Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance to synthic, or not to synthic. that is the question

Straight from the Mobil 1 website (www.mobil1.com)

Concerning Mobil 1 mixed with conventional (dino) oil:

"Mobil 1 is compatible with conventional motor oil, should it be necessary to mix the two. The additive package in Mobil 1 has been specifically developed to work with its synthetic base fluids, so diluting Mobil 1 with conventional oil will reduce the superior performance characteristics of Mobil 1. While mixing conventional oil and Mobil 1 is acceptable, we do not recommend mixing different types of synthetic oils, since they may be composed of different synthetic base fluids. Change the oil and filter before changing from another synthetic oil to Mobil 1." As a sidenote - synthetic blends are synthetic and conventional oil blended together after all.


Concerning breaking in an engine with conventional oil first:

"The tighter tolerances and improved machining of today's engines have reduced the significance of the traditional engine break-in. Few manufacturers call for any special consideration. Since Mobil 1 is factory fill in Corvette, Viper, Porsche and other high-performance vehicles, engine break-in is obviously not an issue with current-generation vehicles.

If your engine is an older model that has been rebuilt, you may wish to follow the original engine break-in schedule. In this case, where you may be changing the oil after just a few hundred miles, you might want to use a conventional oil initially and switch to Mobil 1 once you have reached a mileage that permits longer oil drain intervals."


As for flushing engine before switching to Mobil 1:

"No special preparation is necessary when switching from conventional oil to Mobil 1. We do not recommend mixing different types of synthetic oil, as they may be composed of different types of synthetic base stocks. Change the oil and filter when changing from another synthetic oil to Mobil 1."

Well EWF that's exactly why Amsoil cost so much more than Mobil 1, simply because it is way better. That's why they require to flush the motor before hand because they don't suggest mixing the 2 together. Mobil 1 is a great oil for the dollar but Amsoil is the leader being the originator of Synthetics, they know a thing or two about making superb lubrication and they prove it.

Great, now you guys have got me thinking of switching from Mobil 1 to Amsoil. So would I need to complete the engine flush Amsoil suggests even though I'm going from synth to synth?? I know where to get Amsoil online but have never seen it in stores. What are some stores that sell it??

If you are still unsold on synthetic...

Motoring 2001- Bill Gardiner got a letter from someone saying that they got their oil changed (syn) and the people at the service station did not tighten the bolt in the oil pan enough. A few miles down the road, it fell out, draining much oil. The driver noticed loss in oil press. and pulled over, shutting down the engine.
Gardiner said that the syn probably saved the engine.
A major bonus in my opinion!

Synthetics are hands down superior to dino. 'nuff said

Don't change to synth on an older motor or especially a neglected one!!!

I have been running synthetic oil since 1000 miles. Mobil1 0W-30 and Motorcraft filter from 1k-40k and never experienced a problem. I did the Amsoil engine flush and switched to Amsoil Series 2000 0W-30 oil and Amsoil SDF-11 filter at 40k and now have over 80k miles. No engine problems, I get 29mpg on the Highway. I change the filter at 10k and the oil at 20k. Amsoil says you can go 25k between oil changes.

FWIW, I use Redline Water Wetter and my engine runs noticeably cooler.

Amsoil rulz!

Anyone ever heard of damage caused to the piston rings (unseating) after swiching. I have never let my oil go past 4k. I should not be a risk. Is this correct informantion?

If you join the cult, check your facts
http://www.amsoil.com/products/tso.html

"MIXING AMSOIL

AMSOIL Series 2000 Synthetic 0W-30 Motor Oil may be mixed with petroleum-based oils or other synthetic oils. However, a mixture of AMSOIL Series 2000 Synthetic 0W-30 Motor Oil and another oil may offer a shorter service life than pure AMSOIL Series 2000 Synthetic 0W-30 Motor Oil does."

At $7 bucks a qt they better send someone to my house to change the oil too! At 20-40k drains does your car pass the "new oil in is clean" test? That's when you check your freshly changed oil after one day of driving and it's still the same exact color it was going in. If not you waited too long and the old oil could no longer hold all the contaminants in suspension. And do you think they make that flush so you'll pay even more money for that oil change?

SCOTT, YOU MUST BE ONE OF THOSE, " I BELIEVE EVERYTHING I READ" KIND OF PEOPLE!!! Hey sure go ahead mix the two, it may not damage the motor in the long run, that's the risk you take, but it will definately lessen the life of the oil. Even good companies need sale pitches to sell there product and Amsoil is no exception. Even if a person buys only 2 quarts of Amsoil and the rest is basic because Amsoil said it's OK, than they've succeded in selling there oil.

Norm if you're gonna change to SYN than do it right, flush the motor, and start afresh, as long as the engine has already been broken in and the motor doesn't have very high mileage, than Synthetics will give you a very good advantage over your basics.... :p

WTF do you think synthetic blend oil is silly!!!

Wake up... Synthetic blend is about 15% synth & 85% dino...

We had better sue all those oil companies for deliberately trying to destroy our engines...

Many auto experts advise adding a little synth to your regualr oil to give it some extra thermal protection. Guess they are all wrong too...

You are completely wrong here and way off base...

I suggest doing a quick online search for yourself...

And Jsmith... Castrol Syntec IS NOT a fully synthetic oil. It is made from a conventional base and has extremely high amounts of ash (which is very bad - I.E. read promotes quick and excessive acid build up in normal driving) You ever notice the disclaimer that it CAN NOT be sold outside the US... They make a superior dino oil, but their synth is not worth a damn...

Also on the oil flush front - DO NOT USE IT!!! I repeat DO NOT USE IT!!!

If your engine is maintained properly you will not have any sludge to clean out. (therefore you don't need a flush do you?)

If your engine is not maintained properly; you now knocked all that sludge and debris into your filter, bearings and oil pump. 3 very bad places to have it. Filter clogs, oil pump cavates and.or gets blocked (no oil flow) and bearing spin...

Oh yeah. The flush also has a high tendency to cause oil leaks/seapage as it flushes out any particles that were stopping them in the first place...

...and yes I know what I'm talking about...