ugcamper
Central Illinois
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Joined: 05/05/2002
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Ive been debating whether to switch over to the synthetic engine oil in my van. I know from experience that sometimes when one makes a radical change it can cause problems as well as help deter old ones. My van has 114k miles on it and it uses about 1 qt between changes. I guess my question is whether it would be smart to change it over or just leave well enough alone?
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Kusani
Tennessee
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Joined: 10/12/2001
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UG...
I will be interested in reading the responses you get as I am not yet convinced of the advantage of synthetics. Hopefully someone will share where a side/side test has been done in to identical vehicles with one using synthetic and the other using standard oils.
Happy Rv'in
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Frankjake
Ventura
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Joined: 05/27/2002
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I still use regular oil, valvoline. But my Bronco has 111,000 miles on it. A lot for an American made vehicle. But at 50,000 miles I put in a bottle of Duralube. You know that stuff that helps friction in the engine, you are supposed to be able to drive without any oil in the engine at all, once you have used this product.
Well at 100,000 miles a put in another bottle, it last for 50,000 miles. And even with all these miles, my Bronco doen't use a drop of oil between changes. I chage my oil ever 5000 miles so it's easy to keep tract of. I use valoline 10/30.
So this has worked for me and never had a problem. A friend of mine has a little Honda Civic. He bought it used with 70,000 miles on it. I suggested he use some Duralube which he did. He now has 189,000 and his car doesn't use any oil between changes. He only has the Honda dealer work on his car, and they frequently comment on the good condition of his car and how well it runs. So I beleive in duralube!
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Kenneth
Washington, the state
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Joined: 03/20/2001
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The Federal Trade Commission has determined that Duralube is a scam.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/9905/duralub2.htm
Ken
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camping man
Central Fla.
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Joined: 09/01/2001
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I have a friend that bought a gm pickup with150k
miles on it .When he bought it there was nothing wrong,and about a week later he brought it to the dealer I was working at to have me take a look at it and run a scan on it ,of course for free!I found after wasting all that time he had no compression.So we were standing their both stumped as to why it ran good a week ago and how the person that sold it to him could of forseen this before he had bought the truck.Then i was sitting on the tailgate and like magic it came to me ,right next too me a empty can of Slick 50.I asked him if he put that in the engine and he said sure did!Well then I made up my mind about those money making additives.And haven`t and never
will use them and if it isn`t broke don`t fix it.
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Kenneth
Washington, the state
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Joined: 03/20/2001
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Synthetic oil can be used in any engine. If the engine leaks or burns a lot of oil, it's not worth the money.
You engine might do OK. The possiblities are that the increased detergency of synthetic oil might remove some sludge that's presently blocking a worn seal or gasket and you'll have a leak afterwords. Or, the synthetic oil could remove carbon that's in your ring grooves and your oil could burn less oil.
You'd need to use an oil flush before changing to synthetic. Even though you've been using detergent oil, there's some sludge inside your engine that the syn oil will remove. You don't want this plugging your oil filter and causing the oil to bypass the filter element. An alternative to using a flush is to switch to syn oil and change the filter at 1,000 miles, at 3,000 miles, and at your 5,000 mile oil change.
Ken
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Lone Eagle
Tremonton, Utah
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Joined: 03/13/2002
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Ken, where did you come up with all this? You better visit some of the sythetic oil sights and read their question & answer pages. Later! Lone Eagle
2002 2500HD Duramax/Allison
Juice 4.61 with MBRP 4" Exhaust
Racor Secondary Fuel Filter
ISSPRO Pyro & Boost Gauges
2002 Wildcat 27RL with
LT245X75X16 BFGs
B&W Turnover Ball
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ugcamper
Central Illinois
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Thanx everyone for your input. Im not one much for the oil additives. I had a little s10 that I put some STP in one time and it spun a bearing within 24 hours. Whether it was the fault of the additive or not it just kinda shell shocked me. But Im a firm believer if it works for someone else....go for it. I think my best bet is to just leave well enough alone. I would rather just take my chances with what I am using now. The way my luck usually goes it would make my enging burn and smoke from cleaning it out too good. My engine runs with decent oil pressure, and does not run hot at all. Even towing, my temp guage stays low. Must be a good thermostat and good cooling system. thanx again.
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pojetski
Norwich CT
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Joined: 06/04/2002
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frankjake
No offense but at 110,000 miles your "AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE' is still like new!! I only BUY AMERICAN MADE VEHICLES that are used and normarly around 100,000 and never had a problem.
My newest vehicle is a 96 jeep cheroke with 100,000 on the clock before that i had a 89 olds with 213,000 and no problems.
I think the old school thinking was the more miles the less the car but with todays tech you should not worry.
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ugcamper
Central Illinois
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CampingMan
I do believe that if these additives were so good for the engine I think the auto manufactures would push them....ah and probably have stock in them. That is why I am so hesitant to switch over to sythetic oil. My wifes ex is a top notch Ford mechanic and I have never heard him ever push any kind of oil additive...or replacement for that matter. He was even on a racing team for a while and never heard him ever push an additive or replacement. Are there any mechanics in here at all??? Would love to here what they have to say.
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