Synthetic, or not Synthetic, that is the question

[ranger1996]

i use valvoline 5w-30 in my 96. it leaks a little in the winter, but it still runs pretty good. i notice a difference when it is coming up on 3k on an oil change. it doesn't run as smooth. i usually change my oil at 3k and ALWAYS use a motorcraft filter.

 

[gcfishguy]

The Ranger is the first vehicle that I've bought in a while that I plan on keeping for a long time, so I've been thinking of switching to synthetic also. Still on the fence.

I don't expect it to do anything vastly different from conventional oil except maintain its viscosity better. That's the advantage as far as I'm concerned.
The quicker I can get oil to the moving parts on a cold start, the better.

And we get morning in the winter that conventional oil really shows its drawbacks.
Some cars can't get enough crank speed for the computer to fire, and I have personally sat in my driveway starting and stopping a vehicle until I could get the engine warmed up a bit because I'd lose oil pressure. It pumped all the dino 5w30 into the valve cover and it couldn't drain back fast enough so the pump would start sucking air. This happened two mornings in a row, and then I switched to 0w30.

Anyway, in my mind, the fairly consistent viscosity is the benefit. I'd still use normal change intervals. I don't put on a lot of miles so 2 oil changes a year isn;t going to break the bank.

And, I read that the first wave of synthetics did affect seals in a way that might cause leaks when switching, but that was addressed and hasn't been an issue for a long time now. (This is what I read while researching my possible switch to synth_

 

[kimcrwbr1]

The Ranger is the first vehicle that I've bought in a while that I plan on keeping for a long time, so I've been thinking of switching to synthetic also. Still on the fence.

I don't expect it to do anything vastly different from conventional oil except maintain its viscosity better. That's the advantage as far as I'm concerned.
The quicker I can get oil to the moving parts on a cold start, the better.

And we get morning in the winter that conventional oil really shows its drawbacks.
Some cars can't get enough crank speed for the computer to fire, and I have personally sat in my driveway starting and stopping a vehicle until I could get the engine warmed up a bit because I'd lose oil pressure. It pumped all the dino 5w30 into the valve cover and it couldn't drain back fast enough so the pump would start sucking air. This happened two mornings in a row, and then I switched to 0w30.

Anyway, in my mind, the fairly consistent viscosity is the benefit. I'd still use normal change intervals. I don't put on a lot of miles so 2 oil changes a year isn;t going to break the bank.

And, I read that the first wave of synthetics did affect seals in a way that might cause leaks when switching, but that was addressed and hasn't been an issue for a long time now. (This is what I read while researching my possible switch to synth_

It is always funny to read the pros and cons on synthetic or not. Once I fixed all my leaks I did the change +1 on the motorcraft filter and my engine likes the change that is all that matters.

 

[modelageek]

The Ranger is the first vehicle that I've bought in a while that I plan on keeping for a long time, so I've been thinking of switching to synthetic also. Still on the fence.

I don't expect it to do anything vastly different from conventional oil except maintain its viscosity better. That's the advantage as far as I'm concerned.
The quicker I can get oil to the moving parts on a cold start, the better.

And we get morning in the winter that conventional oil really shows its drawbacks.
Some cars can't get enough crank speed for the computer to fire, and I have personally sat in my driveway starting and stopping a vehicle until I could get the engine warmed up a bit because I'd lose oil pressure. It pumped all the dino 5w30 into the valve cover and it couldn't drain back fast enough so the pump would start sucking air. This happened two mornings in a row, and then I switched to 0w30.

Anyway, in my mind, the fairly consistent viscosity is the benefit. I'd still use normal change intervals. I don't put on a lot of miles so 2 oil changes a year isn;t going to break the bank.

And, I read that the first wave of synthetics did affect seals in a way that might cause leaks when switching, but that was addressed and hasn't been an issue for a long time now. (This is what I read while researching my possible switch to synth_

I will help you get off the fence. you have a 2008, run synthetic it in. See i bet you feel better.

I started running synthetic in my truck at 88k(when i bought it). I have 120k on it now. The engine does not leak or use an oil at all. it sounds much better with the syn in it then the Dino oil. I noticed it the minute i put the syn in it.

 

[JohnnyO]

Syn can be somewhat helpful. OP has a 3.0. My wife's Taurus also has a 3.0, I had gotten used oil analysis done at 5000 mile intervals comparing Mobil 1 and Motorcraft 5w-20 and the difference in wear metals ppm was next to nothing. So for the last few years I've bought Motorcraft oil and spent half the money. The 3.0 is a pretty low stressed engine that simply isn't very hard on oil.

