• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Conventional to Synthetic switch


rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,267
Reaction score
7,274
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
There's not nearly as much difference between synthetic oils, and the 'dinosaur' oils as you might think. Synthetic is still just oil - it's that all of the oil molecules are closer to the same size. That is accomplished by distilling the oil after going through the refinery process (cracking). Advances in refining brought conventional oils closer to synthetic in the late 90s and I think there were in fact some lawsuits flying around, as memory serves, between the "original" synthetic producer(s) and some of the newer stuff, but the courts upheld oil companies claiming "synthetic" no matter how they got it. Anyway......

Oil isn't just oil. There's "stuff" in it to keep the integrity of the seals good, among other things. Remember Valvoline coming out with the "Max-Life" oil? They just added a lot more of whatever is good for the seals to regular oil (at the time, they probably have a synthetic blend too). That stuff works. I made the mistake of putting Mobil 1 in my 68 Bronco back in the 90s, and it proceeded to leak like a screen door on a submarine..... oil EVERYWHERE! Changed out to Max-Life and the only things that leaked after that were the steering box and front pinion seal, neither of which of course had engine oil.

Anyway, when my 97 started leaking at the rear main seal (250,000+ miles) I started dumping 4 quarts of the usual Mobil 1, and a quart of Max life in it, at each change. That helped, a little. But of course the RMS needed replacing and that got done when the transmission was rebuilt.

You can mix different brands and even weights. Weights on oil are just an average of the viscosity of everything that's in the bottle. Big molecules, small molecules, etc. Mix 0-20 and 10-40 half and half, and you end up with 5-30 or thereabouts. Even with "full" synthetic, there is some "regular" oil mixed in, to help keep the additives in suspension. The reason your oil comes out thicker when you change it, than when you put it in, is that the lighter molecules in the mix tended to burn out before the heavier molecules. Unless you have a carb running way rich in which case the oil has a lot of gasoline in it......

Bottom line, oil is oil, and people who think that synthetic is some magic creation are flat out wrong. It's just a more consistent bottle of the same size oil molecules - plus whatever additives the manufacturer sees fit to put in.
Im not even a fan of the blended...but honestly its hard to find 10w30/40 dino unless you pay crazy prices at the parts store for it
 


Ramcharger90

Well-Known Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Feb 11, 2019
Messages
2,953
Reaction score
1,708
Points
113
Location
N/A na
Vehicle Year
1990
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
306, Bcam,
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Just use some snake oil marvel mystery.
 

cbxer55

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2009
Messages
1,863
Reaction score
763
Points
113
Location
Midwest City, Oklahoma
Vehicle Year
1998
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Automatic
Just use some snake oil marvel mystery.
I use that in my gas tank only. It's a whole lot too thin to use for actual motor oil.

I run four quarts Valvoline Max Life 20w-50 in mine, and one quart Lucas Engine Oil Stop Leak. That almost topped the small nuisance oil leak I've had for years. It used to leave a rather basketball sized spot on the ground, now it's down to about a silver dollar.

I've run the Max Life 20w-50 for many years, and 20w-50 in the engine ever since I bought it in January 2000.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
For god sakes rusty must you argue about EVERYTHING.

Use synthetic, ignore rusty.
 

DILLARD000

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2020
Messages
877
Reaction score
652
Points
93
Location
Earth
Vehicle Year
2001 Ford
Make / Model
SportTracJob2
Engine Size
V6~4.0L~SOHC
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My oil & filter is the only truely good oil & filter! My god is the only true god! My politician is the only good politician!
All never ending unverifiable debates.
Change your oil & filter often with whatever works for you; again do it often.
 

rusty ol ranger

Im a Jeep guy now.
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,267
Reaction score
7,274
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
For god sakes rusty must you argue about EVERYTHING.

Use synthetic, ignore rusty.
I wasnt argueing. I stated something then got contridicted so i showed why using synthetic in an older engine isnt a good idea.
 

Hawkeye

New Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2020
Messages
15
Reaction score
2
Points
3
Location
Florida
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ranger
Transmission
Manual
Hawkeye, about how long have you been using the semi synthetic oil? If it has been a few years, I would say that any leak that develops is probably just from age, not necessarily from synthetic oil.

Honestly, I would just continue to use what you are using. If you put a good deal of mileage on the truck, perhaps consider shortening your oil change interval.

I know myself that I usually change my oil every 6 months or 6000 miles, whatever comes first. Usually every April and October.
I have been using the Valvoline High Mileage Syn Blend for over 5 years with no signs of leaks. My truck wasn't an everyday driver for the past 10 years until the past month when I sold my everyday driver and bought a 72 Cutlass. Now my Ranger is my everyday driver. I've had good luck with the Valvoline and Mobil 1 both, I just wanted to check and see what consensus was on seal deterioration. I am lucky so far I would say.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
4.0 ohv is a flat tappet cam.

You NEED ZDDP.

Valvoline VS1 or any oil with 1400+ ppm ZDDP.

Go look at the cam that came out of my 2.9 if you dont believe me lol. Mobil 1 wiped it out.
 

MikeG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Messages
1,353
Reaction score
752
Points
113
Location
central Texas
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
B4000
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
235/75r15
Oil is oil, guys. If you need a certain additive (see above!) then by all means, buy the one with the right additive(s).

There's likely a handful of refiners that actually make the stuff, and then there's 47 brands in the store including white-labeled store brands for every auto parts and big-box store. They don't all own their own refineries, they buy it on a spec and label it as they please. You might be able to figure out who made the oil for (fill in the blank) by looking at the MSDS sheets for it, then compare to the MSDS for some of the major name brands that have been around a century or more. Or, you might not. And don't think that making motor oil is a big part of the refinery business. Most of it goes to fuel oil, then (probably) asphalt next, motor oil, then ATF and gear oil and chassis lube and whatnot. It's a niche market for them. Think about it, many hundreds or thousands of gallons of gasoline or diesel goes through the vehicle per oil change, then many oil changes per transmission or rear end change, etc.

But I guarantee there are WAY fewer actual manufacturers, than brands. Synthetic doesn't "eat" seals any more than any other conventional oil that has the same additives, and about the same viscosity. About the only "advantage" conventional oil would have as far as seals leaking, is that the lighter hydrocarbons in a conventional blend will burn off sooner, leaving the remaining oil thicker. That's assuming they have the same additives for seals.
 

ericbphoto

Overlander in development
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
15,211
Reaction score
16,346
Points
113
Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.
Make sure you use oil.
 

sheep herder

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Nov 7, 2019
Messages
1,403
Reaction score
1,024
Points
113
Location
sheep pen
Vehicle Year
2011
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
If it ain't broke, break it.
Lube is always a good thing.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.

ericbphoto

Overlander in development
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
15,211
Reaction score
16,346
Points
113
Age
59
Location
Wellford, SC
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0L
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6"
Tire Size
35"
My credo
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are different.

MikeG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Messages
1,353
Reaction score
752
Points
113
Location
central Texas
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
B4000
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
235/75r15
Eat enough cantaloupe, and your insides will be 'lubed'.... does that help?
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,613
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
4.0 ohv is a flat tappet cam.

You NEED ZDDP.

Valvoline VS1 or any oil with 1400+ ppm ZDDP.

Go look at the cam that came out of my 2.9 if you dont believe me lol. Mobil 1 wiped it out.

That's odd. When I rebuilt my 4.0 OHV it had rollers in it. And it was a 92 block, so its an early one.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top