looking into synthetic
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Huntsville, Tx
looking into synthetic
i've been looking at switching to synthetic for my engine oil, tranny fluid and diff fluid. they only question i have about the change is about the engine oil. I have heard stories that when you make the switch you my start to leak oil or you existing leak will get much worse. the question is if i switch to synthetic and a leak develops, can i just switch back to conventional or am i stuck with synthetic and a leaky motor? also looking at going with amsoil, any other suggestions or opinions?
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: San Ramon Ca.
You can go back to dino if need be. I went to synthetics when I got the 97 over a year ago. No leaks yet. Plan on changing the oil again at 500 to 1000 miles. The synthetic will clean the built up stuff in the engine so the oil will likely get dirty pretty fast. With the first change I used the Rotella T 5w-40 synthetic and an additive like Lucas Oil synthetic additive. Went 500 miles or so. Couldn't believe all the junk that came out of that puppy. I run the Redline synthetic as a rule. Amsoil is good stuff though.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Santa Barbara and Ottawa
I'm in the crowd of just change it every 3k miles. I'm running Rotella T 5w-40 synth, but it is expensive. Almost $100 pop for 4 "4.4 liter" (ie 1 gallon) jugs after tax. I used to think my daily drive which included a stretch from sea level to 3000 feet in 4 miles was rough on any engine, but now I'm convinced driving like an idiot with the rest of the idiots in suburbia is the the worst.
Some people will go all out and test their oil and keep running it as long as it is comes back OK on whatever the lubricity metric is.
Two competing camps of thought, and certainly there are a million and one posts about it here and elsewhere.
Certainly though, if you find you don't like it you could go back to dino. I think the days of old seals not holding up to new synthetics is gone. We pretty much put synth in everything but the the beaterest of the beaters back home.
Some people will go all out and test their oil and keep running it as long as it is comes back OK on whatever the lubricity metric is.
Two competing camps of thought, and certainly there are a million and one posts about it here and elsewhere.
Certainly though, if you find you don't like it you could go back to dino. I think the days of old seals not holding up to new synthetics is gone. We pretty much put synth in everything but the the beaterest of the beaters back home.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
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From: Belair md
i run conventional in mine, i considered trying the rotellat 5w40 this last change but it was 90 bucks for oil. i chose to run my standard oil again. is it really that big a difference to spend 100 dollars on oil?
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Santa Barbara and Ottawa
Maybe I'm not necessarily as dead on the 3k as I'd like to pretend. I feel the synth gives me some leeway. Plus from the gassers....don't tell anyone, but it used to come out so clean even at 5k it would go into the old benz 300cd which was on its last legs anyways.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: STEPHENVILLE,TX!!!!!
shaeffers synthetics here best stuff around the motor oil lasts longer than amsoil and less money. I order it and get it shipped right to me if you get over $450 its free frieght too.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Austin, TX
2 years ago at the dyno day event that we attend we did a test of dino vs royal purple on the dino. made a run on dino oil then turned around and changed the oil and ran it again. keep in mind this was on a SD 7.3 as well so that probably makes a difference on the oil gains, but with royal purple we gained 13hp at the wheels. thats pretty dang good for an oil change!!!!!!!!!! haha. i still run delo 400, but i would switch to royal purple or schaffers if i wasn't so worried about leaking it all out. truck has 298k miles on it and i do have a slight oil leak that i haven't been able to get to go away so i stay with dino til i rebuild this thing. haha
the thing about synthetic is you may not have any oil leaks right now while your using dino oil. but there may be a seal somewhere that is getting worn pretty good that could leak before too much longer. now when you switch to synthetic, being as synthetics get into places that dino does not, the synthetic oil will find that worn seal and it will leak all because synthetic is a bit thinner.
the thing about synthetic is you may not have any oil leaks right now while your using dino oil. but there may be a seal somewhere that is getting worn pretty good that could leak before too much longer. now when you switch to synthetic, being as synthetics get into places that dino does not, the synthetic oil will find that worn seal and it will leak all because synthetic is a bit thinner.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: troy, Mo
I used to run Rotella dino then switched to synthetic and liked it. Now I really stepped up and went with Royal Purple. If you can afford it its worth it in my book. I have picked up mileage with it about 1.75 mpg more than I had been getting, but every little counts for me. I change my oil every 6k with the Royal Purple. Oil and filter cost me about $150.00, not much different for me than if I take it to dealer/oil change place every 3k miles. My next install is going to be the FS-2500.......oh yea one more thing I still haven't had any leaks. Lets hope it says that way.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Roseville MN
I saw a improvement in MPG when I switched to synthetic motor oil, I didn't develop any leaks. I didn't see any change when I went to synthetic diff oil, although when I just put a new carrier in my rearend they gears looked great, and I really work the truck towing heavy loads I can't really say the synthetic gear oil made the difference but it didn't hurt.
I think any synthetic is too expensive to put in a leaky engine
I think any synthetic is too expensive to put in a leaky engine
