GM Engineer discusses a LOT you didn't know about Syn Oil
04-12-2005, 03:23 PM
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GM Engineer discusses a LOT you didn't know about Syn Oil
I found this link
http://p083.ezboard.com/ffjr1300owne...icID=536.topic
Read "Jestal'*" posts. He is a factory GM engineer that worked on the oil monitor system for GM. It'* a long post that has tons of info into Synthetic and Dino motor oil. It debunks a lot of "myths" that you have heard about both types of oils.
http://p083.ezboard.com/ffjr1300owne...icID=536.topic
Read "Jestal'*" posts. He is a factory GM engineer that worked on the oil monitor system for GM. It'* a long post that has tons of info into Synthetic and Dino motor oil. It debunks a lot of "myths" that you have heard about both types of oils.
04-12-2005, 04:02 PM
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Wow.... sounds like for everyday use in a passenger car motor like a GM 3800 synthetic oil has no advantages over Texas Tea. That'* really helpful to know, unless I was reading it wrong. Anyone else have thoughts on this?
04-12-2005, 04:12 PM
#3
Originally Posted by big_news_1
Wow.... sounds like for everyday use in a passenger car motor like a GM 3800 synthetic oil has no advantages over Texas Tea. That'* really helpful to know, unless I was reading it wrong. Anyone else have thoughts on this?
Sounds like there'* no point in spending the extra money if it still has to be changed at regular intervals, and if the driver isn't going to exceed 305 degrees in the crankcase.
Furthermore, he says synthetic only gets you an extra 25 degrees. That'* very little improvement, IMO for the extra money spent. If that'* truely the case, then I'd be shopping for an oil cooler before I bought synthetic.
04-12-2005, 04:17 PM
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Some of us already have oil coolers (stock). But keep in mind, this is a GM Engineer talking about the benefits of using synthetic/dino juice on the ENGINE. Synthetic oil has been proven to not break down and outlast Dino Juice by several independent tests.
04-12-2005, 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by willwren
Some of us already have oil coolers (stock). But keep in mind, this is a GM Engineer talking about the benefits of using synthetic/dino juice on the ENGINE. Synthetic oil has been proven to not break down and outlast Dino Juice by several independent tests.
04-12-2005, 05:47 PM
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I have no idea whats really involved in all of the tests....
But after seeing many engines apart for a rebuild, its amazing to see the diffrences in wear on these engines...
Take an old cop car for example... LT1 V8.... This engine was maintained here in florida and was a retired cop car... 160,000 miles I think.... It had to have had its oil changes... And I have no idea what type of oil they used... But the wear on the pistons and cylinder bores was next to nothing... The engine was honed out, the pistons were cleaned and reused... 2 of the rods had to be resized( cylinders 4 & 8 )... Other than that the engine was in great shape...
We rebuilt a ford 351( Cleveland or Windsor..spelling... 351 V8 )
200,000 miles, no oil changes and it showed... It was horrible... we couldn't figure out how any of the engine was still being lubricated... But the bottom end was totally gone... Bearing bits all over the pan...
A friend of my Shadetree friend decided to rebuild his 302 due to a lack of oil pressure when the engine was hot... He tore it all down and the bottom end was messed up, again bearing bits... But the cylinder bores and pistons looked great, internally you could have eaten off this engine on the inside... He just changed his oil every 3000 regaurdless..
I feel that the oil changes I do keep the engines going... They stay clean, keeping the wear down...
My shadtree friend, abused the **** out of his 3.0 Buick V6, but he too changed his oil like clockwork... Even after 200,000 miles and a slight knock on startup, the inside of the motor is still like new...
He has driven 25,000 on the other low milage motor he managed to find... It too is as clean as it could be...
I do feel that synthetic is better... But at the same time I change my oil frequently and don't at the moment see the need to use it..
Oh well I don't know much about oil, except that I will always keep mine changed, and recycle the old oil...
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But after seeing many engines apart for a rebuild, its amazing to see the diffrences in wear on these engines...
Take an old cop car for example... LT1 V8.... This engine was maintained here in florida and was a retired cop car... 160,000 miles I think.... It had to have had its oil changes... And I have no idea what type of oil they used... But the wear on the pistons and cylinder bores was next to nothing... The engine was honed out, the pistons were cleaned and reused... 2 of the rods had to be resized( cylinders 4 & 8 )... Other than that the engine was in great shape...
We rebuilt a ford 351( Cleveland or Windsor..spelling... 351 V8 )
200,000 miles, no oil changes and it showed... It was horrible... we couldn't figure out how any of the engine was still being lubricated... But the bottom end was totally gone... Bearing bits all over the pan...
