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Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

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Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby PenultimateManStanding » Sat 31 Dec 2005, 00:49:29

Like the guy on the radio here, I don't know a lug nut from a corn nut, i.e. I don't know much about cars. But damn! you should try synthetic oil when you get your oil changed. What a difference it makes. You can feel it when you put your foot on the gas big time. Enhanced performance. Plus I'm thinking this may be the last car I'll ever own, so I want it to last.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby Specop_007 » Sat 31 Dec 2005, 04:20:20

I think your suffering from too much advertising.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby PenultimateManStanding » Sat 31 Dec 2005, 11:10:11

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'I') think your suffering from too much advertising.
No, no! It's true, spec. The stuff costs more, but is very good for your car. Try it and you'll see! :-D
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby Specop_007 » Sat 31 Dec 2005, 11:15:31

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'I') think your suffering from too much advertising.
No, no! It's true, spec. The stuff costs more, but is very good for your car. Try it and you'll see! :-D


Better in what regards?
I use organic in the Expedition and synthetic in the Jetta.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby PenultimateManStanding » Sat 31 Dec 2005, 11:18:26

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'I') think your suffering from too much advertising.
No, no! It's true, spec. The stuff costs more, but is very good for your car. Try it and you'll see! :-D


Better in what regards?
I use organic in the Expedition and synthetic in the Jetta.
I had been using regular Penzoil in the Hyundai. So I put in synthetic, and there is quicker acceleration, and the car just feels 'smoother'. My imagination? Maybe, but I don't think so.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby JeeBoomba » Mon 02 Jan 2006, 00:48:22

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'B')etter in what regards?

Pretty much every function that oil serves in an engine, synthetic oil does better than mineral oil.
In some cars, there can be a pretty noticable increase in smoothness and power and a decrease in startup noise and/or valve clatter. That's highly dependent on the car itself, though, and is not universal. In a brand new car, you probably wouldn't be able to tell a difference.
The real benefit of synthetic is that you can greatly increase the number of miles you drive between oil changes. You have to know what you're doing, but I know some people that are safely going 10K miles between changes.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby Specop_007 » Mon 02 Jan 2006, 01:35:48

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JeeBoomba', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'B')etter in what regards?

Pretty much every function that oil serves in an engine, synthetic oil does better than mineral oil.
In some cars, there can be a pretty noticable increase in smoothness and power and a decrease in startup noise and/or valve clatter. That's highly dependent on the car itself, though, and is not universal. In a brand new car, you probably wouldn't be able to tell a difference.
The real benefit of synthetic is that you can greatly increase the number of miles you drive between oil changes. You have to know what you're doing, but I know some people that are safely going 10K miles between changes.


I know synthetic is supposedly better, and I run 10k on synthetic. I've done it on standard oil too.

But I call bullshit on more power. Until theres some test data provided I'm skeptical. REAL skeptical.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby The_Toecutter » Mon 02 Jan 2006, 17:02:59

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')ut I call bullshit on more power. Until theres some test data provided I'm skeptical. REAL skeptical.


It can slightly increase overall engine efficiency by slightly lowering losses from friction within your engine. Depending on the car, you may see a very marginal benefit.

However, even more gains can be made by using synthetic transmission oil as well, such as Royal Purple or Redline MTL. You might be able to increase the efficiency of your transmission by 1 or 2%, which manifests itself as that much more horsepower reaching your wheels due to decreased losses and that much improved fuel economy. But then again, it depends upon car.
The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the old growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder. ~Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby Lokutus » Mon 02 Jan 2006, 19:14:52

This better be true because I'm putting synthetic oil in this week.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby JeeBoomba » Tue 03 Jan 2006, 00:37:48

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('The_Toecutter', 'H')owever, even more gains can be made by using synthetic transmission oil as well, such as Royal Purple or Redline MTL. You might be able to increase the efficiency of your transmission by 1 or 2%, which manifests itself as that much more horsepower reaching your wheels due to decreased losses and that much improved fuel economy. But then again, it depends upon car.

I didn't notice any difference in power, but I did see a small consistent increase in my gas mileage when I switched my car's tranny oil to Redline MT90. Good stuff.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby Specop_007 » Tue 03 Jan 2006, 15:02:57

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('The_Toecutter', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')ut I call bullshit on more power. Until theres some test data provided I'm skeptical. REAL skeptical.


It can slightly increase overall engine efficiency by slightly lowering losses from friction within your engine. Depending on the car, you may see a very marginal benefit.

However, even more gains can be made by using synthetic transmission oil as well, such as Royal Purple or Redline MTL. You might be able to increase the efficiency of your transmission by 1 or 2%, which manifests itself as that much more horsepower reaching your wheels due to decreased losses and that much improved fuel economy. But then again, it depends upon car.


Most cars use synthetic tranny fluid today.

And I was mistaken. I switched to synthetic in the Expedition on the last oil change.
Shit, glad this thread reminded me. :oops:

I better go put a sticky in the dash to remind me on the next change, being the dumbass I am sometimes. :cry:
"Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby The_Toecutter » Wed 04 Jan 2006, 03:11:37

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') didn't notice any difference in power, but I did see a small consistent increase in my gas mileage when I switched my car's tranny oil to Redline MT90. Good stuff.


You didn't notice the increase in power because it was very marginal, but I assure you it is there. The increased gas mileage is from increased efficiency, and that increased efficiency by definition increases the power actually getting to your wheels.

