synthetic oils

18 years ago

Does anyone know why you should not use full synthetic oils in older vehicles? I have read and heard from various sources that using full synthetic oil in older vehicles is harmful to them. If anyone could shed some light on this please let me know.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

gary__
18 years ago
The only issue alleged that I know of is oil leaks. Some claim that it will clean junk that accumulated around gaskets and seals so that you might get oil leaks that you didn't have before. Don't know if there's anything to it or not.

Don't know why you'd want to. It costs a bunch more. IMO, the best thing you can do is use the oil recommended by the manufacturer, and change it every 3 mo's or 3k miles or so.

jmo
jasper60103
18 years ago
I keep my cars a very long time, 10 yrs or so and always over 100,000 miles. My last had 175K before my son crashed it. Always used standard oil and never had engine related problems.
Related Discussions
Looking for Synthetic Oil for my Mower and Snowthrower
Q
Comments (14)
Most of the air cool manufacture do these days say to use 10W30, the oil they sell with their name on it is just that. Many of us old timers still prefer straight 30w for mowers because they generally are warm to hot weather use engines. Under extreme conditions or when oil isn't changed as often as it should be, multi-viscosity oil can break down and become its base stock rating which is the low number. Improvements may have been made so this doesn't happen like it used to be but us old farts just feel better about using straight 30w. obviously, air cooled engines used on snow blowers or other cold temp machines NEED something like 5w or 10w30. The engines owners manual will give a temperature scale as to what grades of oil are acceptable for the temperature the maching is being used for. There will be a cross over from one to the next. Straight 30W is generally considered acceptable at something like 40 or 45 degress and above. How many of us mow our lawns below that? Some may, some may use their mowers to collect leaves in the fall when temps dip. Odds are you also will find your oil changes call for twice per year by the hours you use the mower. So just run straight 30w in the summer and multi's in the winter. Not so hard to do.
...See More
Synthetic OIl
Q
Comments (3)
Hey ewalk, I like the way you rough it up there in the "far north." :-) yeah, that's about what I'd figured. I'd read posts where the recomendation was to go half dino and half synthetic on the old engines the first time, then go all synthetic. Don't know that makes a lot of sense to me, if it's better, it's better. If you don't like your forecasts, come down here, they're very consistent, rain, rain, and oh yeah, yet more rain. Yesterday was really weird, there was this round white thing in the sky? After much discussion, fueled by trips to the cooler in the barn we concluded that it must be the sun. We're still not sure as we haven't seen that since feb. or so.....:-) Ev
...See More
Briggs & Stratton synthetic oil - $13/quart????
Q
Comments (28)
I have no knowledge of synthetic oils, However I have worked in industry for 50 years. In many things there are only a couple of manufacturers of a product, and dozens of rebranders. My first exposure to this was nearly 50 years ago when I listen to a customer explain how much better the store brand milk was than the name brand milk. I listen for about 15 minutes knowing that I had just unloaded the store brand milk from the name brand truck and knew the store brand was bottled in the name brand facility. I know at one time Buick, Olds and Pontiac were assembled on the same production line, sometime three cars coming down the line in that order. (Columbus Ohio Fisher Plant) I use to work in a company that made bulk vitamins, (Bulk means tons). We sold our bulk to many rebranders who put our bulk in their 250 gram bottles and claimed it was better than another customer who also bought our bulk product and put it in his 250 gram bottles. By the way in the case of our Vitamin C the same bulk went into a bottles of fruit fresh. The point is you should be buying products by its specifications, its ingredient list, or other means of comparison, not loyally following a brand.
...See More
Do I need synthetic oil
Q
Comments (11)
from the article I was talking about........... None of the tested oils proved better than the others in our tests. There may be small differences that our tests didn't reveal, but unless you typically drive under more severe conditions than a New York cab does, you won't go wrong if you shop strictly by price or availability. Buy the viscosity grade recommended in your owner's manual, and look for the starburst emblem. Even the expensive synthetics (typically, $3 or $4 a quart) worked no better than conventional motor oils in our taxi tests, but they're worth considering for extreme driving conditions high ambient temperatures and high engine load or very cold temperatures. On the basis of our test results, we think that the commonly recommended 3,000-mile oil-change interval is conservative. For 'normal' service, 7,500-mile intervals (or the recommendation in your owner's manual) should be fine. Change the oil at least that often to protect your engine and maintain your warranty. Even for the severe service experienced by the taxis in our tests a 6,000- mile interval was adequate. But some severe service - frequent cold starts and short trips, dusty conditions, trailer towing - may require a shorter interval. Note, too, that special engines such as diesels and turbos, which we didn't test, may need more frequent oil changes. We don't recommend stretching the change interval beyond the automaker's recommendations, no matter what oil you use. Engine combustion contaminants could eventually build up and harm engine parts. As for STP Oil Treatment, STP Engine Treatment, and Slick 50 Engine Treatment, our advice is simple: If you use an oil with the starburst symbol, you don't need them. Here is a link that might be useful: cab study
...See More
kalining
18 years ago
How old is your " older vehicle "? Synthetic oils are not
recommended for older push rod engines. They are designed
for roller cam and roller rocker engines. Zinc Dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP)has been removed from synthetic oils. That was the only protection the flat cam flat tappet assembly had in the older engines against wear.
Synthetic oil in an old flat tappet engine will soon turn
your cam into a one inch round iron bar. Doesn't do the
lifters any good either.
kalining
18 years ago
I forgot. There are two synthetic oils out there for the older engines. Valvoline is one of them and i forget the
other one.
mikie_gw
18 years ago
Mobil 1 High Milage.
Protects cams and lifters too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Has Zink been removed from all motor oils ?
doberman_2007
18 years ago
I was a dealer in synthetic oils for 25 years , tested many oils. The thing that stands out is when it is cold outside synthetics flow .. period. I took a bottle of 10w-30 oil conventional and MOBIL 1 10W-30 , left them outside in sub freezing temps , next morning synthetic flowed and conventional oozed like molasses . I would not recomend synthetics on older cars .. Synthetic oil is in every piece of equipment Iown . initial start up damages engines the most.
bill_h
18 years ago
some of the older cars called for mobil 1, buick i remember did, on their turbo motors also think chrysler did on their turbo fours.
doberman_2007
18 years ago
I am a firm believer if you use pennzoil for 30000 miles stay with it . DO NOT keep switching oils . The gap of conventional and synthetics in price is narrowing a bit . I remember the price was 3 to 1 . I go 4000 miles on oil changes but that depends how you drive.The manufacturer of the oil says 15000 miles , they must want you to buy a new engine. I refuse to believe the oil isnt contamimated at some point.
bill_h
18 years ago
i change i once a yr wheather it needs it or not.