A friend of my Shadetree friend decided to rebuild his 302 due to a lack of oil pressure when the engine was hot... He tore it all down and the bottom end was messed up, again bearing bits... But the cylinder bores and pistons looked great, internally you could have eaten off this engine on the inside... He just changed his oil every 3000 regaurdless..
I feel that the oil changes I do keep the engines going... They stay clean, keeping the wear down...
My shadtree friend, abused the **** out of his 3.0 Buick V6, but he too changed his oil like clockwork... Even after 200,000 miles and a slight knock on startup, the inside of the motor is still like new...
He has driven 25,000 on the other low milage motor he managed to find... It too is as clean as it could be...
I do feel that synthetic is better... But at the same time I change my oil frequently and don't at the moment see the need to use it..
Oh well I don't know much about oil, except that I will always keep mine changed, and recycle the old oil...
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04-12-2005, 07:03 PM
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As long as you use the car manufacturer'* service intervals, you shouldn't have oil-related problems, no matter what oil type you use.
That said, synthetics do offer some advantages. Better wear protection, cleaning properties, and better viscocity in extreme hot/cold conditions.
Really, it'* the filter that is the big factor in making that 15,000 mile oil useless. There simply aren't any filters out there well enough engineered to allow you to use any oil for more than about 6,000 miles. There'* only so much surface area you can fit in a filter, and when that clogs up, the filter begins to fail.
Some military vehicles and civilians semi trucks are using a system where they NEVER have to change the oil. They use an advanced filtration system that has a replaceable filter, treated with acid-absorbers and other chemicals. When they put in a new filter it renews all the synthetic chemical that keep the oil from breaking down.
That said, synthetics do offer some advantages. Better wear protection, cleaning properties, and better viscocity in extreme hot/cold conditions.
Really, it'* the filter that is the big factor in making that 15,000 mile oil useless. There simply aren't any filters out there well enough engineered to allow you to use any oil for more than about 6,000 miles. There'* only so much surface area you can fit in a filter, and when that clogs up, the filter begins to fail.
Some military vehicles and civilians semi trucks are using a system where they NEVER have to change the oil. They use an advanced filtration system that has a replaceable filter, treated with acid-absorbers and other chemicals. When they put in a new filter it renews all the synthetic chemical that keep the oil from breaking down.
04-12-2005, 08:09 PM
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Ive overheated 2 cars using Mobil 1 syn...my old Saab (88 9000 Turbo) and my Bonne and had no problems with either with the engines, and I cant say that about all of my cars (as I overheated my Lumina and it was never quite right afterward....used regular 5w30) The way I drive and the heat my engine sees (especially when racing it has seen extended temps of 250+...::pre cooling fan switch:
I will pay the extra juist for that reason. BTW last time I changed the first time I changed the oil in my Buick (had regular oil in it at the time) the oil monitor showed like 20% at 3000 miles....after changing to synthetic it went up too 35-40% at 3000 miles...still 99% in town driving, still drivng like a maniac at times....nothing changed but the oil and filter (a whole other subject)
I will pay the extra juist for that reason. BTW last time I changed the first time I changed the oil in my Buick (had regular oil in it at the time) the oil monitor showed like 20% at 3000 miles....after changing to synthetic it went up too 35-40% at 3000 miles...still 99% in town driving, still drivng like a maniac at times....nothing changed but the oil and filter (a whole other subject)
04-12-2005, 08:57 PM
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I know this is more than we put our oil through, but for kart racing, we use synthetic oil.
They are 6.5hp Honda engines, that were designed to be used at 3,000rpm, but we have them turning at about 6,700rpm. There are some people that use regular oil instead of synthetic. We change the oil at least once a weekend ( when racing), sometimes more. Once you tear the engines apart, you can really see the difference between people using the synthetic oil and the people using regular oil, besides the fact that some have blown the engines cause they didn't use synthetic.
They are 6.5hp Honda engines, that were designed to be used at 3,000rpm, but we have them turning at about 6,700rpm. There are some people that use regular oil instead of synthetic. We change the oil at least once a weekend ( when racing), sometimes more. Once you tear the engines apart, you can really see the difference between people using the synthetic oil and the people using regular oil, besides the fact that some have blown the engines cause they didn't use synthetic.
04-12-2005, 09:12 PM
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When my old Camaro was our daily driver, I used Amsoil and the cam still went flat. Also, because the older engines tended to use some oil(in my case, a quart every 2,000 miles), replacing the oil that was consumed was a lot more expensive with the synthetic so I eventually switched back.
I pay attention to the oil life monitor on the SSEi but still typically change the oil between 30-50% life remaining. I guess old habits die hard.
I pay attention to the oil life monitor on the SSEi but still typically change the oil between 30-50% life remaining. I guess old habits die hard.