I am new to the forum and just wanted to see what everyone else uses. I have an 02 tahoe with 50k and the previous owner told me he always used synthetic. What is the worst that can happen if I switch to regular oil? I have heard it can develop leaks. Thanks for any help.
Synthetic oil question
- Thread starter trev
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killer20072001
Yep
If you switch from synthetic to regular it will not leak. Maybe try a blend mix like mobil 1 IMO the best oil anyways.
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Eagle
Thansk for all the help -STAFF!
it won't leak.
When synths first came out, switching TO synth would sometimes leak to discoving a leak that gunk from years of dino had plugged.
the worse that could happen in your situation would be a drop in MPG. maybe cost you 1 mpg at worst.
it's not that much more to use the synth: you cna get Walmart Supertech (penzoil) synthetic in a 5 qt jug for the price of 'name brand' Dino.
I'm happy with it.
When synths first came out, switching TO synth would sometimes leak to discoving a leak that gunk from years of dino had plugged.
the worse that could happen in your situation would be a drop in MPG. maybe cost you 1 mpg at worst.
it's not that much more to use the synth: you cna get Walmart Supertech (penzoil) synthetic in a 5 qt jug for the price of 'name brand' Dino.
I'm happy with it.
killer20072001
Yep
DONT USE PENZOIL. When I worked at the parts store every mechanic in town called it yellow death. They said it is the worst at engine build up. When using oil dont go cheap. Its one of the most importatnt things on your vehicle. Going cheap on something like that isn't worth the risk of a motor.
Tribalbreak
Full Access Member
mobil 1 full syn truck/suv blend ftw
Z15
Full Access Member
Nothing, you can change to whatever you like and no harm with come to anything.
Let’s call this an “old mechanics” tale. This fear has been around since synthetics lubricants came out back in the 1970's. Synthetic oils will not damage your seals and will not cause an engine oil leak. Synthetic motor oils have an inherent detergency and natural solvency, which can clean and remove deposits left by conventional oils. The removal of extensive oil deposits can expose marginal or damaged oil seals that may then leak. However, motor oils are designed to help swell seals slightly to prevent leakage. As long as a vehicle has been well maintained, and in good mechanical condition, Synthetic Motor Oils can be used in any vehicle without fear and changing back and forth will not do any harm.
Synthetic oil are a higher class of oil and regular is lesser quality.
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Noto81
Full Access Member
So what are the advantages of going to synthentic from regular? Sorry for the noob question. I'm approaching 100k on my 03 and have been considering switching if there's advantages.
rich5368
Full Access Member
Better resistance to viscossity breakdown. Some say it lasts longer. (I change every 3000 anyway) Heats quicker so on cold days it'll lube more efficiently faster. Keeps lube properties in higher heat. That's all I can think of for now. I haven't been using synthetic in my 04 simply because I resist change and have used a blend since I've owned it. I plan to switch to full syn Mobil 1 when the trucks come do for another change. Not planning on spending the money on Royal Purple but it is considered by some to be the best stuff money can buy.
Utter BS, you can switch without any worries.
Sasquatch
Full Access Member
I was wondering if the supertech bottles have the initials WPP on the bottom of them. if they do, it`s made by warren performance products.
http://www.wd-wpp.com/about-warren.html
my local tractor supply co started selling their own brand of full sythetic oil for $5 a quart and i was curious who made it for them and in my searching for an answer it was stated many times that WPP made supertech as well as TSC`s brand "traveller" too.
i`m thinking about switching to it because of the price.
odie301
Full Access Member
The full synthetic I run in my tahoe, as well as, sell to my oil change customers is made by American oil. I believe some of it is private labelled under the MAG1 brand name. It costs me like $3.00/qt and is just as good as Valvoline Synpower or Mobil 1(i have the spec sheets every spec is within a couple points, and a couple points isn't going to make it a "bad" product). We used to be a Valvoline store until high prices started killing our business, so we switch to a "no name" brand that is just as good and half the price. So instead of paying $7.00/qt for mobil 1 i pay $3 for a product that is just as good. (7x6=42 3x6=18 plus $3 for a filter and Mobil 1 is $45 vs. American oil at $21 that leaves room for a 12 pack of beer to go with my oil change!)
Most oils come from a select few manufacturers(there is like 4 or 5 big companies), who all slap a different label on the bottle hoping you will buy it because some one told you that it was the best oil you could get. If the name means that much and you have money to burn then get it. It is much like groceries, do you buy the Great Value canned goods($.89) or the Green Giant canned goods($1.29)? Both probably come from the same field.