Your engine might make 170 horsepower, but perhaps you might have 140 at the wheels if you get dyno tested(arbitrary number for illistration). Switch to synthetic transmission oil, and you might see 142 or 143 horsepower at the wheels. Engine output didn't change.
The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the old growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder. ~Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby pip » Wed 04 Jan 2006, 10:31:09

I think I'll pass. I use the cheapest oil in my commuter car I can find. It's now nearing 270,000 miles and shows no signs of slowing down. How much more engine life could I get if I used synthetic? How much more do I really want?
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby JeeBoomba » Wed 04 Jan 2006, 15:35:09

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('The_Toecutter', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') didn't notice any difference in power, but I did see a small consistent increase in my gas mileage when I switched my car's tranny oil to Redline MT90. Good stuff.


You didn't notice the increase in power because it was very marginal, but I assure you it is there. The increased gas mileage is from increased efficiency, and that increased efficiency by definition increases the power actually getting to your wheels.

Your engine might make 170 horsepower, but perhaps you might have 140 at the wheels if you get dyno tested(arbitrary number for illistration). Switch to synthetic transmission oil, and you might see 142 or 143 horsepower at the wheels. Engine output didn't change.

I understand all that, Toe. I'm a huge car geek :)
Which I actually have mixed feelings about. I love working on cars and driving hard, and we're currently in the middle of a Golden Age of performance vehicles that puts the Muscle Car era to shame, but, well, we all know what's coming over the horizon. I'm at the point where I actually feel guilty about driving, even when I have a legitimate need to go somewhere.
Last edited by JeeBoomba on Wed 04 Jan 2006, 15:40:17, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby RonMN » Wed 04 Jan 2006, 16:52:50

I've used both amsoil & mobile-1 in my bronco...and change it every 3000-5000 miles...it's now 11 years old with 104,000 miles & the engine is like brand new. Cold winter starting is no problem (which also means i've never had to replace my starter). When i switched from regular oil to synthetic (at the 5000 mile mark) i noticed a fairly drastic improvement.

While it is a superior product with better lubrication (which adds power) don't believe that "don't have to change it" crap...you'll be sorry!

Problem: Synthetic will find a leak in the system mush faster than conventional oil, so if you haven't been running synthetic oil from the beginning you may not want to. If you start leaking oil then go back to conventional.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby PenultimateManStanding » Wed 04 Jan 2006, 17:04:20

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RonMN', ' ') If you start leaking oil then go back to conventional.
I've been told that you shouldn't revert to conventional after switching to synthetic. I wonder what problems could ensue if you did?
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby JeeBoomba » Wed 04 Jan 2006, 17:12:30

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RonMN', 'W')hile it is a superior product with better lubrication (which adds power) don't believe that "don't have to change it" crap...you'll be sorry!

Good Lord, are there actually idiots out there that think you don't have to change synthetic oil? 8O

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')'ve been told that you shouldn't revert to conventional after switching to synthetic. I wonder what problems could ensue if you did?

I've heard this myth a million times and I've never found any truth to it. You can switch back and forth without any repercussions. You can even mix mineral oil and synthetic oil in the crankcase at the same time without problems.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby The_Toecutter » Wed 04 Jan 2006, 18:12:07

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'a')nd we're currently in the middle of a Golden Age of performance vehicles that puts the Muscle Car era to shame,


But the price of entry into this new musclecar era is very high. Adjusted for inflation, its double what it was in the 1960s. Only the upper middle class or wealthier have a chance of entry.

Compared to 30-40 years ago, we are getting severely ripped off. Lets take Pontiac's GTO, for instance. In 1965, its base price was $2,556 for 345 horsepower at the flywheel and 420 lb-ft of torque. In 1965, a fully loaded GTO with 360 horses, 4-speed tranny, power steering, power brakes, metallic brake linings, rally wheels, Safe-T-Track limited-slip differential, heavy-duty suspension, seat belts, custom steering wheel, rally gauges including tachometer, tinted glass, padded dash and AM radio listed at $3579. In 2005, that horrible excuse for a GTO, which is basically a Grand Am with a V8 shoved in it, formerly known in Australia as a Holden Monaro, has a base price of $32,995. Decent torque and power, 400 horses and 395 pound feet, but compared the the original, a BIG ripoff. Adjust the 1965 price for inflation via consumer price index for its 2005 value. A stripped GTO adjusted for 2005 dollars in 1964 cost $15,474, and a fully loaded one $21,667. A far cry from $33,000!

Try finding a car with at least 300 horsepower for < $20,000 new now days. They don't exist! Aside from the Neon SRT4, which is crap, you won't even find a car with at least 200 horsepower for less than that price(Unless you come upon a stripped down Mustang and the dealership isn't rediculously marking it up. Good luck!). To think, this is with mechanized assembly, and with workers in Mexico getting paid mere pennies on the hour. Cars are very likely cheaper to make now days due to a drastic elimination in labor cost, despite the things added that make the cars more complex. And for the $15k the GTO originally was in 1964? A slow as fuck Chevy Cobalt costs about as much today stripped down, *if* you can even get one at that advertised price!
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby jupiter422 » Wed 04 Jan 2006, 19:58:07

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pip', 'I') think I'll pass. I use the cheapest oil in my commuter car I can find. It's now nearing 270,000 miles and shows no signs of slowing down. How much more engine life could I get if I used synthetic? How much more do I really want?


amen.
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Re: Oil Change? Try Synthetic Oil

Unread postby RonMN » Wed 04 Jan 2006, 21:57:41

WOW, 270,000 miles IS alot! congratulations.

Also, yes you can switch back & fourth between conventional & synthetic oils & even mix them...just keep an eye out for leaks or burning oil (check your dip stick)...if any problems, just change back to conventional oil.

I'll tell you where it's most noticable, is when i start my vehicle on a 30 below winter morning...when that brutal metal on metal whine disapears in about 1 second...that's when you're utterly certain you've got synthetic in the crank case :)
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