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Synthetic Oils - Have We Been Duped?

M

milb440

GUEST
I have been using Castrol Syntec Blend for years now, but since I will be driving about 30k miles per year, and I have no intention of getting rid of my AV anytime soon, I am wondering if it is worthwhile to switch to a Full Synthetic?

Does anyone know of any tests comparing the two?

I assume that the obvious advantage of the full synthetic is that it will not cause any sludge
or other buildup, plus I imagine it will maintain its viscosity longer.

I do a lot of highway driving (90%)
and I change my oil every 4000 - 5000 miles.

The question is:
is it worth the extra expense?

Just to get this out of the way, >:D
on behalf of the Dino Oil fans out there:
"Just use Dino Oil and change it every 3k miles!"
OK, thanks guys, now back to the question... ;)



 
FWIW,the new "SL" dino oils are now hydrocracked.Many online oil "gurus" believe(and I agree) that the new oils have greatly closed the gap on "synthetics".If you really want a good site for the lowdown on oils of all sorts,go to www.bobistheoilguy.com and check out the forum section.
I have gone from Mobil-1 to Chevron Supreme SL.I have not had any decrease in fuel mileage,smoothness,etc.Do yourself a favor and buy a Qt of this(at Walmart for $1.0:cool:.Pour some into a clear bottle and compare it to older oils or even to synths.This stuff is almost clear in color and has almost no petroleum (sulfur) smell.It is basically what Castrol is calling synthetic.It is a Class 2+ hydocracked oil.
These SL oils are greatly improved in almost every aspect from the SJ oils.Go to Bob's site and be enlightened!
 
If it helps I drive over 50,000 miles a year for work, and I use Mobil-1 in all my cars some have had more than 300,000 miles on them when I traded them in. Not ever has anything gone wrong with the motor's, not one of them burned a drop of oil. To me it's worth the extra money.
 
While considering in another thread whether to switch to a full synthetic from Syntec Blend, "aVOLanche" posted the following link: www.bobistheoilguy.com

From there, click on "FAQs"
then "THOUGHTS ON OILS"

There is a long, rather technical article that discusses Synthetic oils. To summarize, the article is stating that
Mobil 1 has from 9.8% to 19.2% Petroleum, and is actually only from 81.8% to 91.2% "Synthetic." :7:

They also imply that other major brands could have a MUCH lower percentage of synthetic oil content. :8:

The article does state that the "Colloidal Super Lubricants from SynLube, Inc." ARE 100% Synthetic. :0:

What we don't know is how reliable this article is...
it might be completely accurate, but then again it could have been written by someone who has an interest in SynLube, Inc. ???

If it IS accurate, where does that leave us?

Why pay $5+ per quart for a blend, when you can get a blend for $2 and change?

Or, should we consider the new "SL" type oils that "aVOLanche" uses. (What the shell is "hydrocracked"? Sounds like what happened to me the last time I went to a Water Park ;)

Or, does anyone know anything about SynLube, Inc.'s products?

For the moment, I am REALLY steamed at Castrol... :8: When I think of how much I have spent on their oils over the years... :8: :8: :8:







 
aVOLanche said:
If you really want a good site for the lowdown on oils of all sorts,go to www.bobistheoilguy.com and check out the forum section.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link!

Don't know if you saw this, but there is a very interesting article there... in a nutshell, sounds like we have been tricked by the oil companies, INCLUDING Mobil 1.

Started a new thread on what I read:
see "Synthetic Oils - Have we been duped?"
in this section for more details.