Also switching back and forth shouldn't hurt a thing, that is an old way of thinking. Also most oils now a days are good enough to be considered "semi" synthetics.(there are some that are still truely conventional) Valvoline conventional is good enough to be called semi synthetic by standards, but they would rather sell you Durablend at a higher price than tell you that the regular stuff is a semi synthetic...they just want more of your hard earned dollars.
ok i'll stop ranting about oil.. (p.s. i have been in the oil change business for 8 yrs, i have seen a lot of high priced products that get pushed on to the consumer all because of the name...i'm sick of it, mainly because most people work hard for there money and shouldn't be suckered into a high priced product that they don't need when a lesser priced one that is just as good could be used)
Most oils come from a select few manufacturers(there is like 4 or 5 big companies), who all slap a different label on the bottle hoping you will buy it because some one told you that it was the best oil you could get. If the name means that much and you have money to burn then get it. It is much like groceries, do you buy the Great Value canned goods($.89) or the Green Giant canned goods($1.29)? Both probably come from the same field.
Also switching back and forth shouldn't hurt a thing, that is an old way of thinking. Also most oils now a days are good enough to be considered "semi" synthetics.(there are some that are still truely conventional) Valvoline conventional is good enough to be called semi synthetic by standards, but they would rather sell you Durablend at a higher price than tell you that the regular stuff is a semi synthetic...they just want more of your hard earned dollars.
ok i'll stop ranting about oil.. (p.s. i have been in the oil change business for 8 yrs, i have seen a lot of high priced products that get pushed on to the consumer all because of the name...i'm sick of it, mainly because most people work hard for there money and shouldn't be suckered into a high priced product that they don't need when a lesser priced one that is just as good could be used)
I have always changed it when the light comes on, which is @3500 miles. The first time i changed it with synthetic, the light came on about 2000 miles later so i changed it again. I think it was due to all the idling i did during that time though.
---------- Post added at 11:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:14 PM ----------
I always used to hear good things about pennzoil. I am glad to know that supertech is the same thing.
---------- Post added at 11:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:14 PM ----------
I always used to hear good things about pennzoil. I am glad to know that supertech is the same thing.
Eagle
Thansk for all the help -STAFF!
I won't use Pennzoil dino, but Pennzoil synthetic is at least as good as Castrol GTX
.It sure as hell isn't going to 'cost you a motor'.
Check out some stuff here from Blackstone labs. There is some good info.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/which-oil-to-use.php
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/which-oil-to-use.php
General Stalin
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In my opinion there is zero reason to use conventional instead of synthetic. Unless you buy high-end synthetic, then the price is not much different and synthetic oil is flat-out better.
BTW I use Royal Purple in my engines. Horse Power TV did a study one time on a Camaro with a SBC 350 in it. Drained the rearend, transmission, and oil pan and refilled them all with Royal Purple lubricants. Dyno'd and got 9 more horsepower, just from changing fluids. Thats cool. It's pricey but if you love your vehicle then $70 3 times a year isn't a big deal (depending on how much you drive). I drive a lot; I have put 20,000 miles on my Denali since last June... and its only March. I also buy the pricey K&N oil filters because I like the hex end on them as it makes for easy removal, and I trust the name.
BTW I use Royal Purple in my engines. Horse Power TV did a study one time on a Camaro with a SBC 350 in it. Drained the rearend, transmission, and oil pan and refilled them all with Royal Purple lubricants. Dyno'd and got 9 more horsepower, just from changing fluids. Thats cool. It's pricey but if you love your vehicle then $70 3 times a year isn't a big deal (depending on how much you drive). I drive a lot; I have put 20,000 miles on my Denali since last June... and its only March. I also buy the pricey K&N oil filters because I like the hex end on them as it makes for easy removal, and I trust the name.
killer20072001
Yep
Hey buddy. A simple.
Hey killer thats not true would have worked. So I was missinformed it happens.
yukonjacks
A Vegitative State
Im no chemist, but I will stick with the Royal Purple and if not that then Mobile 1. You get what you pay for, a $3 dollor qt of oil is not as good, if anything, I have peace of mind knowing I did what was neccessary to prevent mechanical failure. Same as canned veggies and dog food, there is a big difference, generic veggies have more junk in it and dog food has more filler. BTW spend the extra on a quality oil filter also. When I have to start buying generic oil, I'll just trade down to a Colbalt, just in the amount of oil in a change would save ya money.
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