Synthetic Oil???
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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Synthetic Oil???
well its about time to change my 4.9's oil again, and i was wondering if puttin in synthetic oil this time, instead of castrol gtx high mileage, would do me any good. Any help would be appreciated.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Southern Illinois
The best thing about synthetic oil is you can go longer between oil changes and it helps clean your engine. It may also cause some leaks because of its ability to clean the engine. I am going to switch to full synthetic on my engine the next time I change my oil. I just like knowing that I have the added protection of synthetic oil if there is a need in the future. Also, to a much lesser extent, there is less internal friction on all the parts.
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From: Southern Illinois
The only reason that it may cause some leaks is because of the old gaskets that are there. Oil pan, pushrod cover, valve cover gaskets usually get leaky on higher milage engines. My theory is that if they start leaking because of synthetic oil, then it probably won't be too long before they started leaking with regular oil. I already replaced my pushrod cover gasket because it was leaking with regular oil and if the others start to leak because of synthetic, then I guess I will replace those.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Durham, NC
If you have had good results with Castrol, then I would stick with Castrol. Consumer Reports did a very comprehensive comparison of dino vs synthetic oils in New York taxi cabs a few years ago (including tearing engines down, and mic'ing bearings, rings, etc. for wear), and found absolutely no measureable diference between the two types of oils.
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I use syn oil on my late model Explorer cause it's new, but my F150 gets what its always gotten...hydrocarbon oil.
Besides, never once have I heard someone say "yeah, my engine blew cause the oil didn't hold up" or "yeah, I've got all these worn rings cause it's got hydrocarbon oil".
Besides, never once have I heard someone say "yeah, my engine blew cause the oil didn't hold up" or "yeah, I've got all these worn rings cause it's got hydrocarbon oil".
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: wichita ,kansas
Well I run 5-30 mobile 1 & syntec, improved MPG 1.5 per gal. this is only with 5w30 higher weights dont change MPG. this is in my 84 F-150 4X4 4.9L My 90 T-Bird supercoupe, on the road got 80 more miles on a tank of fuel on the way to WI. I recomend it. if there are existing oil leaks,yes it will keep leaking but I have never had Synthetic "create" leaks. thats all! 
Last edited by mmckee; Nov 14, 2004 at 07:13 PM.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Toccoa USA
oils
I use Valvoline 10w40 synthetic blend. I think it is pretty good. It cleans and does what a lot of the synthetic stuff does but is still around half the cost of the synthetic. Plus synthetic is also really for high performance engines. I don't see how my 4.9 is really high performance and so I keep the extra cash and put in an oil that is better than the high mileage stuff the diff companies put out.
Sherlock and watson with the 4.9 300
Sherlock and watson with the 4.9 300
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Postmaster
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You don't get the benefit of an extended "oil change interval" by using a blend.
That hydrocarbon stuff needs to come out of there.
My Explorer gets a complete change every 10K, a new filter every 5K (with a top-off).
75,000 and doing great, not burning a drop!
Oh, and I use Wal-marts' Super Tech brand....like $2.40/qt.
That hydrocarbon stuff needs to come out of there.
My Explorer gets a complete change every 10K, a new filter every 5K (with a top-off).
75,000 and doing great, not burning a drop!
Oh, and I use Wal-marts' Super Tech brand....like $2.40/qt.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Lake Echo, NS
Synthetic oil. Engineers explained this. Ok, regular oil, its from the ground. There's 4 molecules per atom, or however you'll say it. Anyway, each of the molecules is a different size. On the power stroke, the piston is being forced down. Now you may all know that the parts in an engine do not contact one another, there is a film of oil, the reason we use it. Anyway, when these differing size molecules get compressed, if the first one doesn't hold, the weight is transferred to the next, then if it gets compressed, the next one, and so on. With synthetic oils, we have a man made lubricant. These 4 different size molecules are gone. They're all the same size, providing better lubrication, better movement of parts, leading to A)Better gas mileage(nothing humongous) B) Higher top RPM C) Better protection. The crank can't move those tiny thousands of an inch, so you save wear on your engine. Synthetics are also somewhat thinner than regular oil, and they also have a better heat carrying capacity. No more uneven heating due to differentiating molecules
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Just make sure you chose a petroleum based synthetic...certain synthetics (Penzoil makes one) that is based on a wax base. Even if these wax based synths are changed religiously, they can cause a waxy buildup and impede oil flow causing serious problems down the road. I may be partial but you can't go wrong with Motorcraft oil and parts...they make a synthetical/convential 5w30 blend that I have not heard of any problems with.
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Originally Posted by Sherlock101
I use Valvoline 10w40 synthetic blend. I think it is pretty good. It cleans and does what a lot of the synthetic stuff does but is still around half the cost of the synthetic.
If anyone is going to run synthetic, you can get Mobil 1 for about half price at Pep Boys. There is a buy three get three free coupon in their $1 "Cool Cars" 2005 calendar. Coupon good through next Dec. Some of the guys at the oil guy site bought half dozen or more calendars and stocked up!
Synthetic is not needed for most vehicles, but I have heard folks that were thankful to have had a good synthetic like M1 or Redline in when the cooling system failed and the engine overheated. Supposedly the synth saved the engine. It definitely handles extreme heat or cold better, but has other usefulnesses like the cleaning effect, handling of short trip fallout, etc.