Anyone use synthetic motor oil? - Democratic Underground

catmandu57

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Wed Jun-23-04 01:32 PM
Original message

Anyone use synthetic motor oil?

I've been thinking of putting it in my wifes new car, it has 60,000 on it now and she has to make it last for a while. I'm being swayed by their tv commercials about reducing wear and tear, and I'm curious if it's worth the price, and how long can you go between oil changes with it?

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DrWeird

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Wed Jun-23-04 01:33 PM
Response to Original message

1. No, I make my own.

It makes for good hair gel also.

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Ganja Ninja

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Wed Jun-23-04 01:38 PM
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2. You still have to change it at the the recommended intervals.

If anything the oil filter is still going to get dirty and need changing. I've been using it in the summer months here in Florida but I still try to change it every 5000 miles. It just gives me a little more peace of mind if I go over the recommended intervals.

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trotsky

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Wed Jun-23-04 01:39 PM
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3. Here is what I've heard.

One of the benefits of changing oil at the recommended intervals is that the dirty oil also contains bits of metal, etc. that have worn off and that flushing those along with the oil is a good thing. So the advantage you gain from synthetic in that it doesn't break down as easily may be offset by the fact that you don't flush out those metal filings and other stuff as often.

I have no idea how much truth there is to this - a mechanic told me it once.

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rinsd

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Wed Jun-23-04 01:47 PM
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4. It depends on the car.....

My 95 Beamer(RIP) could go 7,000 miles between changes done by the dealership with synthetic.

I would still recommend changing the oil every 3000 to 4000 miles.

I use synthetic now in my 90,000 mile + Honda.

An extra $4 to $5 every few months is a good investment. Especially if you plan on keeping the car for a number of years.

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physioex

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Wed Jun-23-04 01:49 PM
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5. It depends on your car....

I am generally against the use of synthetic motor oils. The benefits just aren't there in my opinion. Also once you select your preference either way, I don't reccomend changing as it might causes leaks in the seals.

Synthetics are best used in cars that specify it as OEM. There are several cars that do this such as Corvette, BMW, and Ferrari. If you car doesn't specifically say to use synthetic, then just use conventional. The key is to change your oil at regular intervals not necessarily the type.

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catmandu57

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Wed Jun-23-04 01:55 PM
Response to Original message

6. We stay on top of the maintenance

I'd much rather pay to keep the cars running right, than have to fix them, especially now that I have to take them to get repaired. That's why I was curious about the synthetic, I believe I'll just stick to a standard grade, thanks.

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