Related Stories

HOUSEKEEPING 12 Cleaning Projects That Go a Little Deeper — Naturally

By Youthful Habits

Eucalyptus oil for germy door handles. Baking soda for oven grime. Here are nontoxic solutions for often-overlooked cleaning jobs

Full Story

129

DECORATING STYLES Is Your Home Ready for a 1970s Revival?

By Kate Burt

Seventies chic is a trend that’s been brewing for some time, but this year it could hit big — with a few modern tweaks

Full Story

171

DECORATING GUIDES Textile Textbook: Know Your Natural Fibers

By Jess McBride

Whether you desire fresh linen sheets or a swanky mohair rug, Mother Earth has you covered

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES How to Switch to an Organic Landscape Plan

By Falon Mihalic

Ditch the chemicals for a naturally beautiful lawn and garden, using living fertilizers and other nontoxic treatments

Full Story

HOUSEKEEPING Get Those Carpet Stains Out: Best Nontoxic Methods for Spot Cleaning

By Meg Padgett

Banish blotches the safe way with pantry staples, to get your rugs looking as clean as the day they came home

Full Story

By Fred Albert

Why give up style and comfort just because you add fresh air? Turn any porch or patio into a sumptuous room by following these leads

Full Story

116

GREAT HOME PROJECTS Upgrade Your House With New Interior Doors

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

New project for a new year: Enhance your home's architecture with new interior doors you'll love to live with every day

Full Story

187

DECORATING GUIDES Stretch Your Design Possibilities With Polyester

By Culpepper Carpets & Interiors, Inc.

You know it from psychedelic stretch pants (er, maybe not personally). But did you know it's now in rugs, coatings and glass substitutes?

Full Story

LIFE Back to the Future of the House

By Lucy Worsley

Can the low-tech dwellings of the past offer design lessons for homes to come? A palace curator and book author says yes

Full Story

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Counters: Durable, Easy-Clean Soapstone

By Ivon Street Studio

Give bacteria the boot and say sayonara to stains with this long-lasting material that's a great choice for kitchen and bath countertops

Full Story

242

synthetic oils

Comments (9)

gary__

jasper60103

Related Discussions

kalining

kalining

mikie_gw

doberman_2007

bill_h

doberman_2007

bill_h

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US