someone at school told me that switching to synthetic would add about 3-5 hp. is this true, or bullshit?

 

Bullshit.

 

3-5HP isn't very much on a 160HP engine... and even less on the 240HP V6. You gain at least that much turning off your AC.

Yes, you could possibly gain a small increase in power. Less internal friction in the motor = more NET HP.

You could also see more significant gains by not overfilling or even underfilling by 1/2 a quart or so. Typically the distick low level and high level represent a difference of nearly 1 quart. The lower the oil level in the oil pan, the less windage or drag as the crankshaft moves through the oil. At 5000RPM, the outeredge of a crankshaft traveling in a 8" circle will be moving at almost 120mph.

Bottom line, you won't notice a significant difference. Most conventional oils already have lots of friction modifiers so that they perform as well as the synthetics... they just don't last quite as long.

 

yes you probably will gain "some" hp but the gain wouldn't even be signifigant for you to fell especially in a 240 hp av6
my friend actually gained 6.7 hp in his FD3 TT when he dyno tuned his car after switching from castrol Syntec blend to Mobil 1 synthetic
go figure

 

i use Mobil 1 synthetic and my auto still slow n local streets. helpppp
mmmm how often u change the distrube cap?>

 

synthetic oil is made to protect and clean your engine better....if you really desperate of power, get 0-60 octane booster and fuel system cleaner from walmart, will make the acceleration a little better.

 

someone on one of those shows did a test where they traded out all the conventional fluids for synthetics and the dyno showed an actual gain in HP.... I think they used the purple stuff... but.... anyway.
I like synthetic for a couple of different reasons, but I can't get into that right now.

 

Octane booster will decrease his power unless he has a 7th gen V6, and I doubt fuel system cleaner will be very effective at all considering all the additives in gasoline.

 

Kind of off topic, but I just bought a 99 Accord with 36K miles. Should I switch to synthetic?? I'm not sure what the previous owner was using...what do you all suggest?? brand? thanks

 

Why don't you find out what your owner's manual suggests, and then use that... The only reason why I use synthetic on my '96 Accord is because I like to piss money away, simply that... I figured that if I am going to piss money away on stupid stuff, it may as well be something that MIGHT actually be good for the car...

Oh yea, I switch back and forth from Castrol full synthetic to Mobil 1 back to dino oil on a regular basis and depending on what kinda money I want to piss away...