Switching to synthetic oil

[newprot5fan]

hey all,

Due for an oil change and am going to switch to synthetic I think. It seems that it works better in both cold and hot temps right?

My questions are how much do I ahve to buy to give to the mechanic?

Also, what weight is the best? I just bought the car, so I haven;t really done an oil change on it so I am not sure what weight is in there now, but I do know it isn't synthetic.

What do you guys have in your P5? Also, are there special oil filters for syntheitc oil? and when I do switch, how often shuold it be changed? I assume I can go longer between them?

Thanks for the help!

 

[the tortoise]

I run Mobil1 5W-30 in my P5.

How many miles on yours?

 

[newprot5fan]

Hey man,

I just got it used, so there is 58,000 km on it..I put about 4000 on in 3 months.

so I should buy a few quarts of it? Do you find it is better than regular oil?

Also, it's getting cold where I am from (Nova Scotia) and I am hearing a slight grind when I shift into second. Is this normal????? How often should you replace the transmission fluid? and what type is the best?

 

[Nomad]

5w-30 motor oil synth. It takes 4 qts. buy 5 and keep one. Make sure to watch the mechanic put it in or he may just hide them and give you crappy oil. You won't notice a difference in performance.

70w synth in the tranny. Do it every 3 years or so.

 

[the tortoise]

I made the switch to synthetic at 50,000 km and am now at 96,000 with no problems.

Apparently you can go longer intervals with the synthetic but you'll find your oil gets pretty dirty by 8,000 km the first time you use it. I'd stick with 8,000 km until you're out of the powertrain warranty.

 

[NVP5White]

I switched when I bought the car used at 9K miles (~15K km). I use 5W-30 in the winter and 10W-30 in the summer. I don't use a synthetic-specific filter.

I buy Mobil 1 by the gallon. I put the oil in the motor, then put the waste oil back in the gallon container. It makes clean-up and disposal very easy.

I have NEVER burned any oil so I really don't see the need for an extra quart. I especially wouldn't keep an opened quart of oil around for too long.

 

[Dermen]

I especially wouldn't keep an opened quart of oil around for too long.

I never heard this before, does the oil go bad or why wouldn't you keep an opened quart of oil around? I got a 5qt jug of Mobil 1 last time I changed the oil. I figured it would be fine to keep the extra quart and put it in next time I change the oil.

 

[Nomad]

It's not brake fluid, it's oil.
It will be fine.
Check the levels and add a tiny bit more than 4.
I use a larger filter though. You never know when you'll need that extra oil.


do what you want, it aint my car...

 

[midrange]

at your kms, yo uhave nothing to wory about.. if it was like 150000 kms, i would suggest a semi synthetic.. but if you want to switch to synthetic, do it now.. and you'll have no problems.....

and dang.. i have only had my car a week yesterday, and i already have put on 1500kms... lol

 

[mogi]

I use Amsoil 5 or 10w-30 full synthetic. I also run their 1 year/25k mile filter. I last changed my oil in January 2006, so I'm about due for a change here. And to all you people who will jump on me saying you can't go that long without changing, you won't change my mind. My car has performed beautifully throughout the year and I'm still getting 28MPG, the best I've ever seen my car get. I drive my car like a normal person, with a bit of aggressive driving tossed in once in a while. I don't autocross, I don't race, and it isn't turbo'd. For the average Joe, Amsoil oil and filter for 1 year is probably fine.

 

[2litrePRO]

Hey hey im from nova scotia as well. Nice to see someone with something other then a honda or vw around here. Do you live in halifax?

I run 5w-30 mobil 1 synthetic most of the time but i put royal purple in it last time.... the only place in town that ive seen it though is at performance edge in tantallon.

However the royal purple looks super dirty only after about 6000kms. Im not sure if that means it did its job and cleaned my engine out or what. Mind you mine burns oil, i had to add about 3 bottles in that span. I also added some seafoam to the oil so im gonna see what happens.

As for the tranny last winter when i bought mine i noticed it would grind into second and third when it was cold but i switched to Castrol Syncromesh fluid and now it shifts beatifully. I havent heard a grind since.

 

[newprot5fan]

YEah, I just bought some Mobil 1 synthetic and will be putting it in next week. Should I just get the mazda protege oil filter?

Yup, I live in Hali....not sure why I put snow tires on my car..looks like we are having quite the mild winter here!

so, after how long do I go before changing the oil next time? I've heard like 6 months or 8000km ? Thoughts on that?

As for the tranny, I have no idea if they put new fluid in when they got the car (the dealer that is). Mine grinds a bit going into second on cold days and once in a while pops out of third (not happy about that!!!!). I'm still have some powertrain left (till June) - I am assuming if things stay like this, any tranny work is covered under that right??


