Synthetic motor oil...
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Romo2Bryant4Six
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trickblue;4388069 said:
It's funny how many misconceptions people have about synthetic.
I get it for free, but all I use is Mobil 1 in my 350z
If I had to pay, I'd use conventional and stick rigidly to my oil
Change interval
Wimbo
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From the Mobil1 website:
Question: What Will Happen Switching From Synthetic Motor Oil to Conventional OilI have been in the mechanic business for 8 years and was always taught that you cannot go back to conventional oil from synthetic oil. I have seen the damage caused by going back to conventional. Is it true that you can switch back to conventional with no damage to your engine?-- Jimi Peranteu, Essington, PA
Answer: Synthetic oils will provide better protection than conventional oils, but switching back and forth between full synthetic and conventional oil will not damage the engine. Of course, this depends on the current engine condition and the quality of the conventional oil being used.
Question: Did Switching from Synthetic to Conventional Oil Contribute to Engine Stalling and Hard Starts?Does switching from synthetic oil back to conventional oil cause any engine problems? I switched my last used car to a high-mileage synthetic when I got it and it ran fine. But one of the next times I had the oil changed, I forgot to specify synthetic and the car stalled out a couple of times and became hard to start until I was able to get back in and have the oil changed back to synthetic. (This did seem to fix the problem.) Was this just a coincidence? I ask because I've done it again and I'd like to know if I should get it changed back to synthetic asap or if I should just hope for the best and see how it goes. Thanks!-- David Stout, Oak Park, MI
Answer: It is unlikely that your problem as described was oil related. Certainly hard starting/cranking in cold weather could be impacted by using switching oils especially if they were different viscosities. But stalling/hard starting is more likely due to other vehicle issues including ignition, fuel, and fuel injectors to name a few.
Question: Switching From Conventional Motor Oil to Mobil 1There seems to be confusion about how to make the switch from conventional motor to synthetic. I am a do-it-yourselfer. Could you provide instructions?-- Joe D., Miami, FL
Answer: The instructions are very easy to follow: Simply change the oil as you would normally. Any “confusion” is just myth. You can switch from conventional motor oil to Mobil 1 synthetic (and back again, if you want), without following any special procedures. The only exception to this is with a higher-mileage engine that has never used synthetic motor oil, or with an engine that has used conventional motor oil and been poorly maintained. In these cases, you should still follow the same basic oil-change procedures (drain the old oil, remove the old oil filter, put in new Mobil 1 and put on a new oil filter), but you should follow a regimen of one or two shortened oil-change intervals. For instance, let’s say that your regular oil change interval is 5,000 miles. If you’re switching to Mobil 1 under the circumstances mentioned above, make your next Mobil 1 oil change in 2,500 miles, your third Mobil 1 oil change 3,500 miles after that, and then follow your normal 5,000 mile oil-change interval. The reasoning behind this staggered interval is that a high-mileage engine, or one that has seen infrequent oil changes, will likely have a considerable build-up of sludge and deposits. Mobil 1 will help clean the engine as you drive, but it will have to work much harder in a very “dirty” engine, and so it is best to change the oil more frequently for those first few thousand miles. After that, you can rest assured that Mobil 1 is continuing to keep your engine running clean and well lubricated for mile after mile.
Question: How Far Can Oil Drains be Extended with Mobil 1?I have a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer that I use for work. I put over 40,000 miles on it per year with all types of driving. I currently change the oil every 3,000 miles using quality mineral oils. I am interested in switching to Mobil 1 full synthetic oil to extend the drain intervals out so I'm not changing the oil every 3 weeks. This vehicle needs to last me for 200,000 miles. I currently have 82,000 on it. If I switch to Mobil 1 full synthetic, how far can I extend the drain interval out to recoup the much higher cost of Mobil 1 and get 200,000 miles out of this thing?-- Brian Clark, Salfordville, PA
Answer: With Mobil 1 oil you can easily go between 7,500 and 10,000 miles depending on your driving conditions. We recommend that you start increasing the ODI gradually. You are the reason we created Mobil 1 Extended Performance oils which we recommend for up to 15,000 miles between drain intervals.