 
I've always used full synthetic in my vehicles....Mobil 1 actually...and I have never had any issues or problems....most of my cars always seem to last quite a long time as well...I only go with what I know so I haven't been inclined to change.....- :B:
 
SevenWondersoftheWood said:
While considering in another thread whether to switch to a full synthetic from Syntec Blend, "aVOLanche" ?posted the following link: www.bobistheoilguy.com

From there, click on "FAQs"
then "THOUGHTS ON OILS"

There is a long, rather technical article that discusses Synthetic oils. ?To summarize, the article is stating that
Mobil 1 has from 9.8% to 19.2% Petroleum, and is actually only from 81.8% to 91.2% "Synthetic." ? :7:

They also imply that other major brands could have a MUCH lower percentage of synthetic oil content. ?:8:

The article does state that the "Colloidal Super Lubricants from SynLube, Inc." ?ARE 100% Synthetic. ? :0:

What we don't know is how reliable this article is...
it might be completely accurate, but then again it could have been written by someone who has an interest in SynLube, Inc. ? ???

If it IS accurate, where does that leave us?

Why pay $5+ per quart for a blend, when you can get a blend for $2 and change?

Or, should we consider the new "SL" type oils that "aVOLanche" ?uses. (What the shell is "hydrocracked"? ?Sounds like what happened to me the last time I went to a Water Park ?;)

Or, does anyone know anything about SynLube, Inc.'s products?

For the moment, I am REALLY steamed at Castrol... ?:8: ?When I think of how much I have spent on their oils over the years... ?:8: ?:8: ?:8:
Click to expand...


...and I say bobistheoilguy works or owns that oil company...re-read the above link and change to just suspicious...hmmmmm.
 
I browsed Bob's Oil site and had a hard time zeroing in on his message. Some of his tests, while cleaver, could be missleading. I could not find, in the short time I was there, a clear comparison of the oils. If he is with Schaeffers oil then you would think there would be a clear comparison to help convince people to use it. I will have to look harder later. All this aside, the site has some interesting information and perspectives to ponder. As always, it's buyer beware.

 
Also, as long as Mobil One, Amsoil and the new breed like Valvoline and Castrol have been around, I'd believe if they weren't true synthetics there'd already have been numerous expos?s covering "Amercia: Duped By Oil Industry." Other than web sites like this, I haven't read or seen anything to contradict their validity as being true sythetic. The motorhead at the garage I subscribe to for oil changes ($30/year and then $11/change during the year) said as long as you do 3k intervals, dino is fine. If you will drive it till it falls apart or can't hit 3k miles, then synthetic will be a better alternative.

The problem with this whole topic and conversation is it is too opinionated and too tainted by too many people's interests. Meaning it's hard to find unbiased test data and results not from a competitor and not from a non-petroleum-based agency. It seems every report is biased in one way or another.

My .02 - Jamie
 
I checked my stash of Mobil 1 I have for the 'Vette...It is the "old" Mobil 1 with Tri-Syn (2001 Date of Manufacture) but I see no asterisk or mention of the carrier oil/dino products...hmmmmm :B: ;) ;D (y)
 
jamie said:
Also, as long as Mobil One, Amsoil and the new breed like Valvoline and Castrol have been around, I'd believe if they weren't true synthetics there'd already have been numerous expos?s covering "Amercia: Duped By Oil Industry." ?
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I had been thinking...
thought about notifying HardCopy, 60 Minutes, or some other show to see what (if anything) they could come up with! (y)


 
My suggestion is to not read the FAQ only,but to explore the forums.Bob does sell Schaeffers(sp),but is very knowledgeable.
Also,go to the Chevron site and read about hydrocracking.......It is what Castrol Syntec oil uses(as well as all the SL dino oils I know of).So you can buy an oil very similar to Syntec by getting virtually any SL dino(of course they are all different AFA additives,etc).
I'm not "down on" Mobil-1,or other "true synths like Red Line.I just believe the SL dinos are so good that the gap is narrow between them (at $1.08 a Qt vs Mobil-1 at $4.79).I'm changing at 4,000 miles and feel more than comfortable with Chevron Supreme.
 
Sorry to hear you are steamed at Castrol.

Syntec is the best stuff right now for your vehicle.
It is full synthetic.
Average oil drain should be 3000 miles although OEM's are saying longer.