Used oil analysis is the only way to know for sure.

www.blackstone-labs.com

 

[Big Jim M]

Thanks Johnny!

Syn can be somewhat helpful. OP has a 3.0. My wife's Taurus also has a 3.0, I had gotten used oil analysis done at 5000 mile intervals comparing Mobil 1 and Motorcraft 5w-20 and the difference in wear metals ppm was next to nothing. So for the last few years I've bought Motorcraft oil and spent half the money. The 3.0 is a pretty low stressed engine that simply isn't very hard on oil.

Used oil analysis is the only way to know for sure.

www.blackstone-labs.com

Great post.. I wish more guys would see what you have seen. Oil, for sure, is just oil.
Fact I just found: Many european countries won't allow our SYN to be sold in their countries. They see our oil is lower grade and not true synthetic.. So I'm thinking that even though synthetic won't help our engines the oil companys are cheating what is really in the can.. Ain't capitalism great?
Big JIm

 

[modelageek]

Great post.. I wish more guys would see what you have seen. Oil, for sure, is just oil.
Fact I just found: Many european countries won't allow our SYN to be sold in their countries. They see our oil is lower grade and not true synthetic.. So I'm thinking that even though synthetic won't help our engines the oil companys are cheating what is really in the can.. Ain't capitalism great?
Big JIm

The fact that European Countries won't allow our Syn is a perfect reason for my to buy and use it ..... I hate most of those Socialist euroweinies.......all I know is that when i put syn in my 99 4banger with 120k it runs smooth, makes no noise and does not use or leak a drop of Oil. When Dino is in there it is much loader.....I don't need any studies to know my truck likes it.....when I see a pretty Women........i know she is pretty no one has to tell me

 

[modelageek]

Fact I just found: Many european countries won't allow our SYN to be sold in their countries.
Big JIm

I am pretty sure the Eroweinnies will let products like Mobil 1 syn be sold in the countries because it is a type IV. I think Castrol syn was/is a type III. we can sell type III's as syn here but the Euroweinies sell type III as Dino. ...just to try and help add to the confusion

 

[r1hatman]

I like mobile 1 10/30 synthetic myself. To each there own! Plus Auto Zone has good deals on it most of the time. I just got 5.5 quarts and a filter for $25.00 plus $4.00 off and air filter too. Life is good.

 

[Spitfire1975]

I like mobile 1 10/30 synthetic myself. To each there own! Plus Auto Zone has good deals on it most of the time. I just got 5.5 quarts and a filter for $25.00 plus $4.00 off and air filter too. Life is good.

I miss going down and picking up my 5 quarts of Valvoline 10w 40 (good for the valves), filter and getting change for my $10 bill.

 

[r1hatman]

I miss going down and picking up my 5 quarts of Valvoline 10w 40 (good for the valves), filter and getting change for my $10 bill.

 

[JP02XLT]

Used oil analysis is the only way to know for sure.

www.blackstone-labs.com

Right here is the most important info in this post, they can tell you many things about your oil choice & any contaminants that may reside in it. Excellent service for the price.

JP02XLT

 

[2wdmuddin]

in my 94 i use motorcraft 10w-30 synthetic blend and i can tell a mild difference to the good and its cheaper than castrol

 

[Rearanger]

I usually hate oil discussions, it's like discussing whose god is better.

1. Yes, for used oil analysis (UOA), I use it on a regular basis.
2. If you use syn oil and don't do extended oil changes you're wasting your money. Right now I do 6k oil changes (based on UOA) and could probably go further, but it means once a year oil changes for me. The main advantage with syn oil in street machines is extended oil changes.
3. Filtration is far more important than oil.
4. Heat in street engines is usually not an issue, cold start flow can be an issue. I use 0w-30 Mobil 1 all year, but any oil manufacturer will do. Big Jim, taxi cabs also don't need detergent oil because they run 24/7. A taxi cab and other vehicles is not a good comparison.

 

[Big Jim M]

Say what???

I usually hate oil discussions, it's like discussing whose god is better.

Big Jim, taxi cabs also don't need detergent oil because they run 24/7. A taxi cab and other vehicles is not a good comparison.

Huh??? Where else would oil get a better working over? Taxi engines run the gamut of rpm and heat/cool cycles. The oil gets the max of contaminants day after day. I couldn't think of a better test for oil... Idle for 3 minutes and then thru the gears for 3 minutes and then idle again.. day after day. Then a trip to the airport and then idle again.. what worse application could oil have?

The Taxi test had a total of 4,500,000 miles with no noticeable difference in the engines tested between synthetic and standard oils. And the test was done by the most well known testers in the world.
Big Jim