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/AskMobil/AskMobil_Homepage.aspx
Question: What Will Happen Switching From Synthetic Motor Oil to Conventional OilI have been in the mechanic business for 8 years and was always taught that you cannot go back to conventional oil from synthetic oil. I have seen the damage caused by going back to conventional. Is it true that you can switch back to conventional with no damage to your engine?-- Jimi Peranteu, Essington, PA
Answer: Synthetic oils will provide better protection than conventional oils, but switching back and forth between full synthetic and conventional oil will not damage the engine. Of course, this depends on the current engine condition and the quality of the conventional oil being used.
Question: Did Switching from Synthetic to Conventional Oil Contribute to Engine Stalling and Hard Starts?Does switching from synthetic oil back to conventional oil cause any engine problems? I switched my last used car to a high-mileage synthetic when I got it and it ran fine. But one of the next times I had the oil changed, I forgot to specify synthetic and the car stalled out a couple of times and became hard to start until I was able to get back in and have the oil changed back to synthetic. (This did seem to fix the problem.) Was this just a coincidence? I ask because I've done it again and I'd like to know if I should get it changed back to synthetic asap or if I should just hope for the best and see how it goes. Thanks!-- David Stout, Oak Park, MI
Answer: It is unlikely that your problem as described was oil related. Certainly hard starting/cranking in cold weather could be impacted by using switching oils especially if they were different viscosities. But stalling/hard starting is more likely due to other vehicle issues including ignition, fuel, and fuel injectors to name a few.
Question: Switching From Conventional Motor Oil to Mobil 1There seems to be confusion about how to make the switch from conventional motor to synthetic. I am a do-it-yourselfer. Could you provide instructions?-- Joe D., Miami, FL
Answer: The instructions are very easy to follow: Simply change the oil as you would normally. Any “confusion” is just myth. You can switch from conventional motor oil to Mobil 1 synthetic (and back again, if you want), without following any special procedures. The only exception to this is with a higher-mileage engine that has never used synthetic motor oil, or with an engine that has used conventional motor oil and been poorly maintained. In these cases, you should still follow the same basic oil-change procedures (drain the old oil, remove the old oil filter, put in new Mobil 1 and put on a new oil filter), but you should follow a regimen of one or two shortened oil-change intervals. For instance, let’s say that your regular oil change interval is 5,000 miles. If you’re switching to Mobil 1 under the circumstances mentioned above, make your next Mobil 1 oil change in 2,500 miles, your third Mobil 1 oil change 3,500 miles after that, and then follow your normal 5,000 mile oil-change interval. The reasoning behind this staggered interval is that a high-mileage engine, or one that has seen infrequent oil changes, will likely have a considerable build-up of sludge and deposits. Mobil 1 will help clean the engine as you drive, but it will have to work much harder in a very “dirty” engine, and so it is best to change the oil more frequently for those first few thousand miles. After that, you can rest assured that Mobil 1 is continuing to keep your engine running clean and well lubricated for mile after mile.
Question: How Far Can Oil Drains be Extended with Mobil 1?I have a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer that I use for work. I put over 40,000 miles on it per year with all types of driving. I currently change the oil every 3,000 miles using quality mineral oils. I am interested in switching to Mobil 1 full synthetic oil to extend the drain intervals out so I'm not changing the oil every 3 weeks. This vehicle needs to last me for 200,000 miles. I currently have 82,000 on it. If I switch to Mobil 1 full synthetic, how far can I extend the drain interval out to recoup the much higher cost of Mobil 1 and get 200,000 miles out of this thing?-- Brian Clark, Salfordville, PA
Answer: With Mobil 1 oil you can easily go between 7,500 and 10,000 miles depending on your driving conditions. We recommend that you start increasing the ODI gradually. You are the reason we created Mobil 1 Extended Performance oils which we recommend for up to 15,000 miles between drain intervals.
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/AskMobil/AskMobil_Homepage.aspx