ANyway, everyone have a great Xmas and drive SAFE!!!!!

Cheers!

 

[2litrePRO]

YEah, I just bought some Mobil 1 synthetic and will be putting it in next week. Should I just get the mazda protege oil filter?

Yup, I live in Hali....not sure why I put snow tires on my car..looks like we are having quite the mild winter here!

so, after how long do I go before changing the oil next time? I've heard like 6 months or 8000km ? Thoughts on that?

As for the tranny, I have no idea if they put new fluid in when they got the car (the dealer that is). Mine grinds a bit going into second on cold days and once in a while pops out of third (not happy about that!!!!). I'm still have some powertrain left (till June) - I am assuming if things stay like this, any tranny work is covered under that right??


ANyway, everyone have a great Xmas and drive SAFE!!!!!

Cheers!

Yeah its pretty mild out right now... My pro isnt being drove right now i got my beater on the road. 93 Nissan Sentra Classic YEAHHH!

Pops out of third though? Eeek thats no good i would definatley go to the dealer asap and see about that. Sounds like your tranny is toast to me.

Edit: Oh and i was at autoworld in burnside yesterday buying my JSP C/F hood and i saw that they also carry royal purple.

 

[YellowMP5]

walmart sells them by the jug of 5 quarts and it comes out to be cheaper than buying 5 individual bottles.

 

[newprot5fan]

Yeah, the popping out of third once in a while doesn;t sit well with me, but I have 6 more months on my powertrain, and I am assuming that will be covered. God, don;t say my tranny is toast!

I have a belt squeaking now too...ugh....really bad some days, quiet the next...I'm getting them to look at that too!





QUOTE=2litrePRO]Yeah its pretty mild out right now... My pro isnt being drove right now i got my beater on the road. 93 Nissan Sentra Classic YEAHHH!

Pops out of third though? Eeek thats no good i would definatley go to the dealer asap and see about that. Sounds like your tranny is toast to me.

Edit: Oh and i was at autoworld in burnside yesterday buying my JSP C/F hood and i saw that they also carry royal purple.[/QUOTE]

 

[fr0st]

probably not in the same ball park but my old corolla has been on castrol full synth in winter and castrol mineal oil in the summer.. both 10w30... so in other words, i switch every 2 seasons from full synth to full mineral oil with no problems..

the car's got 321000 km on the original engine and tranny( which iswas to full synth but switch to GM syncromesh semi which is the best oil yet for the car)

and it doesn't burn any oil..

it's letting go slowly due to parts wearing out and getting loose.. oh and compression is now at 145 on all 4..LOL

thats why last night i bought a speed (glare)

 

[doctormike]

sticking to factory filter

I use 5-30 Mobile1 winter....10-30 summer.....fill to the full line on the dip stick.....exactly 3 1/4 quarts with the factory small filter...anymore is overfill...30 mpg average...35 on the highway...k&n filter and racing beat cat back...i change every 2 or 3 months because i want the oil clean...car is as new with 29K...

 

[newprot5fan]

wow..I am getting nowhere NEAR that gas mileage..and I don;t drive it hard. My last tank I think I got 21mpg (mind you, mostly all city), but even on the highway, i was only getting 28 I think.

I use 5-30 Mobile1 winter....10-30 summer.....fill to the full line on the dip stick.....exactly 3 1/4 quarts with the factory small filter...anymore is overfill...30 mpg average...35 on the highway...k&n filter and racing beat cat back...i change every 2 or 3 months because i want the oil clean...car is as new with 29K...

 

[adc0642]

Do some research on an oil forum. Yes believe it, there are forums dedicated to lubes. (insert dirty joke here)
Bob's (http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/ubbthreads.php) was a good one but may be down...

After some research a couple years back i switched to Ford Motorcraft synth blend, on the recommendation of forum users and oil analyses on the P5's motor. i think its 5w20, i'd have to check.
It's nice smooth oil, i change every 3-4k in mixed driving, oil comes out clean. Use a good filter like Napa Gold (research filters too!). the motor ran noticeably smoother and quieter the first time i used it. Whenever i change it now, it makes no difference in smoothness, meaning the old oil is still working fine and hasn't broken down.
the oil is ~$2 at wallyworld.

I used to be a proponent of just buying generic dinosaur juice at 90cents on sale, and changing every 3k. but research has made a believer out of me.

cheers

 

[adc0642]

30 mpg average...35 on the highway...

dammit that's hi mpg.
I've tried hi tire pressure, grounding the electronics, fancy spark plugs, moved to synth blend oil, remove roof rack, etc. etc.

car gets no more than 30mpg EVER.

well it might if i set the cruise at 55 but that's just silly.