Switch to Synthetic Oil

[Fitzgerald]

I am planning to switch to synthetic engine oil. Are there any procedures which should be followed in making the switch - e.g., will I need a special filter?

 

[The ManLaw]

no. just do NOT under any circumstances switch back to conventional oil or a blended oil. once you go synthetic you need to stay with synthetic at all times no matter what. no if and or but's about it. other than that, go for it, replace the oil with synthetic and filter with the one you've been using. personally i think you should go with a step better filter, spend a few bucks more, cant hurt every 3,500 miles

 

[Fitzgerald]

Change to Synthetic Oil

no. just do NOT under any circumstances switch back to conventional oil or a blended oil. once you go synthetic you need to stay with synthetic at all times no matter what. no if and or but's about it. other than that, go for it, replace the oil with synthetic and filter with the one you've been using. personally i think you should go with a step better filter, spend a few bucks more, cant hurt every 3,500 miles

Thanks for your advice. I have been using whatever filter my Mazda dealer usually supplies. I will discuss this with him when I bring my car in for the oil change.

 

[stjohans]

why is it so important not to switch back to conventional oil?

 

[The ManLaw]

I don't know the chemistry behind it or the specifics for why, but the main jist is that it will break down your seals and basically destroy your engine in the mean time through the destruction of said seals.

 

[BoostedPR5]

In reality, you can switch back and forth weekly if you'd like. What do you think a Synthetic blend is? It's synthetic oil mixed with a standard, conventional oil. They do mix, they don't do anything to the seals, and it's perfectly fine to switch back and forth at will. I'm not sure where that rumor came from, but this is coming straight from Valvoline, the company not the bad quick lube. When I was last discussing their products with one of their reps this question came up from another gentleman and was answered as I explained it by the company itself.

 

[The ManLaw]

In reality, you can switch back and forth weekly if you'd like. What do you think a Synthetic blend is? It's synthetic oil mixed with a standard, conventional oil. They do mix, they don't do anything to the seals, and it's perfectly fine to switch back and forth at will. I'm not sure where that rumor came from, but this is coming straight from Valvoline, the company not the bad quick lube. When I was last discussing their products with one of their reps this question came up from another gentleman and was answered as I explained it by the company itself.

I've seen the damage before on an engine that was ran with synthetic and switched back to regular...it's not pretty

 

[hotcracker69]

no. just do NOT under any circumstances switch back to conventional oil or a blended oil. once you go synthetic you need to stay with synthetic at all times no matter what. no if and or but's about it. other than that, go for it, replace the oil with synthetic and filter with the one you've been using. personally i think you should go with a step better filter, spend a few bucks more, cant hurt every 3,500 miles

where are you getting this info from cause is totally wrong and with no proof.

I have 190K on it and have used both oils with no problem.

 

[JoseProte83]

In reality, you can switch back and forth weekly if you'd like. What do you think a Synthetic blend is? It's synthetic oil mixed with a standard, conventional oil. They do mix, they don't do anything to the seals, and it's perfectly fine to switch back and forth at will. I'm not sure where that rumor came from, but this is coming straight from Valvoline, the company not the bad quick lube. When I was last discussing their products with one of their reps this question came up from another gentleman and was answered as I explained it by the company itself.

Exactly, I have switched a few times already and my car is running the same...

 

[99prolx]

I've seen the damage before on an engine that was ran with synthetic and switched back to regular...it's not pretty

There must have been something else wrong with the engine...engines with tons of miles on them have worn and dried up seals that can leak from the lower viscocity of the synthetic oil but switching back shouldn't cause any problems. I've switched between the two a few times and put 30k miles since with absolutely no problems.

 

[RockerPro5]

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81

 

[Veik]

I switched oils back and worth on various cars, and saw no problems.

 

[P5Rydah]

I've always heard that rumor but it's not true. The only warning I've ever known about switching to synthetic is for high mileage engines or poorly maintained engines. Say your synthetic is supposed to be changed every 5k miles, you need to graduallly build up to that 5k. First change at 2,500, next do 3,500 and so on. That allows for some of the sludge buildup from conventional oil to clear out.

 

[iainmcphersn]

Changed oil to Mobil1 High Mileage 5W30 with Wix filter today. 143,016 miles on the car, bought it with 139,000 miles and not sure what was in it previously.

I did one oil change in the mean time using 3 quarts Kendal 10W40 and .7 quarts of Marvel Mystery oil with a cheap O'Reilly's filter and ran it 1500 miles. Oil looked pretty dark when it came out so hopefully some of the gunk got cleaned out.

 

[Maxx Mazda]

no. just do NOT under any circumstances switch back to conventional oil or a blended oil. once you go synthetic you need to stay with synthetic at all times no matter what. no if and or but's about it. other than that, go for it, replace the oil with synthetic and filter with the one you've been using. personally i think you should go with a step better filter, spend a few bucks more, cant hurt every 3,500 miles

 

[tweety2300]

Just so I can add and feel special I alsoo go back and forth between conventional and synthetic even mixed them by accident and no problems here