going from regular to synthetic

[pfive]

i'm coming up on my first oil change since buying my pfive (can you believe almost 2200 miles in one month!) i know the used car dealer i bought it from use the regular oil, but i want to switch over to the synthetic type.

I have heard that you have to do it little by little, like 4 qts regular, 1 synth, then 3 qts reg and 2 synth, etc etc. This is what my brother did with his 2 RX7's.

has anyone gone cold turkey from one to the other?

[Kansei]

i'm coming up on my first oil change since buying my pfive (can you believe almost 2200 miles in one month!) i know the used car dealer i bought it from use the regular oil, but i want to switch over to the synthetic type.

I have heard that you have to do it little by little, like 4 qts regular, 1 synth, then 3 qts reg and 2 synth, etc etc. This is what my brother did with his 2 RX7's.

has anyone gone cold turkey from one to the other?

Yeah. i've never heard of people blending it to do the switch. How many miles on the P5? I have heard people say stuff about being careful switching on a high mileage car because the detergents might clean up some gunk that is holding the car together and cause leaks.

[pfive]

53k. i dont know if the previous owner used synthetic before me.

[Josh_160]

what about 137000 is this high mileage? can i switch to synthetic is it gonna be better for it

[Josh_160]

what about 137000 is this high mileage? can i switch to synthetic is it gonna be better for it

[urbanbiker]

hey,

you are supposed to do a flush and then switch. Regular oil and synthetic oil are not compatible. They don't work well together. Get as much of the old oil out and fill up with synthetic. They have high mileage synthetics if you are worried about changing.

Matt

[Canecreekfreak]

When I make the switch, I usually buy a snyth. blend oil, run that for 3-5k miles, then switch over to full synth. I also run a quart of clean oil thru the engine to "flush" the old oil out, then put the drain plug back in a fill 'er up w/the new fresh oil. It's probably over kill, but I have also heard that dino and synth. don't mix well. Just my 2 cents.

[RaiderMP5]

I have heard that 85K miles was the cuttoff to change over, but I do not have that confirmed. I switched to synth straight over at 30K miles. Amsoil in the transmission, mobile1 in the engine. I just changed engine oil at 45K miles, trying out Royal Purple's synthetic. I noticed my car is quieter engine noise-wise, but get the same mileage, 33 freeway, 27 in crap traffic.

[susamafone]

i made the switch from regular oil to a synthetic blend at 24K. i just drained the old stuff and filled it up with the blend. i havent had any problems. i would have gone full synthetic but it was a little more than i wanted to spend.

[Jack Daniels]

I've never heard of flushing or any other wacky procedures when changing to synthetic. I put Mobil1 in my P5 and all my other cars on their first change.

[pfive]

i put synth in my wifes maxima w/o this process and there were no problems. i just wanted to double check regarding the P5

[Jack Daniels]

Here's some good reading on the subject...

http://synlubes.com/about/faqs.html#3

[Jack Daniels]

From the Valvoline SynPower page..

What are the benefits SynPower delivers over conventional motor oils?
Compared to conventional motor oil, SynPower full synthetic motor oil offers easier cold starting, quicker flow upon engine start-up, quicker heat dissipation and better high-temperature properties.

Can I extend my drain interval if i use SynPower? How often do I need to change my oil when i use SynPower? If I can't go longer on oil changes, then what's the advantage?
Although it is true that synthetic oils can hold up for longer periods of time, the additives will still eventually wear out and the oil will become dirty with engine contaminants. Following the recommended change intervals for oil and filter outlined in your car's owners' manual with SynPower Motor Oil, will result in a clean engine and help combat engine wear which ultimately will help keep your engine running better longer.

Is it okay to mix synthetics and conventional oils?
Some of the first synthetics offered were formulated with high levels of ester that were incompatible with conventional oils. Today's modern synthetics are designed to be compatible with these conventional mineral oils. So, if you have synthetic oil in your car and would like to top-off with conventional oil, that's okay. SynPower is fully compatible with all conventional motor oils, as well as other leading synthetic oils.

