oil question need help!
Thread Starter
Newbie
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Paris/Cambridge, Canada
oil question need help!
Hey guys I got a half hour to pick! What is the diff between synthetic oil and regular? I bought the 04 used so I dont really know the history? Imput would be great! Thanks
Go synthetic.......
Source: http://choosetoprosper.com/walker-engine-oils.html
Your Engine, Your Baby: Synthetic or Conventional Oil
One central argument between car enthusiasts and on Internet car
forums alike is what oil is better for your car, synthetic or
conventional. Before synthetic oils became available for regular
automobiles, the argument centered solely on brand types and
weight. But now, with the advent of these synthetics all over the
market, what is truly the best choice for your engine? Let’s
explore both of these worlds to find out.
Conventional oil is rated according to a SAE system. This scale
is used so that you know what type of oil is best for your car
given the environmental conditions (temperature, city driving,
etc.) of where you live. The first number, for example on 10W30
motor oil, is 10 followed by a “W”. This “W” indicates that the
number before it is the viscosity rating of the oil. The lower
this number, the better the oil is for colder climates. The
higher the number, the better it is for hotter driving
conditions.
Synthetic oils, on the other hand (before their commercial
release) were used in many military vehicles and fighter jets.
Airlines also use synthetics in their engines. The synthetic oil
has been designed not to break down as quickly and can tolerate
extremities in temperature and weather (hot to cold).
One of the major differences between conventional and synthetic
oils is that synthetics are treated with more additives that
protect your engine for a longer amount of time before you have
to change it. And, while we don’t want to get into all the
molecular chemistry involved in the making of these oils, we
should mention that they also last longer in hotter conditions
and won’t “gel” in colder ones, like conventional oil. In other
words, synthetics have more additives, which greatly protect the
car from viscosity breakdown. They are designed to withstand
temperature extremes. It may be safe to say that extreme driving
conditions call for the use of synthetics.
On the financial side of the matter, synthetics cost a whole lot
more; up to three or four times as much as regular conventional
oil. But, the wonderful thing is that you don’t have to change
your oil every 3,000 miles; recommended with conventional oil
use. In fact, you may not have to change it until well after
25,000 and up to 50,000 miles as long as the oil filter is
changed every 10,000 miles. So, the cost at first might scare
consumers away, but the long-term benefits of synthetic oil use
are substantial.
However, you will still have to be responsible for your car’s
maintenance check-up every 3,000 miles or so. With regular
oil-changes, you are automatically checking over the car for
other problems (or if you don’t an inspection mechanic does). It
might help you find a problem that could be dealt with, that
could’ve gone unchecked. Also, you’ll want to check the synthetic
oil every now and then to be sure that it isn’t contaminated
and/or that there isn’t any moisture build-up.
With normal everyday driving, perhaps conventional oils work best
for you. You aren’t driving in extreme conditions and you swear
allegiance to regular oil. That may be fine. Synthetic oil cannot
really offer you anything that conventional oil cannot under
normal operating conditions. However, the definition of extreme
driving states that if you do a lot of short driving (two to
twenty miles) daily, it’s hard on your car. And, specialists
agree that this constitutes extreme driving due to the faster
breakdown of the structure of conventional oil.
Another major reason that many are choosing the synthetic route
is that it contains fewer impurities; impurities that can cause
your engine harm, perhaps to the point of premature engine wear.
With conventional oil, there’s no way to totally rid, filter or
clean the impurities from the natural elements. That’s another
reason why synthetic oils do not have to be changed as much even
in extreme driving conditions.
You’ll want to be careful; however, if you do decide that you
want to give synthetic oils a try. If you’ve been driving your
1983 Ford Thunderbird for years using 10W30, you may not want to
switch using your conventional oil brand.
Conventional oils have solvents that stick to gaskets and seals
and often cause them to swell a certain way. These gaskets and
seals have been used to the same oil for years and the switch to
any other type of oil (whether it is to a different conventional
oil brand, or an upgrade to a synthetic) may be harmful. The oil
you change (or upgrade to) will also have solvents and additives,
different from the original. So in other terms, the changing of
oils could result in oil leaks and/or a once small oil leak
becoming bigger due to the reaction the seals and gaskets will
have to the change (not because of the oil itself). If you think
that this might be the case for you (i.e. if you have an older
car using conventional oil), it’s recommended that you not try
synthetic oil until you have an engine (or new car) with
relatively virgin gaskets and seals that will be able to
acclimate much more easily to the chemical changes of the newer
type of oil.
It’s easy to see that that fanfare for one or the other is an
argument that has really been explored. It’s best for you to
decide what will fit your personal needs. If you have an older
car, you may want to wait until you upgrade. However, if you have
a newer car, the benefits of synthetic oils are easily seen.
Again, it’s solely dependent upon you and the conditions where
you drive. Synthetics are shown to provide their best protection
above 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Most people do not drive their cars
this hot. However, many do drive in cities, where driving times
are considered to be more of a “stop-and-go” nature, which may be
considered “extreme” in many circumstances. When the time comes
for you to make a decision, at least you’ll be informed of the
differences of each. And, until that time, no matter what, keep
up that automotive pride!
Michael Walker is a freelance author providing tips and hints on
engine related topics such as JDM motors, used import engines and
engine swaps. His articles are a valuable source of information
for the auto enthusiast. http://www.enginestar.com/
<<---------------- End of Free Reprint Article ------------->>
Source: http://choosetoprosper.com/walker-engine-oils.html
Your Engine, Your Baby: Synthetic or Conventional Oil
One central argument between car enthusiasts and on Internet car
forums alike is what oil is better for your car, synthetic or
conventional. Before synthetic oils became available for regular
automobiles, the argument centered solely on brand types and
weight. But now, with the advent of these synthetics all over the
market, what is truly the best choice for your engine? Let’s
explore both of these worlds to find out.
