Synthetic Oil [merged]

[DrunkenMime249]

All synthetic oil threads are merged here.i'm trying to buy a 1g dsm turbo awd (as i'm sure most of you know by now from my recent ramblings in other threads). Most of the ones i've been looking at are bone stock for the most part except repairs and i have a feeling all are running on regular oil.

my question is when i finally buy one should i run regular, full sythetic, or somwhere in between (i am planning on running full synthetic).

also, if the car is running regular and i want to switch to full synthetic, i've heard it can be damaging to switch all at once. or is that just a fable? it makes sense and i was planning on slowly uprading the oil quality everytime i changed it until it was running full synthetic. is that the wrong thing to do?

 

[Dieselboy]

I would recommend going with a synthetic blend first. With that ammount of milage, there is a good chance youll have some oil leaks in a few spots with a full synthetic.

 

[Defiant]

It's lived this long on regular motor oil. Why mess with success?

 

[heff]

The proper way to start using synthetic would be to do an oil system flush, at an oil change shop, then use synthetic, however the flush could cause some leaks or make existing ones worse, your best bet is to just start using synthetic blend with no flushing.
Rob

 

[Module Unknown]

I was thinking exactly what defiant said. I'm with him. Your car made it through it's first 130K+ miles on the regular stuff, might as well stick with it at this point.

 

[MetalliHawk]

I just went full synthetic on my car @ 136,000. Went from conventional straight to the synthetic w/o a flush. After ~2,000 no leaks yet. :knocks on wood:

 

[ItsStockOfficer]

Funny, I always used Napa dino oil in my 11 sec Talom, I tried to remember to change it ever 5 thousand miles or so....

Is all a waste of money, use dyno oil

Sean
228 k miles, good compression, dino oil

 

[Defiant]

BINGO!

If CHP cars run 8,000 miles between changes, being driven often-times for 24 hours a day and having the dripping snot slapped out of them for at least half that time, then my fairly-babied little Talons should make its factory-spec (and that on API-SG grade, not the current SM) 5,000 just fine.

Still, it's not possible to change opinions sometimes.

 

[ItsStockOfficer]

Yep, I use Napa oil, its made by Valvoline, but 1.29/qt =)

 

[92tsiawd84]

Should I swap to synthetic in my 1g? I was told I will leak oil if I do. Thanks

 

[machgsx]

I switched to synthetic in my 91. No difference.

Of course I had a previous oil leak that I can't find so she still leaks oil. .

 

[Spln_Hrd]

yes i do hear that changing can cause an oil leak. I have no experience first hand because i am to broke for synthetic. but what most fellas on this site do is, slowly shift it over.

so this oil change go 1 qt of synthetic and 4 what ever you always use, next time up a quart of synthetic and one less off regular, and continue this procces untill you are running full synthetic. Be sure to check for leaks though, if it starts leaking i would go back to regular oil

 

[BUCK]

I swapped to Synthetic only after replacing all the Oil Seals during a mini-overhaul. Before that I had too many front case leaks to make it logical - I was adding fresh oil everyday! Anyone who plans on keeping ANY Turbocharged car for a long period of time should be on Synthetic IMO - These things get so hot - they are VERY hard on oil.

 

[Dieselboy]

It doesnt matter if it is a high miles 1G, or a low miles 2G. If you have crappy seals, your gonna leak. If you dont, then your good to go. I would recommend making a gradual switch to a full synthetic. Switch to a synthetic blend for the first 2-3 changes and flush everytime you change as well as the oil filter.

 

[CowPimp]

I switched over to synthetic without a problem at about 90k miles. However, a gradual move to synthetic seems like a good idea.

 

[DSMRevolution]

The only way that synthetic will really leak is if you have a start of a leak or something that already leaks. The molecules are smaller in synthetic so they can get through smaller openings. I switched to Mobil 1 Synthetic along with a WIX (as always) filter awhile back and I have ZERO lifter tick now. No difference in performance really. Not by the butt dyno at least.

 

[BUCK]

It wasn't too long ago a 1G guy from Texas posted with a few mods, 9 to 1 pistons, etc... who found his oil cooler was disconnected - he was on synthetic oil - try that with Dino oil in Texas...

 

[2gtalonklos]

Hey guys quick question. i got a 1995 tsi with 75000 on it. I have always changed the oil every 3000k. I have run normal motor oil but now im thinking of switching to mobil 1 synthetic. The reason i want to switch is because im doing all stage one and two mods and i think teh engine will need better protection under heavier stress, but im scared of the seals leaking? What do you guys think i should do stick with the normal oil or switch to synthetic?

 

[98RedGs]

Personally if your about to do all those upgrades your going to need synthetic oil to prolong the life of your parts as well as your engine. If your doing the switch you should seriously just go with Semi_Synthetic and then make the switch to full synthetic the oil change after that.

Thats what alot of people do but thats also what I did in my talon. I think you should also (once you change the oil) watch it closely around the valve cover seal and the headgasket just in case for oil leaks or anything else. Just make sure to give it a good lookover once you change fluids.

Great Oil Threads!
1 http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9140&highlight=synthetic+oil
2 http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=89314&highlight=synthetic+oil


Goodluck!

 

[Spln_Hrd]

you should probly do a search on this question as it has been asked alot so there are alot of answeres on it

if you can kick down the cash to use synthetic i would go ahead and change over

on your next oil change when you do it put in 4 quarts of what ever you usually use and one of synthetic, and check regularly for leaks, and continue adding one more of the synthetic and one less of regular every oil change while still watching for leaks until you have decided your car leaks like a mofuga or it doesn't leak

sythetic is suposed to be really good for turbo cars, because they can take more heat and they break down slower. turbos get real hot and are really harsh on oil. my talon after 2-2.5k(what i usually change at) looked comparable to the oil in a 96 ford probe that had been let go 10k

 

[2gtalonklos]

Here is the situation im in im getting the parts in a few weeks except the turbo upgrade which comes in the spring. My car is due for an oil change because its been in storage since august and i have to drive 40 miles to my shop each way. U guys think i should start running sythetic even though im only using it for a couple days then puttin it back in storage till march/april that is when i take it out for the summer.

 

[Defiant]

Running a water jacket on a turbo center section makes a huge difference. I don't think synthetics are needed on the street, even if the car's modified. Just my opinion.

I don't recall ever hearing about a synthetic _hurting_ an engine at all, but the myths are just about endless.

 

[2gtalonklos]

Well it wont hurt an engine but i dont really want to have seal leak. And it cant hurt it esp if im going to run a fifty trim. just not sure what do if im storing it weather or not to switch the oil now or in the spring.

 

[BUCK]

I would change it before I stored it - I'm even running Synthetic Power Steering Fluid now - Synthetic in the Transfer case & rear end - but not Tranny Fluid.

 

[wret]

I contacted lubrication "specialist" who seems to have enough credentials to be able contribute some expert advice on the synthetic oil debate. I invited him to join the forum and comment on some of our opinions. Unfortunately he declined. Apparently there was an issue of others trying to pass themselves off as experts giving advice over the Internet. Gee, I've never heard of anything like that happening.

Anyway, he gave me a link to his book, which is free over the net. This could make lubrication experts of us all.

http://www.motor-oil-engineers.com/thankyou1.htm

 

[Defiant]

Interesting to read, but be on guard for the AmsOil commercials.