Is SynPower a full synthetic? Is SynPower motor oil PAO or ester based? Does it require a special filter?
Yes, SynPower is 100% synthetic. Synpower uses a proprietary combination of various types of synthetic base oils to obtain optimum performance.
No, a special oil filter is not required with Synpower.

Can I use SynPower motor oil with alcohol/ethanol fuels?
Yes, SynPower can be used in fuels containing alcohols.

Is SynPower motor oil okay for my diesel truck?
Valvoline SynPower is designed for use in light duty gasoline trucks, as well as gasoline and diesel passenger vehicles. Diesel engines in trucks require API CG-4/CH-4 type oil. For premium performance, Valvoline Premium Blue 2000 would be recommended.

Can I use SynPower motor oil in my motorcycle that has a wet clutch?
No. SynPower is a highly friction modified oil and is not designed for wet clutches.

Does SynPower motor oil contain Teflon?
No.

Can I use SynPower in an older vehicle?
Yes. SynPower has been tested with various seal materials by meeting API SL/SJ and preceding categories recommended for older vehicles. Or yes, SynPower has a proper balance of synthetic base oils in formula not to be harmful to seals or gaskets in pre-1980 vehicles.

Once I switch to synthetics, can I ever switch back to conventional or synthetic blend oils?
Yes.

[BradC]

I have never seen so much misinformation flying around compared to people paranoid about using a synthetic oil!

[RaiderMP5]

I have never seen so much misinformation flying around compared to people paranoid about using a synthetic oil!

please explain.

[Jack Daniels]

I have never seen so much misinformation flying around compared to people paranoid about using a synthetic oil!

You must be new to the internet then. ;)

[altspace]

http://www.greddy.com/images/OIL_1_AD.jpg

[pfive]

will this oil give me more horsepower then a set of racing stripes?

[RaiderMP5]

expect eleventy horsepower squared to the square root.

[pfive]

hell yeah...

[Revs]

Its not rocket science people, you can go from conventional to synthetic to conventional etc without any need to flush your engine or any worry about damaging your engine.

You can mix them up all your want,heck oil companies sell mixed blends.

[Mmmmmken]

Absolutely NOTHING woll give you more raw HP and torque than a good set of racing stripes.
will this oil give me more horsepower then a set of racing stripes?

[Mmmmmken]

Bottom line, just do the switch, you and your car will be happy. It is OK to mix, read the label on any synthetic, it will tell you so, but make the switch to full synthetic and be happy.

[prix]

I would NOT switch if you had 137000 miles on the car...

53000 is close to the limit imo, be wary of oil leaks, synthic leaks more easily (gets through places that regular doesn't and if you switch at higher mileage you might start springing oil leaks that would not have happend if you had stuck with regular.)

I switched at about 2000, broke car in with regular oil

i don't know why you would say that you can't mix the two, infact there are some oils that come pre-blended 1/2 and 1/2 reg and syn.

also, that greddy oil is a buncha bullshit, hey kids, lets put 100 octane in our cars, it gives us more horsepower because as far as octane is concerned bigger is better right? I mean it is race gas, race cars are fast!

[BradC]

What makes synthetic leak more?

[Mmmmmken]

Nothing... it does'nt.
What makes synthetic leak more?

[.paul]

I wonder who makes Greddy's oil. $10 dolla says it's mobil or repsol :p

[mpf1v3]

just wondering cause i dont know much about it, wut are the advantages of having synthetic oil over normal?

[pfive]

i second that? aside from a larger hole in my pocket, what are the benefits of synthetic?

[BradC]

Nothing... it does'nt.
I know, I was asking that in reference to the poster above me (prix, I just didnt quote it). I was trying to get his logic on why it would
be wary of oil leaks, synthic leaks more easily (gets through places that regular doesn't and if you switch at higher mileage you might start springing oil leaks that would not have happend if you had stuck with regular.)


i second that? aside from a larger hole in my pocket, what are the benefits of synthetic?
Think of the lighter pocket as weight reduction!! Seriously though...



