Been reading about this Amsoil being truely synthetic and the way it gives better lubrication to critical areas, blah, blah, blah, longer intervals between changes, blah, blah, blah, and so on.
Now, what I want to know is what's the take on this stuff? or any other synthetic/blends? Good or bad - pro's and con's.
Who has it and who doesn't.

 

I use straight shell rotella 10-40 all year long. maybe some lucas addative in the summer. pros -just a little better clean and lubercating cons-cost. It cost enough stickin a fuel filter, oil filter and 10 quarts of oil in I can't see spending the extra money.

 

i use caseIH no.1 15w40 all yaer long with a powerstroke oilfilter.i only use fleetgaurd filters,except for my k&n air filter.someof the new caseIH tractors and claas forage harvestors that i pull wrenches on a using synthetic.they use mobil delvac 15w40 and it doubles the change interval,but man is stuff expensive,ill stick with regular oil in my beast.

 

I use a 0w40 synthetic from shell. Much easier to start in the winter and it is rated from +40 to -40 celcius. I am very happy with it.

 

I believe in the synthetics due to higher heat resistance and less viscosity breakdown. I still do the regular 3000 mile changes to get the carbon out of the motor before it starts building up on stuff.

 

Hey Shafer,
Is that a synthetic blend? or a true synthetic?

Dave,
Isn't one of the reasons for going to synthetics was to reduce the amount of times you drain your system? thus saving some cash? what is the reason for paying the high $$ for a synthetic if you are going to dump it at regular intervals anyways?
I know about the claims that it's a better lubricant, less wear and tear, less heat, blah, blah, blah.
But why change it so often?

 

I have been a Diesel mechanic for forty two years. However, I don't have much experience with Ford Diesels. I have seen magic elxirs in the form of various oils and additives come and go for that entire time. If any of these products did half of what was claimed for them, I would have gone hungry as a Diesel mechanic. If these products were so great the big trucking companies which have hundreds of trucks running would certainly be using the product. If it was so great Ford would reccomend it for their diesels or gasoline engines.

 

The 0w40 I am using is a fully synthetic oil. There is a huge difference between regular oil and synthetic. It is noticable perticularly if you have a oil pessure gauge on the engine. Start a vehicle at -20 and watch how long it takes for oil pressure to biuld. Now start the same engine while running synthetic. In stead of the gauge struggling to get up to pressure as the oil warms up it will have oil pressure like it does in the summer. 90% of engine wear is done in the first 10% of engine operation after start-up. Due to lack of lubrication.

 

I just took a 6.9 with 252,000 miles out of my truck and replaced it. The 6.9 had synthetic oil in it from day 1. The bottom of the engine was as tight as the new one. The only reason I swaped motors instead or rebuilding the top end and fuel system was the time factor for the rebuild versus the cost of the replacement.

I now have a turbo 7.3 for the same money as the rebuild on the 6.9. And it took one day to do the swap versus one week to rebuild if everything went right.

If you look at the cost difference per mile, the synthetic is not that much more expensive.

From a 252,000 mile motor that the oil guage was sitting on the A in normal to a new one that the guage now sits on L in normal is good enough proof for me that the oil did a good job preventing wear on the bottom end.

 

I am sorry, I was not bad mouthing synthetic oils. I was bad mouthing additives like amsoil, STP, Lucas, Power punch and there are probably more of them I haven't heard of. Over the years I have fopund taht it pays tro stick to a name brand oil either synthetic or egular oil

 

Mechanic,
I am not jumping at you or anyone else. I am just stating what I believe and the reason I believe it. As with anything else, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. A lot of the people here say I am wasting money,

I do not care, I will be going up to my truck in about an hour to plow snow all night. When I turn the key, it will start and run all night.

I expect that out of my truck every time I get in it. I do not mind giving it the best I can, but I expect it to give me the best it can.
Since 1986 it has done that every day of it's life. So in return to it I have no problem spending a few extra dollars on an oil change, or a parts order.

A bunch of local people told me I was nuts spending 6,000 on a motor, just go get a new truck. I do not want a new truck, I am perfectly happy with the one I have now. Since it has a 7.3 turbo now you will find no one smiling any bigger than me as I am cruising down the road, with Mobil Delvac 1 synthetic $23.00 a gallon oil in the motor.

If anyone asks me what I like, I will tell them. If they ask me why, I will tell them. If they ask me how, I will tell them. After that it is up to them to do as they please.

 

Well, from hearing everyones comments here and on other sites, I have decided to change to a synthetic in both the motor and the tranny.
I have heard the pro's and con's of each and I think that spending alittle extra $$ on my girl will keep her smiling for years to come.
Thanx Guys for your help.