Synthetic Oil Suspicion

ken1mod · February 15, 2006

Gentlemen,

While I use synthetic oils in many cases and recognize that they have some advantages, I am reminded of the case where hundreds of aircraft engines were ruined by Mobil av1 aviation oil. This was about 5 years ago.

Mobil replaced hundreds of ruined engines for the pilots at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. Could it be that there are a few unanswered questions. And do remember, dino oils truly are awesome, they are a tough act to follow.

you may want to Google "Mobil av1 lawsuit"

Ken

redvett · February 15, 2006

I have been using Mobil 1 since 1973 in ALL my engines and that includes mower, tractors & air compressers and not one problem. One air cooled engine has ran since 1971 without a rebuild.

Works for me.

ken1mod · February 15, 2006

I have been using Mobil 1 since 1973 in ALL my engines and that includes mower, tractors & air compressers and not one problem. One air cooled engine has ran since 1971 without a rebuild.
Works for me.

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I completely believe that is true and maybe special, but I have done the same thing with dino.

I'm sure synthetic is better but are we polishing the cannonball?

Thanks for your thoughts. I use synthetic too but the questioning is still OK.

Ken

redvett · February 15, 2006

Do you think the MFR's GM/Ford & others would factory fill some of there vehicles if it didnt work. Not the way they have to pinch pennys. In the case of Mobil 1 its better in longevety and high temperature. 200 deg. or more than petroleum based oils. Why do you think Hitler used them.

8.1L · February 16, 2006

As I see the argument, you have been using dino for years, as have I. I am running my 8.1 (a beautiful engine) with Mobil1, and have no personal long term experience. I can say that I do enjoy knowing that cold starts and short trips are better lubricated than with most dinos.

My oil monitor is giving me about 8K between changes, and I use those numbers. My son was with GM Chassis and Powertrain in Troy, MI, and he won't use anything else but Mobil1 in his Silverado.

It is a hard argument to make that synthetic is that much better than conventional oil over a 100K mile engine life, if you use good dino and filters, and change oil and filters on a prescribed basis.

I believe synthetic is better, particularly in lower ambient temperatures, higher engine temperatures, higher revs, and longer intervals, but is it worth it to you? Porsche ships with synthetic, and other performance engines use it. It works, it lasts, and if you go with longer intervals, it will be about the same cost.

I know this battle has been fought many times, and this won't be the last. It flows better, it stays more fluid longer, and makes more sense to me. It reminds me of the .270 Winchester verses the .30-06 argument that has kept campfires lit for decades. Yes, they both work, and I have both, and love them both, and both bring in game. It depends on what you are doing and how you're doing it. Go with your gut on this one... You know the answer.

Jim

dewfpo · February 16, 2006

M1 AV oil is very different from the M1 oil we buy for our engines.

DEWFPO

ken1mod · February 16, 2006

You know, I think the cold weather thing would push me over to synthetic. I am told that the cold weather starting is really impressive.

Not to be a PITA (comes naturally to me) but I used to manage a fleet of chevy 350s and those I had apart in heavy duty trailer towing work in excess of 170000 miles still had angled crosshatch patterns on the cylinders from the factory hone job. We used 30 wt pennzoil or QS and changed oil every 6000 miles.

Ps I use synthetic whenever I feel rich, The discussion is great.

Is the 8.0 engine based on the old big block or the new motors. I used to love the old 454s

Ken

DJinCO · February 16, 2006

Gentlemen,

While I use synthetic oils in many cases and recognize that they have some advantages, I am reminded of the case where hundreds of aircraft engines were ruined by Mobil av1 aviation oil. This was about 5 years ago.

Mobil replaced hundreds of ruined engines for the pilots at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. Could it be that there are a few unanswered questions. And do remember, dino oils truly are awesome, they are a tough act to follow.

you may want to Google "Mobil av1 lawsuit"

Ken

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Good thing I have a truck and not an aircraft engine. I have been using M1 since it first came out. No probs here.

MMM · February 16, 2006

As I see the argument, you have been using dino for years, as have I. I am running my 8.1 (a beautiful engine) with Mobil1, and have no personal long term experience. I can say that I do enjoy knowing that cold starts and short trips are better lubricated than with most dinos.

My oil monitor is giving me about 8K between changes, and I use those numbers. My son was with GM Chassis and Powertrain in Troy, MI, and he won't use anything else but Mobil1 in his Silverado.

It is a hard argument to make that synthetic is that much better than conventional oil over a 100K mile engine life, if you use good dino and filters, and change oil and filters on a prescribed basis.

I believe synthetic is better, particularly in lower ambient temperatures, higher engine temperatures, higher revs, and longer intervals, but is it worth it to you? Porsche ships with synthetic, and other performance engines use it. It works, it lasts, and if you go with longer intervals, it will be about the same cost.

I know this battle has been fought many times, and this won't be the last. It flows better, it stays more fluid longer, and makes more sense to me. It reminds me of the .270 Winchester verses the .30-06 argument that has kept campfires lit for decades. Yes, they both work, and I have both, and love them both, and both bring in game. It depends on what you are doing and how you're doing it. Go with your gut on this one... You know the answer.

Jim

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Jim, I'll take the "30-06". It's a more versatile load. (lol) Just joking. I have mixed feelings on the oil. Although, I believe synthetic oil is superior in some areas, I also think a good quality dino is fully capable of doing it's job. I have used synthetic oil in my last two trucks which were sold just under 100,000 miles. I have also had three other trucks prior to that in my lifetime which also were sold around 100,000 miles as well. I have never had one engine failure on any of them. For me, with the rising cost of oil, and the fact that I will only keep my truck for 5 years, I fail to see the advantage of synthetics for me. Just my 2 cents.

67ChevyRedneck · February 16, 2006

I used M1 in my truck when I first bought it. It was so expensive I went to non-synthetic after a couple of changes. After hearing a tick after almost every start I switched back to M1. The only time I hear any noise at start-up now is when it's below 50 degrees out and it's only for a few seconds.

My two cents.

Mr. Smith · February 17, 2006

Gentlemen,

While I use synthetic oils in many cases and recognize that they have some advantages, I am reminded of the case where hundreds of aircraft engines were ruined by Mobil av1 aviation oil. This was about 5 years ago.

Mobil replaced hundreds of ruined engines for the pilots at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. Could it be that there are a few unanswered questions. And do remember, dino oils truly are awesome, they are a tough act to follow.

you may want to Google "Mobil av1 lawsuit"

Ken

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