Synthetic vs Petroleum

[grease monkey]

I'm a firm believer in synthetic oils, I use them regularly in all of our transmissions and differentials. they tend to withstand heat better and exhibit less viscosity breakdown. You can also go for longer periods between change intervals.

I'm just curious what everyone's thoughts are on using synthetics in the engines. I find it hard to justify that sort of expense, because engine oils are typically changed every 10,000 to 20,000 miles (depending on your fleet standards and truck application) Granted, you can get an extended enterval with the synthetic, but only an extra 10,000 miles maybe.

Do any of you think its worth the extra cost?

[solo379]

I'm in a total agreement with you on this one! Sintetics is a MUST, for tranny and axles. But not worth an effort on engine. I know, some large fleets using it, with 60,000 oil change interval, but than again, i wouldn't recomend those trucks.

[grease monkey]

Even for a senthetic, 60k is A LOT of miles to go between oil changes. I sure hope they inspect the rest of the truck between those at some point!!!

[solo379]

Nah.. they'll just trade it at the point the trouble gonna starts. :sad: And than some poor fella gonna buy it from "Select trucks" :evil: They not gonna keep it for long, why would they care!? :x

I dont mind senthetics for the reas and the axles but give me the petrol oil for my motors between oil changes

[ksgreenmch]

I'm in agreement with solo on this one. Senthitics are ok for rear ends and transmissions but give me my hi-grade oil for my engins to burn out there on the highways and make it Shell Rotella 15-40 or Mobil oil 15-40 weight oils for the road

[icedad]

I've used synthetic oil in all of my trucks since 1988. In the older engines, you'll get less smoke and pollution and less curious cops. You'll have less carbon buildup, less wear on your bearings and cylinder walls, since synthetic oil always leaves a film. Your motor will run cooler and start easier in the winter because synthetic oil will not thicken like reg motor oil. You'll never have a dry startup then, because of the film.
Plus, I have gotten an extra 1/2 mile to the gallon. On reg Rotella, I would change my oil every 10,000 miles. With Amsoil, I change my oil every 30,000 and my filter every 10,000. I send a oil sample in to Cat every so often and have never had a bad report.
If running synthetic oil in your motor makes you feel uneasy, why does every ship, and every airline use it their engines?
NO, I'm not a salesman for Amsoil, I just like the product.

[icedad]

HHmmmm..... 108 views and only 7 have voted? They couldn't be afraid now, could they?

[jteamomaha]

Have been a faithful user of Amsoil Synthetic even in my cars. As soon as they have 6,000 to 8,000 mi. on them, they're switched to Amsoil. The company I used to drive for has used it in their fleet for nearly 20 years. It can't be beat, blows Mobil I off the charts for lubrication.

[todd]

OK, so what weight synthetics do you use in your rear ends and trannys?

[carhaulinjunkie]

how many miles between amsoil changes do you run. what about tranny, rear end. thanks

[solo379]

You suppost to change "sintetic" in rears and tranny, every 250k miles. And i still wouldn't recomend sintetic in a engine, espetualy on a older truck, that used to run on mineral!

[grease monkey]

I agree with solo about using synthetics in an engine that's used to mineral oils... don't do it.

250K for trans and rears is dead on with synthetics. Personally, I use a 50 weight in the trans and a 75w90 in the rears. Check your owner's manual and consider the temperature ranges you'll be running in before selecting a grade for your truck. 75w90 probably won't cut it in Las Vegas, NV where asphalt temps easily reach 180 degrees in summer, nor would it perform well in Boston in the winter where it's typically frozen for the entire season. What conditions you drive your truck in will decide what weight of oil to use.

[icedad]

carhaulinjunkie, I usually run 30,000 miles between oil changes and 10,000 between filter changes. These standards are the most I'll do. My supplier says if I had to, it wouldn't hurt anything to go longer if need be, because this oil does not breakdown like a petroleum based will.

Do not put this oil in an older motor, because the cleaning properties will cause quite a few leaks from where your'e old oil has deposits, typically around valve covers, oil pan gaskets to name a few.
I tried it in an old ford of mine years ago and turned my driveway into a mess.

