Switching backand forth between dino/synthetic
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Stevens County, WA
Switching backand forth between dino/synthetic
Where I live gets very hot in the summer (100 degrees +) and a little cold ( 10 degrees) in the winter. I am thinking of running 5w40 synthetic in the winter months and 15w40 in the warmer months. I think I might have read somewhere that it's bad to switch back and forth between the two. I will be changing my oil in a few weeks and I'm considering the 5w40 for the first time. Do I have to stay with it if I make the switch?
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
I heard the same things you did. Not a good idea, it was. I think it was something about rings and seals and that expansion issues could cause a problem. Might be, might not be. Wait for one of our wonderful techs to offer their opinion.
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: New York
I always switch between the two, and for many years now, with no problems at all,...there is no evidence that proves a problem, except for engines that are 15 years old and older, apparently there were some seal issues back then...I use the 15w-40 dino in the summer, and the 5w-40 synthetic in the winter...no leaks and never a problem...living in the north in New York the temperature changes are dramatic so I need to make those switches.....go ahead and have at it... you'll be fine...!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Nothern Indiana
The way I see it is that I use my truck as hard in the winter as I do in the summer so why switch back in forth. I run 15w40 dino all year round and havn't had any problems in the winter . What kind of problems do you have to make you want to run the 5w ? I thought the syn was good for the heat running high temps ?? Maybe I'm backwards ?
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Stevens County, WA
Originally Posted by firesoutmatt
The way I see it is that I use my truck as hard in the winter as I do in the summer so why switch back in forth. I run 15w40 dino all year round and havn't had any problems in the winter . What kind of problems do you have to make you want to run the 5w ? I thought the syn was good for the heat running high temps ?? Maybe I'm backwards ?
Got Diesel?
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Originally Posted by Nitrous
No problems. I just want the cold start benefit of 5w40. From what I've seen on this forum, synthetics don't offer any benefit if the weather is warm. I just wanted to make sure there are no problems with switching seasonally.
Bottom line... you can switch back and forth and if you change every 5,000 miles (oil and filter)... you will be fine with whatever you decide to do. Use synthetic oil for 1) fuel economy 2) Cold weather starting 3) Better bearing protection at extreme operation temps.
I like synthetics because I am of the belief that it is a more refined oil or synthetic base stock (Mobil is a PAO and Shell and others are Group III). For me, I like the fact that they are refined so much that a lot of the "crude oil" stuff has been refined and filtered out!!!
