Synthetic Oil versus Regular

You'll probably get as many replies for it as against it. I use it due to extended oil changes and better starting in cold weather. The longer change periods offset the additional cost.

Bill

I once read a good analogy about standard vs synthetic oil... imagine your oil as a bunch of steel balls making one surface easily ride along the other. Now think of those balls as being similar but of slightly different sizes (standard oil) whereas another system has all the balls the same size (synth). Makes sense to me... but I'm just an internet reader, not an engineer.

Any threads on oil tends to cause a firestorm. But I only use synthetic in all my cars, and switched to high-mileage Mobil 1 in my mini-van w/100,000+. Prefer synthetic as it has better flow characteristics in winter, but is also quieter in IMO. Don't think it saves any real MPG. And don't notice any leaks, except an occasional drop or two, with no appreciable oil burning other than what is normal with high mileage vehicles.

I ran Mobil 1 High Mileage synthetic in our previous Ford 460 powered coach for its superior cam wear characteristics. I'm now running Mobil 1 Extended Performance synthetic in our current Ford Triton V10 powered coach for the extended change intervals and better cold weather starting characteristics.

1492 wrote:
Prefer synthetic as it has better flow characteristics in winter, but is also quieter in IMO.

It's interesting you said that. I put synthetic oil in my old Craftsman snow blower a few years ago. It ran quieter with the synthetic, and it's still running great.

If the manufacture says to use synthetic oil then do that. Otherwise, you have a choice.

If you change the oil frequently then to me it makes little difference except in how much you want to pay for it. Modern oil wether regular or synthetic is far better than what was available years ago. Follow the manufacturers oil change interval and recommendation.

wildtoad wrote:
If you change the oil frequently then to me it makes little difference except in how much you want to pay for it. Modern oil wether regular or synthetic is far better than what was available years ago. Follow the manufacturers oil change interval and recommendation.

;)

Plain and simple, straight to the point.

1985 K-5 blazer 185,000 miles oil changes every 4k miles no engine issues regular oil
1999 K-5 blazer 287,000 miles oil changes every 4k miles NEVER had the valve covers off regular oil
2008 Jk Jeep 108,ooo miles oil changes every 6500 miles synthetic oil no engine issues.
Now using synthetic in my E-450 Cambria, will be changing every 5K miles.

mikeleblanc413 wrote:
Give me the pros and cons of continuing to using synthetic and of changing back to regular. THANKS!

IF the present oil doesn't show any signs of leaking after a couple of thousand miles, keep using it. There are NO downsides to continuing except maybe for a few cents difference in cost.