[MACK59B61T]

ARE YOU NUTS!!!

I use AMSoil sea60w oil and change it frequently.
I change my oil every 6,000miles and filter's every 3,000 miles.
All my diesel's seem to last. on gas engine's i do oil every 3000 and filter's every 1000 miles....

[icedad]

ARE YOU NUTS!!!

I use AMSoil sea60w oil and change it frequently.
I change my oil every 6,000miles and filter's every 3,000 miles.
All my diesel's seem to last. on gas engine's i do oil every 3000 and filter's every 1000 miles....


Who's NUTS? Or are you just wealthy? Who uses a racing oil, 60W in their Cat, Cummins, or Detroit? 7-8 gallons of oil do not have to be changed every 6000 miles.
http://amsoil.com/products/motoroils/index.htm http://amsoil.com/products/ahr.html IS THIS YOUR'E OIL? It's the only 60W they sell!

I really believe you don't have a clue as to what you just said. If you want to change your Amsoil every 6000 miles and filters 3000 miles, you must have alot of money, because it's not necessary.

Youv'e got to have a hell of a landscaping fleet....

[MACK59B61T]

Your thinking of the Right stuff Like $8.50/QT ya that's it..
I just do better then routine Maintaince is all.

I'm very picky about my oil.

I'll go check that link in a second but that sound's like the right stuff.

you guy's are over the road I'm in the dust,the dirt, the sand ,and the MUD. i have to change my oil, oil filter's,and luber finder's + air filter's more offten then you do...

But it only get's used in the summer fleet truck's the 52-78's and the miliatry truck's 66-76's.

the 80's winter beater's get Wal-mart super tech 20w-50.....

i get a lower bluk rate as i buy it 300gallon's at a time.
300 gallon's last about 2-3 season's normally.

we do Construction,destruction,landscaping, and excavating.

i run KT-450 Cummins's turned up to 475hp, with 13 spd OD trans.
the 5.9L Cummins's turned up to 325hp,with 5spd OD tran's.
One 711END mack with an Added turbo running 380hp,with 15spd Triplex.

My old beast have Up dated Power plant's and over sized tires they all cruze 67mph.... witch for us is plenty fast. but you can push them up to 78-80mph but your redlined..

I also use thwe AMSOIL 85W-140 Gear lube in the Nice fleet as well But that only get's changed once a year in the truck's that are mostly on road and the truck's that are off road most of the time get it changed twice a year..

pluse it take a good long while to hit 6,000 miles... most of my truck's only see like 28,000- 40,000 miles a year. some get more miles some get less it depend's on what's needed and whats not...

[MACK59B61T]

BTW the 1952-1978 MD & HD truck's and the 1966-1976 Military 6x6's are considered the " nice " fleet.......

the Nice get's Work from mid spring to Mid fall....

then the beater's take over ..... the 80's stuff is used in the winter month's and year round.....
I also rarly use any truck's lighter then a 1-Ton dually.....

[Larry Cuskey]

SYNTHETICS HAVE PROVEN TO OUT PERFORM PETROLEUM BASED OILS!

Initial cost is more, but less frequent changes saves money and time.

I used to rebuild cylinder heads 30 years ago and to give you an example, while not exactly the same but similar in theory, we checked out a guys cylinder head that ran on propane. 200,000 miles and not even a shadow of crud. Valves had light "dust" and all ports were as if you'd just sand blasted the head. We had to resurface it and it only took .001 or .002" compared to .008 to .009.

The synthetics actually leave a thin film so no dry or hard cold winter starts

Only one comment made to me over the past ten years was if you flood the engine, then you "wash" away the 'film' properties... I don't know how true this is as I am not into wrenching or trouble shooting repairs...

ARE YOU NUTS!!!

I use AMSoil sea60w oil and change it frequently.
I change my oil every 6,000miles and filter's every 3,000 miles.
All my diesel's seem to last. on gas engine's i do oil every 3000 and filter's every 1000 miles....

[MACK59B61T]

Well i might change my oil too much but in the dust and dirt of off road work I'd rather chnge it early then late...... 8) :shock: 8)