Synthetic vs Regular oil - questions

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xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
It's okay, I too considered investing in synthetic for my next oil change. Then I realized... I drive a '00 Cavalier with a 2.2L I4 that pumps out a whopping 115HP. It's been running fine for years on good old regular oil. What advantage would I gain by going synthetic? Oh yeah, that's right, NONE. I drive a fucking Cavalier. I'm not looking for performance, I'm looking for the cheapest oil that keeps my car going.
 

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
14,377
19
81
Unless you change your oil yourself, synthetic actually saves a bit of money because you can go twice as long before changing your oil.
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,576
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Unless you change your oil yourself, synthetic actually saves a bit of money because you can go twice as long before changing your oil.

That's cool if:

A - It's actually true, which seems to be in some doubt and
B - Your powertrain warranty has ended...
 

alphatarget1

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2001
5,710
0
76
Originally posted by: SickBeast
Unless you change your oil yourself, synthetic actually saves a bit of money because you can go twice as long before changing your oil.

I change my oil filter around 4k miles, put in a quart of oil (to make up for the amount lost due to filter change) and I do a full change at 8k miles. I use Mobil 1 EP in my 05 legacy GT (turboed). Oil analysis looked good and this works great so far.

I pretty much do the same thing with my sister's 02 sentra. 8k intervals and still runs like a champ at 92k miles.
 

alphatarget1

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2001
5,710
0
76
Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Unless you change your oil yourself, synthetic actually saves a bit of money because you can go twice as long before changing your oil.

That's cool if:

A - It's actually true, which seems to be in some doubt and
B - Your powertrain warranty has ended...

Not necessarily, a lot of manufacturers have a "normal" schedule which only requires change like, around 7-8k miles.
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,576
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Not necessarily, a lot of manufacturers have a "normal" schedule which only requires change like, around 7-8k miles.

And that required interval is the same whether you use synthetic or conventional oil, so where is that advantage?

I have already asked which mfg, that recommends conventional oil, allows you to double the OCI with synthetic...or even stretch it at all...
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,576
126
I'm pretty sure that VW specs 10,000 mile oil changes with synthetic.

Trolling the web, it looks like it's 5K for the first 2, then 10K after with conventional.
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
81
I've got the Amsoil service interval chart beside me. With cars that aren't prone to sludge and driven under normal driving conditions, they claim 25,000 miles. I don't believe that but I am pretty sure you can do 10-12 easy if not more.

For my car, which is prone to sludging, they claim 7500 miles, which is still 2500 more than regular. Good enough for me.

Also I live in Canada, it's cold ;)

Plus synthetic isn't all that more expensive. There's always a brand here on special from week to week. I will buy any besides Castrol. Last time I seen a 4.4 jug of Penzoil Platinum full synthetic for 21 bucks + tax CAD, which is good. Sure I can save 10 bucks and buy wal mart, but wtf is 10 $ these days? That's a 12 inch sub, chips, and drink for me with an extra scoop of tuna. I eat that sh1t cause I'm powerful!
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
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Originally posted by: SickBeast
What's wrong with Castrol?

I actually have no idea, I've just heard way too many rumours that the oil isn't actually full synthetic or something like that. Given those rumours, and the availability of 20 other brands, Ill play it safe :)

Oh and if anyone wants to confirm/add to those rumours, feel free, I'm just way too lazy.
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
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This is from the Royal Purple site:

?I just changed the oil in my 2.4 liter Jeep Wrangler using your 10W30 royal purple motor oil. When I started the Jeep I thought something was wrong as it had never run as quietly.?

?Gary G., another satisfied customer

ROFL :D
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,576
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Is that quietness from RP or just from new oil in general? :D

Or is it just because synthetics in general flow better so the top end gets oil quicker? :D

Or is it just what people want to believe because they just spent a lot more for oil and they need to justify the expense? :D
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
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Originally posted by: SickBeast
It's not a parody post.

Is it even possible for a car to go faster at a given RPM?

My car is definitely smoother with the synthetic and the new air filter. My wife notices it as well.

I had an air filter post here too before. My air filter was filthy, clogged, there were leaves inside past the filter clogging shit. When I cleaned everything out, put in a new K&N filter, my car performed so much better smoother, it even dropped RPM's going at the same speed. No on here believes me, whatever haters!
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: SickBeast
It's not a parody post.

Is it even possible for a car to go faster at a given RPM?

My car is definitely smoother with the synthetic and the new air filter. My wife notices it as well.

I had an air filter post here too before. My air filter was filthy, clogged, there were leaves inside past the filter clogging shit. When I cleaned everything out, put in a new K&N filter, my car performed so much better smoother, it even dropped RPM's going at the same speed. No on here believes me, whatever haters!

Changing a dirty air filter for a NEW one, yea that will help. Saying it was because of K&N, No. Only people with no knowledge and the kind that buy infomercial products late at night run K&N.


