Changing to Rotella Syn 5w40... may
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 1
From: Hickory, North Carolina
I am going to vote no for synthetic. My reasons are that my oil samples show volumes that are great. My engine is in great shape and even the lab said that with running synthetic I couldn't get any better on my wear numbers. he said that I could entend out on the dino oil for 7500 miles. So....in my eyes, the dino is just fine. the wear is great and cost less. frankly other than a little quieter and less romps I don't see switching.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Central Washington State
I switched to syn and drove it 10,000 miles, sent a sample to blackstone and they said its all good try 12,000 next time. Truck starts easier and I believe is quieter. Auto Zone here matches wally's price.I am using Rotella.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Again on this debate, Well I have to say BS to most claims of idles and mileage and the such I drive my truck 200 to 350 miles a day and I keep track of mileage and all the good stuff and ran synthetic for a little over 6 months starting in the early fall until spring here in the midwest and it gets cold. Starting = no difference at all seen.
Warm up = no difference, mileage= NO DIFFERENCE. I have other reasons but this topic always seems to bring out the A hole in people. All I can tell you is Every little thing I can do to my truck from the air filter to the exhaust and programmer have been to get that little extra mileage and bring my operating costs down and the synthetic oil did nothing for this. (Disclaimer) Its my opinion from my experience your results may vary.
Edit:just a quick fyi. Truck is a 2000 F450 Tow Truck, closing in fast on 300000 no tear downs original motor no smoke. My mileage is around 12.5 to 13.5 pretty much steady all the time.
Warm up = no difference, mileage= NO DIFFERENCE. I have other reasons but this topic always seems to bring out the A hole in people. All I can tell you is Every little thing I can do to my truck from the air filter to the exhaust and programmer have been to get that little extra mileage and bring my operating costs down and the synthetic oil did nothing for this. (Disclaimer) Its my opinion from my experience your results may vary.
Edit:just a quick fyi. Truck is a 2000 F450 Tow Truck, closing in fast on 300000 no tear downs original motor no smoke. My mileage is around 12.5 to 13.5 pretty much steady all the time.
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
Likes: 1
From: Gulf Coast of Florida
Guthrie - in NC, I doubt your temps get as consistently low as they do in Elizabeth, CO where the OP lives. For me, I changed over while I lived in Broomfield, CO and I noticed my engine spin MUCH faster in those 0* temps, plus as you said, less romps. Given that the engine can obviously spin easier due to better flow of synthetic oil at lower temps, logically it would flow better to all areas of the engine, quicker. I didn't seem to gain mileage, but the easier starts sold me on it for the winter. I can get free oil changes so in the summer I'll use that since they use dino for that.
BillyBob - Go for it. You won't hurt anything and it will make starting easier which to me made it worth it.
BillyBob - Go for it. You won't hurt anything and it will make starting easier which to me made it worth it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,708
Likes: 5
From: Kiowa CO
Especially when it was -16 the other morning here in Denver. I can't imagine the romps my engine would have done with dino oil that low even with it plugged in.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,404
Likes: 52
From: Wheatland, Mo
Ok... easy there ladies... All this talk of a-holes spewing their thoughts and what have you isn't going to make a difference today. I have already decided that I wanted to go with synthetic, just wanted some clarity on the change over. Getting rid of the romps and easier flowing oil in cold weather is what I am after. I already get about 18-21 mpg, (when I behave), so I am not after better mileage. If I get it.... Great! Otherwise, no biggie.
Guthrie & Knight... I grew up in the Midwest so the winters there I am familiar with. Although Chicago can be tougher at times. Elizabeth, CO is about 1000 ft higher than Denver and is usually about 5-10 degrees colder. Plus we get more winds and I don't have a garage so I will take what I can get for better protection for my engine. Mine is a daily driver and the hay hauler.
Thanks for the info guys... Already bought the oil n filter. Gonna switch over this weekend.
*posted from my I-phone*
Guthrie & Knight... I grew up in the Midwest so the winters there I am familiar with. Although Chicago can be tougher at times. Elizabeth, CO is about 1000 ft higher than Denver and is usually about 5-10 degrees colder. Plus we get more winds and I don't have a garage so I will take what I can get for better protection for my engine. Mine is a daily driver and the hay hauler.
Thanks for the info guys... Already bought the oil n filter. Gonna switch over this weekend.
*posted from my I-phone*
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 1
From: Hickory, North Carolina
My last blackstone told me to extend to 7500 on dino. I wonder what the deciding factor was on your and mine? It is all going to depend on what it is worth to you and what makes you happy. Driving a Ford Powerstroke is an experience in itself. So if it is the comfort of no romps and thinner oil in the winter, then do it. For me I think it is the gauges, and airbag set up that makes it all come together for me. Hey if that is what you want then do it but from oil sample info I don't see any lube or wear gains from running synthetic. If that isnt what your after anyway it isn't going to matter anyway.
Molon Labe
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,272
Likes: 1
From: Alaska
I thought it should have been longer on syn seeing that all my wear is below normal.
Im thinking It was because my sample only had 4200 miles on it, and they want to extend the OCI in small increments. ( I was heading out for a 3000+ mile trip, or I would have let the oil go to 5k)
I bet when I send in my next sample (6500 miles) they will bump up the OCI to 7-7500k...
At least I hope...
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 1
From: Hickory, North Carolina
Thats a good question
I thought it should have been longer on syn seeing that all my wear is below normal.
Im thinking It was because my sample only had 4200 miles on it, and they want to extend the OCI in small increments. ( I was heading out for a 3000+ mile trip, or I would have let the oil go to 5k)
I bet when I send in my next sample (6500 miles) they will bump up the OCI to 7-7500k...
At least I hope...
I thought it should have been longer on syn seeing that all my wear is below normal.
Im thinking It was because my sample only had 4200 miles on it, and they want to extend the OCI in small increments. ( I was heading out for a 3000+ mile trip, or I would have let the oil go to 5k)
I bet when I send in my next sample (6500 miles) they will bump up the OCI to 7-7500k...
At least I hope...
Molon Labe
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,272
Likes: 1
From: Alaska
I think I still have 1500 miles or so to go before the recomended 6500 OCI. Ill try to remember to post the Blackstone resuts.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Murray KY
There should be little to no less wear in a functional sense from using synthetic vs dino but it sure can flow better for cold weather starts. I think we most often use synthetic for our emotional needs since trucks ran fine and lasted a long long time before synthetics 
Those who use 10,000 gallons of motor oil a year most likely are not going to pay the difference where the 10 gallon a year user may be glad to spend the few extra bucks.
Those who use 10,000 gallons of motor oil a year most likely are not going to pay the difference where the 10 gallon a year user may be glad to spend the few extra bucks.