Conventional to synthetic

Raptordude · May 14, 2017

Hey guys, I know this has been covered a trillion times but thought I'd put it out there. I have a LQ4 6.0, 116,000 miles on it. It's had routine oil changes since new.

I bought it with 108k on it from my grandpa. It's coming up for an oil change, I've been using conventional pennzoil every 3k miles. I'd like to switch to synthetic this time to get rid of scum in the engine. (It's not making any lifter noise or anything, just want to keep it clean)

Should I go to semi synthetic and then full on the next change? Or would it be alright to go straight to synthetic?

I don't want the scum to break down too rapidly and be swirling around the engine. That's why I think going semi first would ease it into it. Thoughts?

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Swimmer8366 · May 14, 2017

I have 275,000 on my or all conventional changes.

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dewfpo · May 14, 2017

If you want to go synthetic. Just switch to full synthetic and skip the blend. The synthetic will clean the engine slowly so there's no need to worry about crud breaking loose and clogging anything.

I once switched an engine over at 109K miles and oil consumption went from 1 qt /1,500 miles to 1 qt/4,500 miles after the first synthetic oil change.

No worries.

DEWFPO

Raptordude · May 14, 2017

Sounds good, just ordered 5-30 full synthetic valvoline. That's what I use in my old Jetta and it seems far superior to the conventional synthetic I put in my truck

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casey.mikl · May 14, 2017

Getting ready to do the same thing with my truck. Except 90k miles. Have mobile super synthetic. Have a few boxes of it lying around.

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SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · May 14, 2017

Most people tend to say that you're "supposed" to go to syn blend and then full synthetic. I personally don't see a problem going straight to full synthetic. Especially since I typically let it drain long enough to not only just drip but drip very slowly (maybe 2-3 seconds inbetween drips or go as far as 5 seconds).

Also my understanding is that the main difference is just that additives in full synthetic just take longer to fully break down, hints why you can go much further between changes. By the way, the 3,000 miles thing is from decades ago so conventional these days can go 5,000 miles with no problem. From what I've read conventional is 5,000, syn blend is 7,500 and full synthetic is 10,000. So if you plan on still changing every 3,000 miles with full synthetic you're just wasting money. Full synthetic does lubricate better I'm sure, which is why you typically want to go to full synthetic with high miles. I'm just pointing out the main reason to get full synthetic in my opinion is the longer miles between changes. But hell I've been wrong before.

diyer2 · May 14, 2017

I see no issues changing the type of oil.

I'm NO chemical engineer or have any proof but.......the debated oil change intervals.

My theory is oil and the oil filter can hold so much crud, carbon, metal shavings etc. When the oil and filter are saturated with this crud, the crud gets deposited in the engine.

A sponge holds so much water until it's saturated.

Raptordude · May 14, 2017

I may push the oil change interval to 4,000 miles now, but I like to keep fresh oil in it. I just ordered 6 quarts of full synthetic valvoline and an AC delco filter. It only costed $40. I don't drive that much, I've put on 8k in the last 2 years. I can't complain at that price and those intervals

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casey.mikl · May 15, 2017

I am planning to use the integrated oil life meter on the dash. I go 3500 on conventional. I work for Nissan and our oil intervals on 14+ are 5,000 miles. Conventional or synthetic. 13- is 3750 on conventional and 5000 on synthetic. Also ester oil gets 5000 in the nismo vehicles if customer purchases it. I personally am planning to start running synthetic and only 93 grade fuel.

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Formulabruce · May 15, 2017

Regular ash based oil,( Std 5-30 motor oil) Ashed based "Blend" , Ash based Synthetic, ( Mobile One) and Pure Synthetic Oil ( Royal Purple) ALL have Detergent in them . They ALL Clean.. some break down faster than others with heat.

I run Ash based Synthetic and change the filter at 3500 miles, and I change Oil and filter at 7,000. That said I had my oil checked and it was good to go at 7,000 miles, BUT it was a bit dirty.

txab · May 15, 2017

I may push the oil change interval to 4,000 miles now, but I like to keep fresh oil in it. I just ordered 6 quarts of full synthetic valvoline and an AC delco filter. It only costed $40. I don't drive that much, I've put on 8k in the last 2 years. I can't complain at that price and those intervals

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Have a oil sample tested to see what your engine condition is. Sounds like once per year will be adequate

Colossus · May 15, 2017

Go full synthetic, don't mess with that synthetic blend crap, get a good quality filter, such as a WIX/NAPA Gold (good for up to 8000 miles) change the oil twice a year, and don't worry anymore about it. Well kinda. After your 2nd oil change go ahead and send in an oil analysis and let them see how things are doing inside your engine.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/FIL4077