And Syn oil makes peoples cars ride better. :confused: Are you retarded, I mean really. Think about it.

Damm there are some really dumb people out there. Its oil people, not some magic fluid that makes your car faster, penis bigger, and gives you the winning lottery numbers.
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
81
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: SickBeast
It's not a parody post.

Is it even possible for a car to go faster at a given RPM?

My car is definitely smoother with the synthetic and the new air filter. My wife notices it as well.

I had an air filter post here too before. My air filter was filthy, clogged, there were leaves inside past the filter clogging shit. When I cleaned everything out, put in a new K&N filter, my car performed so much better smoother, it even dropped RPM's going at the same speed. No on here believes me, whatever haters!

Changing a dirty air filter for a NEW one, yea that will help. Saying it was because of K&N, No. Only people with no knowledge and the kind that buy infomercial products late at night run K&N.


And Syn oil makes peoples cars ride better. :confused: Are you retarded, I mean really. Think about it.

Damm there are some really dumb people out there. Its oil people, not some magic fluid that makes your car faster, penis bigger, and gives you the winning lottery numbers.

Yo I feel my car running better after every oil change. Also when I did my bikes first service and changed to Amsoil the thing ran way smoother and the shifts clunk less.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: DVad3r
it even dropped RPM's going at the same speed. No on here believes me, whatever haters!

Is this an automatic? If so, this might indicate something is up with your torque converter. If this is a standard, or if your TC is in perfect working order, you're fooling yourself :p
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
Originally posted by: DVad3r

Yo I feel my car running better after every oil change. Also when I did my bikes first service and changed to Amsoil the thing ran way smoother and the shifts clunk less.

That has less to do with synthetic and more to do with fresh new oil. If your car feels smoother after a change, you should do oil testing to determine your proper oil change interval because you are obviously pushing your oil too far.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Originally posted by: Arkaign
Originally posted by: crazySOB297
Mobil 1 is $7 here (texas) normally, and <$5 during sales.

Hmm, I'm guessing that there's some kind of special state tax on oil in WA then.
Yeah that's nuts, even in NY state I think I pay maybe $22 right now for 4 quart jug of Mobil 1. Quarts are def not more than $6.
Is it even possible for a car to go faster at a given RPM?
I imagine it probably is with an old automatic transmission that doesn't lock if you put good fluid into if it was terrible before, but basically no it's not possible for all intents and purposes.
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
Depending on the store, quarts of M1 can range from $4 all the way to $9 here in Ohio. Other synthetic brands can go even higher.
 

funks

Golden Member
Nov 9, 2000
1,402
44
91
nice thing about synthetic's are that they can last much longer. It's easy to get 12k out of them in cars. Best thing to save money on oil changes is to get an oil analysis done and see how long you can keep the synthetic oil in there..
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
81
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: DVad3r

Yo I feel my car running better after every oil change. Also when I did my bikes first service and changed to Amsoil the thing ran way smoother and the shifts clunk less.

That has less to do with synthetic and more to do with fresh new oil. If your car feels smoother after a change, you should do oil testing to determine your proper oil change interval because you are obviously pushing your oil too far.

Nope, I change at 5 k miles as stated in the manual. That's using full synthetic. Obviously there is a reason why someone here changes it even less on their Mustang.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,401
17,938
126
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: DVad3r

Yo I feel my car running better after every oil change. Also when I did my bikes first service and changed to Amsoil the thing ran way smoother and the shifts clunk less.

That has less to do with synthetic and more to do with fresh new oil. If your car feels smoother after a change, you should do oil testing to determine your proper oil change interval because you are obviously pushing your oil too far.

Nope, I change at 5 k miles as stated in the manual. That's using full synthetic. Obviously there is a reason why someone here changes it even less on their Mustang.

what car is that?
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
81
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: DVad3r

Yo I feel my car running better after every oil change. Also when I did my bikes first service and changed to Amsoil the thing ran way smoother and the shifts clunk less.

That has less to do with synthetic and more to do with fresh new oil. If your car feels smoother after a change, you should do oil testing to determine your proper oil change interval because you are obviously pushing your oil too far.

Nope, I change at 5 k miles as stated in the manual. That's using full synthetic. Obviously there is a reason why someone here changes it even less on their Mustang.

what car is that?

My car? 2001 Lexus ES 300 with 120,000 km on it.
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
Originally posted by: DVad3r
Originally posted by: Gillbot
Originally posted by: DVad3r

Yo I feel my car running better after every oil change. Also when I did my bikes first service and changed to Amsoil the thing ran way smoother and the shifts clunk less.

That has less to do with synthetic and more to do with fresh new oil. If your car feels smoother after a change, you should do oil testing to determine your proper oil change interval because you are obviously pushing your oil too far.

Nope, I change at 5 k miles as stated in the manual. That's using full synthetic. Obviously there is a reason why someone here changes it even less on their Mustang.

Mileage is NOT the proper determining factor for an oil change.