Advantages
The industry recognizes the following benefits for synthetic oils:

Improved viscosity at low temperatures. Mineral oils tend to include wax impurities which coagulate at lower temperatures.

A typical 10W-30 oil remains liquid at -50 °C (-58 °F)

Better high temperature performance. Synthetic oils have few low molecular weight hydrocarbons which evaporate at high temperatures.

Higher purity

Decreased oil consumption

Reduced friction and engine wear

Improved fuel consumption through better engine lubrication

Longer intervals between oil changes

Resistance to oil sludge problems

Crude oil doesn't have to be used for the production of the lubricants
Some synthetic producers offer extended drain intervals

[pfive]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...i see said the blind man to his deaf horse. thanks!

[prix]

I know, I was asking that in reference to the poster above me (prix, I just didnt quote it). I was trying to get his logic on why it would


Think of the lighter pocket as weight reduction!! Seriously though...

From what I have heard (two things)

1. There are degerents in the oil that break down some of the buildup on older engines, some places this buildup acctually prevents leaks

2. Synthetic molecules are slighly smaller, so when an engine has been wearing on reg oil with slighly larger molecules, when you switch it to synthetic the new oil wears differently then the old and if there were any microscopic leaks that were not happening due to the slightly larger reg oil, they will start leaking with the syn.

Both of these things have been told to me by my auto-shop teacher, they aren't just something I made up.

[BradC]

From what I have heard (two things)

1. There are degerents in the oil that break down some of the buildup on older engines, some places this buildup acctually prevents leaks

2. Synthetic molecules are slighly smaller, so when an engine has been wearing on reg oil with slighly larger molecules, when you switch it to synthetic the new oil wears differently then the old and if there were any microscopic leaks that were not happening due to the slightly larger reg oil, they will start leaking with the syn.

Both of these things have been told to me by my auto-shop teacher, they aren't just something I made up.
I can see that, but 5w30 synthetic has the same viscosity as 5w30 conventional. How can something of the same thickness, be thinner?

[.paul]

The viscosity might be different when the two are heated up. The synthetic probably becomes more viscous?

[BradC]

The viscosity might be different when the two are heated up. The synthetic probably becomes more viscous?
Can't be though, thats what the 30 in 5w30 is. The fist number is its viscosity when at a low temp (0 degrees F) and the second is at a high temp (210 degrees F).

[.paul]

Oh well, ir teh sux at motor oil. haha

[prix]

The viscosity remains the same, but the molecules are smaller (there are just more of them and they cling together better maybe)

[prix]

Can't be though, thats what the 30 in 5w30 is. The fist number is its viscosity when at a low temp (0 degrees F) and the second is at a high temp (210 degrees F).

This is right, 5w30 is 5w30, syn or reg, doesn't make a difference as far as viscosity goes, the only thing that should change the viscosity is changing the weight ie 5w30 -> 5w40

[prix]

The only real downside to synthetic oils is the cost. It is typically two or three times the cost of conventional oil for a good synthetic. Another little-known downside is that switching to a synthetic oil on an old engine can result in oil leaks. Why? Because the detergents in the synthetic oils will "clean-up" the varnish and sludge left by conventional oils. If your engine seals are worn, the synthetic will break down the oil varnish that may be maintaining the seal. So it's not that the synthetic oil caused a leak, it just that it revealed worn seals by cleaning the varnish off of them. Many people have switched to synthetic on 100,000+ mile engines with no leaks, so it just depends on how often you changed your oil and the overall condition of your engine.

Further illustrates my point about the degergent effect of synthetics. The smaller molecules may not be as accurate as my auto teacher would like people to believe but I think a combonation of the two could lead to leaks.

In the case of the OP, I wouldn't really recommend switching to synthetic unless you really understand why you are doing it. In this case, that does not seem to be. You arn't really going to gain anything from it and stand to have your engine start leaking (with its unknown maintianance history.)


Taken from http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil.html