Going synthetic

[importcrazy]

Hello gents.. im thinkin about switching to a synthetic motor oil and I was wondering what the best way to make the switch would be. Should I Phase it in through a few oil changes or should I just switch it in on my next oil change.

 

[rjmhotrod]

Hello gents.. im thinkin about switching to a synthetic motor oil and I was wondering what the best way to make the switch would be. Should I Phase it in through a few oil changes or should I just switch it in on my next oil change.

I would just switch on the next oil change. I wouldn't try to mix conventional and synthetic (even if they were the same viscosity). I'm not sure how they would mix together. Do the switch and stick with synthetic from there on out.

You'll find that most of us using synthetic use either Mobil 1 or the more expensive Royal Purple. Both are good. Royal Purple is a bit better which is why it is a bit more expensive. Plus you can get Mobil 1 pretty much anywhere. I use Mobil 1 10W30 all year.

 

[RaiderMS3]

I made the switch to synthetic at 30K miles. Did it at an oil change, never mix synth and non-synth. So next oil change, drop in some Mobil 1, and you will be fine.

At the same time, I also put synthetic in the transmission. I used Amsoil 75w90.

The mileage on the freeway went from 27 to 31 to 33 mpg. I also noticed it was a lot quieter too.

Good luck, you will not regret it.

 

[GNO]

importcrazy - how many miles are you at? I usually don't like switching over until about 10k, dino is better for the break in process. On the flip side, switching over at high mileage isn't a good idea, becuase the stronger detergents used in synthetic motor oils may clean out deposits that have built up where seals have worn away. Afterwards, leaks galore.

 

[khaosman]

importcrazy - how many miles are you at? I usually don't like switching over until about 10k, dino is better for the break in process. On the flip side, switching over at high mileage isn't a good idea, becuase the stronger detergents used in synthetic motor oils may clean out deposits that have built up where seals have worn away. Afterwards, leaks galore.

GNO, like how high? I was thinking about switching over @ 50k miles.

 

[RaiderMS3]

I have heard that 85K is the limit to migrate to synth.

 

[GNO]

50k isn't bad, although I did have a friend try it around there and I ended up replacing his rear main seal a few months later. He had a poorly maintained engine though. So as a thumbrule, I'd go with a figure close to what RaiderMP5 mentioned. Maybe a little more conservative, like 75k miles.

 

[00zmde]

Change to full syn @ 1,500 miles on my protege. Changed to full syn on my truck @ 123,000 same oil for both. No leaks or problems oil related.

 

[Moonman8]

How does redline synthetic oils compare to mobile 1 or royal purple. The cheapest I have found it is about $7.95 per quart. If anyone has tried it, is it worth the extra $3 per quart over mobil 1. I used castrol syntec in my 91 4Runner for a long time, worked pretty good. Haven't had my P5 long enough to even change the oil.

 

[Mazda P5 driver]

How does redline synthetic oils compare to mobile 1 or royal purple. The cheapest I have found it is about $7.95 per quart. If anyone has tried it, is it worth the extra $3 per quart over mobil 1. I used castrol syntec in my 91 4Runner for a long time, worked pretty good. Haven't had my P5 long enough to even change the oil.

Mobile 1 is the Honda of synthetics imo.

Amsoil user here. Switched from the overhyped Mobile 1 and will never go back.

 

[falsedawn]

Mobil 1 5w30 or 10w30.
Relatively cheap, readily available, does the job perfectly well.

Quite why anyone would bother spending more is beyond me. This is a 130hp engine people - not some highly stressed race jobbie.

In fact, the differences between oils cannot be "felt" (as long as they are the same viscosity). All this talk of extra power, increased smoothness, extra mileage etc is largely :bs:

 

[Mazda P5 driver]

Mobil 1 5w30 or 10w30.
Relatively cheap, readily available, does the job perfectly well.

Quite why anyone would bother spending more is beyond me. This is a 130hp engine people - not some highly stressed race jobbie.

In fact, the differences between oils cannot be "felt" (as long as they are the same viscosity). All this talk of extra power, increased smoothness, extra mileage etc is largely :bs:

Enjoy the deposits.

It's not about having 130 hp, it's about keeping a healthy engine.

Kind of like feeding a child a 35% fat hamburger from birth then switching to salad at the age of 35. Damage will be done.

 

[Nomad]

It's oil. Read the label itself, "compatible with conventional motor oils". You can mix it if you like. It's not like oil and water, people.

Change over in one oil change. No harm done.

