TS3660

I figure there's got to be some people on here that can help me with this one. I've never synthetic oil. My F150 has 100K on it. I have a few questions. First, If I use synthetic, can I go back to regular if I don't like it? I change my oil every 4K, how often will I need to change it if I switch to synthetic? How much, if any, will it increase my MPG? And finally, is it worth the price?

__________________
Bud

"Capitalism is the unequal sharing of wealth: Socialism is the equal sharing of misery"

mdlbldrmatt135

Some of the synthetic's out there have a 25k oil change on them... (change the filter every 5-8k) (My dad's an Amsoil dealer)

There's tons of confusing info out there on switching and whatnot. If you do I'd change the filter ever 2k just to be safe as the additive in the oil can knock other stuff loose. (carbon and whatnot)

Gene Howe

Ain't that the truth? I've asked a few mechanics that I trust and some say to go for it and others say that after 50-75K, you aren't achieving much.
The only advantage I can see is the length between oil changes.

Gene

mdlbldrmatt135

I got the filter thing from another forum that deals with the old Multifuel Military trucks.... the gys were having clogging issues when changing to synthetic.... but then the trucks will run on motor oil ( or damn near anything that burns) to boot!

GeorgeC

I have used full synthetic oil in my vehicles for over 35 years. I highly recommend it. I have mostly used Castrol Full Synthetic but I also use Mobil 1 when there are good sales.

Currently when my vehicle is on warranty I change oild depending upon the manufacturers recommendation. That is when the computer tells me to change on one vehicle and every 7,500 miles on the other. In older vehicles I have gone as much as 10l or 12k between oil changes.

I always change the filter when I change he oil. Currently I am using Mobil 1 filters.

www.bobistheoilguy.com is a good site.

I would not change from regular dino oil to synthetic just o get increased miles per gallon. You may or may not see any increase. Any increase you see will be small.

It is an old wives tale that you cannot change back to dino oil after synthetic. You can change back and forth every other oil change if you want. It is also a myth that it will cause higher mileage engines to leak oil.

I use systhetic oil because I believe that it helps my vehicles engines last longer.

George

Wood4Fun

I concur 100%

Maintenance 6

If you really want to know what's going on with your oil or in your engine, send a sample to these guys. They'll send you a report on the oil condition and whatever is picked up in it from the engine. I send a sample out from my diesel p/u every 3-4 oil changes. The report they send back is pretty thorough. I think the last sample I sent cost $20.00. They'll send you a container to mail the sample back. Couldn't be much easier. With a test, you can soon see if it pays to convert to synthetic. I surely wouldn't just pick a milage number out of a hat. Vehicle manufacturers have fine print in their owners manuals that say to change more often depending on use conditions. Just looked at the site. Looks like they are charging $22.50 for a test.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

NKYDarrell

the guys at Car Talk have covered this a few times, but here's one of their answers.

Carefully read that owner's manual Make sure any oil used meets those specifications... ...Also it is not true that you can not change from regular to synthetic and back. You can change back and forth as often as you like as long it it meets the specifications in the manual.

http://action.publicbroadcasting.net...t/2128036.page

clarionflyer

I tried the conversion to synthetic in my wife's car (a motor head buddy talked me into it). The only big thing I noticed was the expense. And the low mile engine would let out a small puff of oil smoke when I started it. It used about a pint of oil in 4000 miles.
The next change, I said heck with it and went back to regular oil. A lot cheaper, no puff of smoke, and didn't use a drop in 4000 miles.

I've run several cars over 200,000 miles on regular oil with no problems. If I do ever start having problems, I'll try synthetic again. In my first car (cavalier) I used the dreaded Quaker State. Everyone tells me that oil is waxy junk. I sold that car with 220,000 miles.

daxinarian

The oil filter change interval is much shorter than the oil change interval, so you would need to change the filter multiple times before changing the oil...
How the heck do you change the filter without changing the oil? Just drain the oil and reuse it?

GeorgeC

Never before heard that the "oil change interval is much shorter than the oil change interval." Where did you get that piece of information? Been around vehicles a lot over the past 63 years, including having a mechanic father, and that is news to me.

George

GeorgeC

"If you do I'd change the filter ever 2k just to be safe as the additive in the oil can knock other stuff loose"

What additives in the oil knowck what "stuff" loose?

Trying to put one urban legend to bed (that you cannot shift between conventional and synthetic oils) seems to generate some new urban legends.

I think that www.bobistheoilguy.com would be good reading for all.

George

George

David Freed

I have heard that from several different sources. Some fleets use oil testing to determine when to change the filter. I prefer to stay with regular oil. I use Lucas oil additive in everything I own, from my lawn mower to my semi truck.

You don't have to pull the drain plug. After you change your filter, just add what you lost from the old filter. It should be somewhere between a pint and a quart, depending on how big your filter is.

daxinarian

umm, that piece of information was what I was asking about, and it was from the post I quoted, and a few other previous post.

I always thought that if you pulled the filter out it would drain all the oil just like pulling the drain plug. But if that isn't the case, then no problem!