Will Synthetic oil ruin my turbo?

[Peter B]

Dealers keep telling me that synthetic oil will ruin my turbo. Apparently mazda used to not recomend synthetic, but now they have ok-ed it. What gives?

All the research I have done says use synthetic. The theory behind how it works is a no brainer in my book. I am unclear as to how it could hurt a turbo.

Anyhow it is driving me nuts. My car is gettin its first oil change tomorrow. Will be about 3150 miles, 08.5 MS3 GT.

Damnit I hate dealers!

Anyone know the effect on the turbo?

-Pete

 

[SPEED3TYPE2]

use synthetic 5w-30.

 

[VermZ06]

Dealers keep telling me that synthetic oil will ruin my turbo. Apparently mazda used to not recomend synthetic, but now they have ok-ed it. What gives?

All the research I have done says use synthetic. The theory behind how it works is a no brainer in my book. I am unclear as to how it could hurt a turbo.

Anyhow it is driving me nuts. My car is gettin its first oil change tomorrow. Will be about 3150 miles, 08.5 MS3 GT.

Damnit I hate dealers!

Anyone know the effect on the turbo?

-Pete

I got the same thing from my dealer when I bought the car. How synthetic oil that prevents sludge and doesn't break down as easy kills turbos is beyond me. Seems to me like it'd be just as healthy for the turbo as it is for the engine since they're both moving parts right?

Chances are the dealer wants you to use the regular stuff so that your damn sure to be in for an oil change every 3000 miles on the dot. It's better business for them you know? I guess they think owners don't read their manuals because you only have to change your oil every 5000 miles or so depending on conditions. I use Mobil 1 and nothing else. No problems no nothing, car runs like a gem with no smoking turbo or anything.

 

[ChrisK]

I've used Royal purple since 6k miles, i'm at 14,100 now. no problems. Running catless too, and no smoke!

I think I'm going to try Pennzoil Platinum next. I just put some in my del sol and the oil doesn't smell like fuel yet, so that's good. I had that issue with that car with every brand oil. But PP seems to be pretty good with not letting fuel pass by the rings.

 

[SuperStretch18]

Ask them to explain why that's the case. More often than not, they don't have a good answer. There isn't a good reason why that would be the case.

A synthetic with the same weight as conventional oil should provide better thermal and wear protection. There should be no impact on the turbo itself. If there was, it would be in the manual or there would be some release from Mazda...

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Penzoil Platinum is the suggested Syn I believe but Mobil1 or any Honda/Acura turbo cert. syn oil in 5w30 should work fine...

 

[oaklandopen]

i have an understanding that synthetics are better for turbos because synthetics don't break down as quickly as normal oils when heat is a factor, and nothing gets hotter than a turbo spooling at tens of thousands of rotations per minute

 

[XoX1de]

synthetic oil doesnt break down as easy as dino oil but, when it breaks down, it seems its harder to be cleaned than dino oil... thats why synthetic oil is a big NO NO to rotary engine...

 

[Peter B]

My degree is in aersoace engineering, air breathing systems are sort of something I know alot about. A turbo isn't a whole lot different then a jet emgine in some respects. I can't see how oil type would matter much. One dealer told me that synthetic oil holds heat better, and thus trasnfers it to the turbo. To me it sounded like he had a misunderstanding of how synthetic oil works.

It scares the crap out of me that these are the people I trust with my car. The only reason I worry about this at all is because my car is the most expensive thing I own, and I already ruined one this summer (flood). I don't want to kill another.

I think it would be great if car mechanics had to study enineering before they could become a mechanic!

 

[Bonafide_Spd3]

I run mobil 1 in my car so hopefully it is a good engine oil. I use to use castrol sythetic but the mechanic at the place I take my car at told me to use mobil 1 full synthetic instead

 

[shane02pro5]

If anything could hold ground about synthetic it's the oil transferring the heat to the engine from the turbo rather than the opposite. 99.9% of enthusiasts and mechanics will say synthetic over dino!

My degree is in aersoace engineering, air breathing systems are sort of something I know alot about. A turbo isn't a whole lot different then a jet emgine in some respects. I can't see how oil type would matter much. One dealer told me that synthetic oil holds heat better, and thus trasnfers it to the turbo. To me it sounded like he had a misunderstanding of how synthetic oil works.

It scares the crap out of me that these are the people I trust with my car. The only reason I worry about this at all is because my car is the most expensive thing I own, and I already ruined one this summer (flood). I don't want to kill another.

I think it would be great if car mechanics had to study enineering before they could become a mechanic!

 

[Kurt07]

I have used Mobil one for the past 12 years in five different vehicles. I never had a problem with it. It seems to work well in the MS3. I have put 24,xxx miles on this car using Mobil 1. I can't see myself changing oil brands anytime soon.

 

[Texaco]

30,000 on the MS3 using Mobil1 5w-30..no issues..

 

[coololddude]

syn. oil has an advantage over dino in VERY cold and VERY hot conditions. most people with a working brain consider a turbo a VERY hot condition. there, i said it and i am glad i did!!

 

[AutoXRacer]

If you have a turbo, 100% of the time, synthetic is advised...
Synthetic saves, prolongs, and protects your turbo.

Ask any pro-race team that runs turbos...synthetic only!!! That is "true" synthetic, none of that local autoparts crap.

 

[SPEED3TYPE2]

sythetic oil is OIL its just artifially made to be stable. the normal "unstable" molecules in reg oil pic up dirt to "complete" and stabilize themselves thus holding dirt flowing through your engine. Also more stable oil absorbs heat better wich is good for the engine.

 

[15min5k]

I use Amsiol Full Synthetic since first oil change at around 2,500miles. Runs great!

 

[Peter B]

Damnit this stuff ticks me off. The science behind syn backs up everything everyone here is saying, and what I kinda thought on my own. Pisses me off the dealers don't know their ass from their elbow. I mean s***, they only work on mazdas all day long, might be useful for them to read an owner's manual or two.

 

[Super Unique]

I would think the No synthetic mandate among mazda service centers would stem from their last gen rx7 turbo cars due to synthetic oil flowing causing buildup since those engines injected oil directly through the intake ports to lubricate the apex seals, this would not completely burn off, and build up on internal parts causing blow-by and smoking. The DISI MZR is a piston engine and a completely different story.

 

[jabba]

I used Mobil 1 Synthetic in my Audi S4 (twin turbo) for 107,000 miles, never a problem. Even when I upgraded the turbos and was pulling over 350 hp at the wheels, never a problem.

Now some will say that the Mobil 1 had a slightly hotter oil temp than the Castrol synthetic, so there might be slight formulation differences that do hold in the heat, but by far and large nothing that will harm a turbo.

I'd be more worried about some FOD getting into the turbo than sweating over a synthetic oil blowing out the turbo.