Personally I go with the computer monitoring of the oil in the Avalanche and use only Syntec. its a little more but I spent alot of time saving for my Avalanche and got all the bells and whistles $42k later. I use Castrol Syntec because I believe in its superiority and have done the research.
 
The AV is only my second new vehicle, I have never used synthetic oils before but have been told that they are worth the extra money. Is it true that they do not sludge up like regular engine oil and that they treat the engine like the oil additives like slick 50 or zmax? I am coming up on my first oil change in the AV and I don't know which synthetic oil to use, I have been told mobil 1, but other friends say they use the Castrol 4x4 synthetic. any suggestions?

Thanks,
Gatorjedi
 
Systhetics will keep your motor cleaner inside assuming you still follow a reasonable maintenance schedule.

A very knowledgeable fellow here (can't remember who as it was so long ago) told me when converting over to sythetic, the way to go is as follows:
? First change with dino at 500 miles
? Next change at 1k: 2Q syn/4Q dino
? Next change at 4k: 4Q syn/2Q dino
? Next change at 7k: full syn
? Subsequent changes at 5k with full syn.

I am by no means an engine nor oil expert, but this sounds good to me and the data provided me supported this service interval. The engine guy at my garage said that it would be fine although he didn't see the need for the gradual introduction of the syn. The only point he stressed is that a new engine shuoldn't go to syn until it has AT LEAST 1k miles. This I have heard on this site before as the engine seals and metal parts need to be broken in and syn wouldn't allow it to be properly broken in.

My take on things as I have learned them - Jamie
 
SevenWondersoftheWood said:
Or, should we consider the new "SL" type oils that "aVOLanche" ?uses. (What the shell is "hydrocracked"? ?Sounds like what happened to me the last time I went to a Water Park ?;)
Click to expand...

Hydrocracking: A process by which the hydrocarbon molecules of petroleum are broken into simpler molecules, as of gasoline or kerosene, by the addition of hydrogen under high pressure and in the presence of a catalyst.
 
sevenwonders of the wood,,, i went to mobil one at 6000 after dealer oil change at 1 and 3000, just for a margin of safety in high load hauling situations,, after pcv valve no oil use problem,, on a long have haul(first time with mobil) i pulled out the dipstick and it was smoking, but the oil was clear.. so stretch it to 4000 between changes still doesnt make up for cost, but i think synthetic will leave me a cleaner engine and wont break down at higher temps. feed your av as good as you can to make him happy!
 
a few vehicles ago.....I had over 116k miles...all I used was regular oil.....no problems ever....sold it and bought something else cause ...well I was bored with it after 11 years....

I still see that truck driving around town......

IMO...I see synthetics as a waste of money if you change your oil properly etc etc.....

I am going from my personal experiences...yours may vary.....
 
There are many reasons I have chosen to use Chevron Supreme SL oil(or Pennzoil SL).It is a Group 2 base oil(hydrocracked) that is GREATLY improved in every way from older oils...to the point it is very close to synthetics.The volatility is much lower(less consumption),the pour point(-36*F) is nearly what PAO synths are.I'm using 10W30 to get the least amount of VI improvers.The flashpoint is 453*(only 2* lower than Mobil-1),etc,etc.

I have NEVER had an oil related failure in 40 years of driving all sorts of vehicles.And many have been high mileage.The oil is NOT a weak link unless it is abused unmercifully.IMO,get a decent filter,change at reasonable intervals(the oil monitor seems good to me-about 4,000 miles).Have you had a catastrophic oil/engine failure??Or even heard of one??

We have changed oil every 3,000 for years.During this time oils have improved drastically,engines run cleaner and more efficiently,etc.Yet most owners dutifully follow Jiffy-Lube's propaganda,rather than the engine makers'!!

I'll put the $$ I save on oil into other maintenance(ATF changes,coolant changes,etc).JMO

 
I like your line of thinking. It makes sense to go with the next best if it is half the cost with 95% the results.
 
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