Regular or Synthetic Oil??
07-02-2002 | 01:35 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: FarAway,TX
Regular or Synthetic Oil??
I am currently using Mobil 1 Synthetic oil.. I was wondering if anythying about happened to my motor if i downgraded to regular oil?? Whats the difference between the 2?
07-02-2002 | 04:24 PM
#2
Make me an offer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Ann Arbor, Michigan
DO SYNTHETIC OILS WORK?
Seeing the ads for synthetic motor oils and lubricants, you may ask if they are right for your gasoline or diesel engines. Are they worth the extra money?
Conventional mineral motor oils are refined using crude oil for the base sotck. Mineral oils contain impurities, such as nitrogen,resin,asphalt,wax, carbon, sulfur, and aromatic residues. Refining removes most of these, but some remain to cause problems, especially under stress and temperatures.
In contrast, synthetic oils are developed in the laboratory- from man made orgainc esters and other synthesized hydrocarbons to provide the exact characteristics desired. These "designer" oils include no impurities, at least when poured from the can. Impurities, of course, can appear during combustion.
Even the best mineral-based motor oils break down or oxidize at temperatures of 250deg to 350deg F. Above this the life of these oils drops drastically, resulting in increased engine wear and formation of harmful sludge (or BLACK DEATH) , varnish and other deposits. Synthetic oils can easily tolerate temperatures of up to 450deg, and some can go up to 550+deg. with synthetic oils, there are no impurities, so they resist oxidation much longer.
Synthetic oils also work better at low temperatures because they flow much more freely down to -40 to -50 degrees F. Also, synthetic oils start lubricating much sooner and reach critical areas much faster.
The advantages? Longer intervals between oil changes are possible because synthetics suffer less breakdown due to the better base stock used. Usually the synthetics will have a better additive package, allowing the oil to clean better among other things.
Word of caution!, Not everyone needs to use a full synthetic oil. There is many times a good mineral based or synthblend will do just as well. Changing to a full synthetic on an older vehicle (for example) can cause leaks in the seals, the detergents can break loose accumulated sludge deposits which in turn could clog oil passages and cause other havoc inside the engine.
It's best to consult a lubricant specialist / mechanic to determine what your options are.
[MOTOR OILS] [ top ]
2. Is there any negative effects of switching back to Petroleum oil once Synthetic oil has been used?
You can switch back and forth as many times as you like with no negative result. Petroleum and syntetic oils these days are completely compatible with each other
Seeing the ads for synthetic motor oils and lubricants, you may ask if they are right for your gasoline or diesel engines. Are they worth the extra money?
Conventional mineral motor oils are refined using crude oil for the base sotck. Mineral oils contain impurities, such as nitrogen,resin,asphalt,wax, carbon, sulfur, and aromatic residues. Refining removes most of these, but some remain to cause problems, especially under stress and temperatures.
In contrast, synthetic oils are developed in the laboratory- from man made orgainc esters and other synthesized hydrocarbons to provide the exact characteristics desired. These "designer" oils include no impurities, at least when poured from the can. Impurities, of course, can appear during combustion.
Even the best mineral-based motor oils break down or oxidize at temperatures of 250deg to 350deg F. Above this the life of these oils drops drastically, resulting in increased engine wear and formation of harmful sludge (or BLACK DEATH) , varnish and other deposits. Synthetic oils can easily tolerate temperatures of up to 450deg, and some can go up to 550+deg. with synthetic oils, there are no impurities, so they resist oxidation much longer.
Synthetic oils also work better at low temperatures because they flow much more freely down to -40 to -50 degrees F. Also, synthetic oils start lubricating much sooner and reach critical areas much faster.
The advantages? Longer intervals between oil changes are possible because synthetics suffer less breakdown due to the better base stock used. Usually the synthetics will have a better additive package, allowing the oil to clean better among other things.
Word of caution!, Not everyone needs to use a full synthetic oil. There is many times a good mineral based or synthblend will do just as well. Changing to a full synthetic on an older vehicle (for example) can cause leaks in the seals, the detergents can break loose accumulated sludge deposits which in turn could clog oil passages and cause other havoc inside the engine.
It's best to consult a lubricant specialist / mechanic to determine what your options are.
[MOTOR OILS] [ top ]
2. Is there any negative effects of switching back to Petroleum oil once Synthetic oil has been used?
You can switch back and forth as many times as you like with no negative result. Petroleum and syntetic oils these days are completely compatible with each other
07-02-2002 | 09:28 PM
#3
99 Integra LS
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: California (Bay Area)
Re: Regular or Synthetic Oil??
Originally posted by ChopstiX
I am currently using Mobil 1 Synthetic oil.. I was wondering if anythying about happened to my motor if i downgraded to regular oil?? Whats the difference between the 2?
I am currently using Mobil 1 Synthetic oil.. I was wondering if anythying about happened to my motor if i downgraded to regular oil?? Whats the difference between the 2?
07-03-2002 | 04:15 AM
#4
Make me an offer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Why bother using synthetic oil if it is not needed? If Honda / Acura wanted you to use synthetic they would have said so
There are advantages to using synthetic oil, but not everyone needs it. If you drive your car hard, or you expect to keep your car till it falls apart, you really should use a quality synthetic.
07-03-2002 | 04:26 AM
#5
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
to me, it comes down to money, how much do you really want to spend for oil? The owners manual on my GSR actually recomends against using anything other than normal oil because of the added cost... you only have the oil in there for about 3K miles anyway, the life of regular oil could last I think 7K miles without harming anything (though not recomended), so why would you worry about regular oil breaking down, and losing its logevity at high temp? unless you have a full race modded honda motor, how often are you gonna have high temperatures in your motor? My temp needle has never gone past the middle point (dunno what degree that is) even on a hot hot day, lots of humidity, A/C blasting, and sitting in traffic! I guess its a peace of mind thing knowing that you're ready incase you do get your motor up to 450+ degrees, so it all comes down to prefference and money... thats my opinion
07-03-2002 | 06:06 AM
#7
99 Integra LS
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: California (Bay Area)
Originally posted by StyleTEG
If you drive your car hard, or you expect to keep your car till it falls apart, you really should use a quality synthetic.
If you drive your car hard, or you expect to keep your car till it falls apart, you really should use a quality synthetic.
07-03-2002 | 06:35 AM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Originally posted by 1funride
Driving any car hard will fvck it up no matter what oil you put in it..
Driving any car hard will fvck it up no matter what oil you put in it..
For those who say synthetic isnt worth it. Consider the fact that an integra's oil change is suppose to come every 7,500 miles, not like someone said at 3,000. With the use of synthetic, you should change it every 15,000. This way its cheapper, and its just as good. When I use synthetic, I still change it every 7,500 since I drive hard often enough.
07-03-2002 | 06:57 AM
#10
99 Integra LS
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: California (Bay Area)
Originally posted by integramodder
However, the use of synthetic allows the oil to be driven harder than you could with conventional honda oil.
For those who say synthetic isnt worth it. Consider the fact that an integra's oil change is suppose to come every 7,500 miles, not like someone said at 3,000. With the use of synthetic, you should change it every 15,000. This way its cheapper, and its just as good. When I use synthetic, I still change it every 7,500 since I drive hard often enough.
However, the use of synthetic allows the oil to be driven harder than you could with conventional honda oil.
For those who say synthetic isnt worth it. Consider the fact that an integra's oil change is suppose to come every 7,500 miles, not like someone said at 3,000. With the use of synthetic, you should change it every 15,000. This way its cheapper, and its just as good. When I use synthetic, I still change it every 7,500 since I drive hard often enough.