I use synth. I beat on my engines too so any added bonus is good but I'm pretty sure that if I used conventional Castrol or something and changed the oil at 3K or earlier on the dot there'd be very little extra wear.
There are other things more important than merely the oil you use.But every little bit helps...

 

[toucci]

All this talk of extra power, increased smoothness, extra mileage etc is largely :bs:

I agree, it's the placebo effect. Anyone who says mobil 1 sucks is eating up the bulls*** spewed by those pushing a more expensive product.

 

[Mazda P5 driver]

I agree, it's the placebo effect. Anyone who says mobil 1 sucks is eating up the bulls*** spewed by those pushing a more expensive product.

hahaha...Yeah, my smoother idle is pure make believe. Funny how it was immediate after an oil change. The engine is quieter.

Mobile 1 doesn't suck, it is just overhyped. I love their new marketing (sarcasm).

I went to M1 at 3k and have been synthetic ever since. Have you switched from M1 to a more expensive then back to M1, or are you talking out of your ass? I don't wanna hear any BS about "my friends car.." etc. I wanna know YOUR first hand experience.

 

[mcstark]

You guys really need to chill.

Everybody that manufactures a product will spew out marketing crap supporting their product. Amsoil, Castrol, Mobil, Royal Purple, etc. Do what you think is best for your car. Any synthetic is going to be better for your car than running conventional oil, period.

If you want to compare Mobil One to Amsoil...go here:
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/oil-life.html

The viscosity of Mobil One dropped off at 12,000 miles. I change mine out at 5,000, so I'm playing it safe. Amsoil was comparable with a bit more "metals" showing up in the analysis. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

Everybody's got an opinion...just respect it and agree to disagree.

 

[flat_black]

I use Mobil 1 for the most part, but I've used Redline when it became available. As mentioned, no real difference can be felt, but it seems to keep more consistant viscosity as oil temperature increases, so the valves didn't tick quite as much after warmup as it did with Mobil 1. Mobil 1 is based off of a stock base screened production oil, as opposed to Redline which has a higher grade stock base comprised of controlled hydrocarbon development, as opposed to screened hydrocarbons. This makes the hydrocarbon and contaminant molicules more consistant with the Redline than with the Mobil 1, but seriously, you're not going to see a huge difference, if you don't drive like a maniac (IE, like I do).

 

[Protege52003]

I am a mobil1 man.....i switched around 7K and usually go between 5-7K between changes......i used amsoil a couple times, but noticed no difference and it is a lot more then the mobil1......

-R

 

[RaiderMS3]

All this talk of extra power, increased smoothness, extra mileage etc is largely :bs:

Whatever newbie. (jerkit)

I guess my car spontaneously going from 27 mpg on the tank before my oil change, to 33 mpg right after it is a miracle? The quieter engine noise on the freeway and smoother shifting is also a figment of my imagination? Even my wife, who does not know much about cars, mentioned it was quieter on the freeway.

Unfortunately, there are many people here on the forum with similiar experiences with it. I guess you have not made the switch to synthetic yet, and are just plain ignorant to the subject.

As far as Mobil1 and overhyped, I got it because that is what many people on the forum recommended. That is the joy of this forum, lots of information. Losing vicosity at 12K miles will nto be a problem for me, as I will change it at the 5K intervals it says to.

Synth has been around for man years, and there are still some people who are afraid of it. When it first came out, I was skeptical. But the technology got better, so did the oils. When I saw the threads about synth and how it helped problems that are with the P5 (shifting problems, etc), I was for spending the couple bucks.

synthetic worked for me, it worked for others. If you are afraid of it, fine. Just don't go bashing it without even trying it, or providing factual information proving otherwise.

 

[Mmmmmken]

Alot of info here...

When you switch, just do a regular oil change and switch... no need to blend it in slowly.

Although there's alot of conflicting stuff I see here, I truly doubt you'll ever see a noticable difference between Mobil One, Royal Purple, etc. Maybe if you were driving a 800 HP race car, but not on a street car. There's really not much difference. Don't expect to see gains in HP or milage. It's more about pride and knowing you're using the best stuff available in your baby.

Make sure you pick a decent filter also, but don't overthink that one too much either. Let's face it... we tend to spend alot of $$$ on stuff that probably really only makes thinks improve in our heads!

Hello gents.. im thinkin about switching to a synthetic motor oil and I was wondering what the best way to make the switch would be. Should I Phase it in through a few oil changes or should I just switch it in on my next oil change.

PS: Not disagreeing with any of you here... just my experiences and info from what I've researched in magazines like Super Street (August 2005, pgs 116-122)