 weight oils.

He may as well just use 5W-30, and get better on-startup lubrication.

So if my car specs 5W-30, can I use 0W-30 just for the heck of it? I mean, in theory you'd get better startup lubrication with 0W-30 right?

 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: OS
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: rubenswm
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: isekii
Should I use 5w-30 ? or 10w-30 ?

I live in NJ

5W-30.

What would be the main difference betwene that and 10w-30 besides temperature thingie :)
Nothing. The xW is a measure of it's cold temperature viscosity.

At temperature, they are both 30 weight oils.


Cool then 5w-30 it is with a Denso (JDM) filter.
For some reason the JDM denso filters are better made than the USDM ones. well atleast for my car anyways.

It's going to depend on what season it is, isekii. For summer you'll want a 10weight oil..for winter a 5weight oil. You may lose a little hp with the 10weight (very very marginal) but you'll definitely want that protection for summer.
It doesen't matter.

10W-30 offers no more protection than 5W-30. The only difference is their low temperature characteristics. They are both 30 weight oils.

He may as well just use 5W-30, and get better on-startup lubrication.

So if my car specs 5W-30, can I use 0W-30 just for the heck of it? I mean, in theory you'd get better startup lubrication with 0W-30 right?
Yep. And if you ever find yourself lost in Northern Alaska, you won't have to worry. ;)
 

OS

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
15,581
1
76
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: OS
So if my car specs 5W-30, can I use 0W-30 just for the heck of it? I mean, in theory you'd get better startup lubrication with 0W-30 right?
Yep. And if you ever find yourself lost in Northern Alaska, you won't have to worry. ;)

Sweet, if I'm ever driving along and I get tractor beamed by a UFO into alaska, I'll be prepared. :D
 

CFster

Golden Member
Oct 16, 1999
1,903
0
76
Originally posted by: rubenswm
Originally posted by: isekii
I got 3k more miles to go before my next scheduled service.

I'll be using Amsoil after.

Amsoil is awesome. A little expensive at $8/qt, but with the hi-flow amsoil filter you can go 25,000 miles or 1 year (whatever comes first). I couldn't find the filter so I just went with a Honda OEM (Fvck fram and their chep cardboard filters)

Amsoil XL-7500 is 7,500 miles or 6 mo whatever comes first. This is the option I'd reccomend to most people. The only reason I got the regular amsoil was NAPA was out of the 5W-30 for the XL7500.

As far as other synthetics such as Mobil One, they will do a better job of keeping your vehicle well lubricated. Sometimes you can see increase gas mileage too.


25,000 miles a year? You'd have to be out of your mind. I'm and ASE tech and have seen all kinds of things come out of drain plugs after 5,000 miles...

And why is the XL7500 Series the only one to have API Certification? You know the starburst symbol on the side of all oil containers? That's what all automakers recommend in their manuals. The oil that Amsoil recommends for the 25K interval doesn't rate!

Heres the list: API Website. Click on the license number to the right.

 

boggsie

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2000
2,326
1
81
Originally posted by: CFster
Originally posted by: rubenswm
Originally posted by: isekii
I got 3k more miles to go before my next scheduled service.

I'll be using Amsoil after.

Amsoil is awesome. A little expensive at $8/qt, but with the hi-flow amsoil filter you can go 25,000 miles or 1 year (whatever comes first). I couldn't find the filter so I just went with a Honda OEM (Fvck fram and their chep cardboard filters)

Amsoil XL-7500 is 7,500 miles or 6 mo whatever comes first. This is the option I'd reccomend to most people. The only reason I got the regular amsoil was NAPA was out of the 5W-30 for the XL7500.

As far as other synthetics such as Mobil One, they will do a better job of keeping your vehicle well lubricated. Sometimes you can see increase gas mileage too.

25,000 miles a year? You'd have to be out of your mind. I'm and ASE tech and have seen all kinds of things come out of drain plugs after 5,000 miles...

pics ??
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: CFster
Originally posted by: rubenswm
Originally posted by: isekii
I got 3k more miles to go before my next scheduled service.

I'll be using Amsoil after.

Amsoil is awesome. A little expensive at $8/qt, but with the hi-flow amsoil filter you can go 25,000 miles or 1 year (whatever comes first). I couldn't find the filter so I just went with a Honda OEM (Fvck fram and their chep cardboard filters)

Amsoil XL-7500 is 7,500 miles or 6 mo whatever comes first. This is the option I'd reccomend to most people. The only reason I got the regular amsoil was NAPA was out of the 5W-30 for the XL7500.

As far as other synthetics such as Mobil One, they will do a better job of keeping your vehicle well lubricated. Sometimes you can see increase gas mileage too.

25,000 miles a year? You'd have to be out of your mind. I'm and ASE tech and have seen all kinds of things come out of drain plugs after 5,000 miles...
25,000 miles OR 1 year, whichever comes first. Most people don't drive even close to 25k miles/year.

I'm sure you've seen plenty come out of the drain... with conventional oil. ;)

I don't really recommend the 25k interval unless you're using oil analysis. But the 3k interval is unnecessary. Most manuals recommend a 7500 mile oil change under normal conditions.

In Europe, I believe the standard is 9k.