Conventional oil is rated according to a SAE system. This scale
is used so that you know what type of oil is best for your car
given the environmental conditions (temperature, city driving,
etc.) of where you live. The first number, for example on 10W30
motor oil, is 10 followed by a “W”. This “W” indicates that the
number before it is the viscosity rating of the oil. The lower
this number, the better the oil is for colder climates. The
higher the number, the better it is for hotter driving
conditions.
Synthetic oils, on the other hand (before their commercial
release) were used in many military vehicles and fighter jets.
Airlines also use synthetics in their engines. The synthetic oil
has been designed not to break down as quickly and can tolerate
extremities in temperature and weather (hot to cold).
One of the major differences between conventional and synthetic
oils is that synthetics are treated with more additives that
protect your engine for a longer amount of time before you have
to change it. And, while we don’t want to get into all the
molecular chemistry involved in the making of these oils, we
should mention that they also last longer in hotter conditions
and won’t “gel” in colder ones, like conventional oil. In other
words, synthetics have more additives, which greatly protect the
car from viscosity breakdown. They are designed to withstand
temperature extremes. It may be safe to say that extreme driving
conditions call for the use of synthetics.
On the financial side of the matter, synthetics cost a whole lot
more; up to three or four times as much as regular conventional
oil. But, the wonderful thing is that you don’t have to change
your oil every 3,000 miles; recommended with conventional oil
use. In fact, you may not have to change it until well after
25,000 and up to 50,000 miles as long as the oil filter is
changed every 10,000 miles. So, the cost at first might scare
consumers away, but the long-term benefits of synthetic oil use
are substantial.
However, you will still have to be responsible for your car’s
maintenance check-up every 3,000 miles or so. With regular
oil-changes, you are automatically checking over the car for
other problems (or if you don’t an inspection mechanic does). It
might help you find a problem that could be dealt with, that
could’ve gone unchecked. Also, you’ll want to check the synthetic
oil every now and then to be sure that it isn’t contaminated
and/or that there isn’t any moisture build-up.
With normal everyday driving, perhaps conventional oils work best
for you. You aren’t driving in extreme conditions and you swear
allegiance to regular oil. That may be fine. Synthetic oil cannot
really offer you anything that conventional oil cannot under
normal operating conditions. However, the definition of extreme
driving states that if you do a lot of short driving (two to
twenty miles) daily, it’s hard on your car. And, specialists
agree that this constitutes extreme driving due to the faster
breakdown of the structure of conventional oil.
Another major reason that many are choosing the synthetic route
is that it contains fewer impurities; impurities that can cause
your engine harm, perhaps to the point of premature engine wear.
With conventional oil, there’s no way to totally rid, filter or
clean the impurities from the natural elements. That’s another
reason why synthetic oils do not have to be changed as much even
in extreme driving conditions.
You’ll want to be careful; however, if you do decide that you
want to give synthetic oils a try. If you’ve been driving your
1983 Ford Thunderbird for years using 10W30, you may not want to
switch using your conventional oil brand.
Conventional oils have solvents that stick to gaskets and seals
and often cause them to swell a certain way. These gaskets and
seals have been used to the same oil for years and the switch to
any other type of oil (whether it is to a different conventional
oil brand, or an upgrade to a synthetic) may be harmful. The oil
you change (or upgrade to) will also have solvents and additives,
different from the original. So in other terms, the changing of
oils could result in oil leaks and/or a once small oil leak
becoming bigger due to the reaction the seals and gaskets will
have to the change (not because of the oil itself). If you think
that this might be the case for you (i.e. if you have an older
car using conventional oil), it’s recommended that you not try
synthetic oil until you have an engine (or new car) with
relatively virgin gaskets and seals that will be able to
acclimate much more easily to the chemical changes of the newer
type of oil.
It’s easy to see that that fanfare for one or the other is an
argument that has really been explored. It’s best for you to
decide what will fit your personal needs. If you have an older
car, you may want to wait until you upgrade. However, if you have
a newer car, the benefits of synthetic oils are easily seen.
Again, it’s solely dependent upon you and the conditions where
you drive. Synthetics are shown to provide their best protection
above 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Most people do not drive their cars
this hot. However, many do drive in cities, where driving times
are considered to be more of a “stop-and-go” nature, which may be
considered “extreme” in many circumstances. When the time comes
for you to make a decision, at least you’ll be informed of the
differences of each. And, until that time, no matter what, keep
up that automotive pride!
Michael Walker is a freelance author providing tips and hints on
engine related topics such as JDM motors, used import engines and
engine swaps. His articles are a valuable source of information
for the auto enthusiast. http://www.enginestar.com/
<<---------------- End of Free Reprint Article ------------->>
Thread Starter
Newbie
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Paris/Cambridge, Canada
Thanks that was a ton of help! now would my gaskets still be virgenal "Te hee" enough with a 04 with 40,000 to change over to to synthetic if it was started on normal oil? again thanks for your help. I work at a mits dealer so I have my apointment for later!
Trending Topics
Originally Posted by bluesox_68
Thanks that was a ton of help! now would my gaskets still be virgenal "Te hee" enough with a 04 with 40,000 to change over to to synthetic if it was started on normal oil? again thanks for your help. I work at a mits dealer so I have my apointment for later!
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg, PA
Oils are so good today, even regular dino oils, that unless your running longer drain intervals, autocrossing, or whooping on the car, synthetic is probably overkill. That being said, I run synthetic at 7500 mile intervals. If I was going the 3750 mile severe service interval, I would be running regular oil.
