Synthetic Pro's Vs Con's

[SWDoodle]

I'm sure this topic has been discussed many times, but I was wondering the pro's and con's of switching to synthetic oil vs. conventional. The main reason is that I'm a traveling salesmen and my pick-up racks up alot of miles. I generally try to change every 3-4K when I can. If I switched to full synthetic I could go up to 25K. My concern is the dusty dry conditions I constantly drive in.

[dewfpo]

I'm sure this topic has been discussed many times, but I was wondering the pro's and con's of switching to synthetic oil vs. conventional. The main reason is that I'm a traveling salesmen and my pick-up racks up alot of miles. I generally try to change every 3-4K when I can. If I switched to full synthetic I could go up to 25K. My concern is the dusty dry conditions I constantly drive in.

 

Welcome Doodle,

 

I've been using synthetics for 23+ years in everything I own and have never looked back. I use it in tractors, garden equipment and all my vehicles. Engine oil, gear lube, trans fluid, etc....

 

The only con is cost, but much of that can be made up with longer intervals.

 

If you putting o a lot of miles, I would also consider changing out the rear diff fluid as well.

 

As far as how long you keep an oil in the engine, it would depend on who's oil you use, what type and whether you do an oil analysis. If you want to keep it in for really long periods of time you could add an additional filter called a bypass filter and do regular oil analysis to see how's it's doing. Or, the simple way, is use a high quality synthetic and change it every 10K or so. If you drive in dusty conditions, make sure you have a top quality air filter. GM makes and HD filter that has more pleats and fits in the stock airbox.

 

Don't expect huge mpg gains (actually their very small), but with many miles driven will add up in savings.

 

DEWFPO

[SWDoodle]

So if you run 10K before dropping the oil, do you keep the same filter or do you need to change it out at 3-4K like I normally do with conventional oils? If you do need to change the filter, but keep the synthetic oil, how do you change it without alot of oil coming out?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sure this topic has been discussed many times, but I was wondering the pro's and con's of switching to synthetic oil vs. conventional. The main reason is that I'm a traveling salesmen and my pick-up racks up alot of miles. I generally try to change every 3-4K when I can. If I switched to full synthetic I could go up to 25K. My concern is the dusty dry conditions I constantly drive in.

 

Welcome Doodle,

 

I've been using synthetics for 23+ years in everything I own and have never looked back. I use it in tractors, garden equipment and all my vehicles. Engine oil, gear lube, trans fluid, etc....

 

The only con is cost, but much of that can be made up with longer intervals.

 

If you putting o a lot of miles, I would also consider changing out the rear diff fluid as well.

 

As far as how long you keep an oil in the engine, it would depend on who's oil you use, what type and whether you do an oil analysis. If you want to keep it in for really long periods of time you could add an additional filter called a bypass filter and do regular oil analysis to see how's it's doing. Or, the simple way, is use a high quality synthetic and change it every 10K or so. If you drive in dusty conditions, make sure you have a top quality air filter. GM makes and HD filter that has more pleats and fits in the stock airbox.

 

Don't expect huge mpg gains (actually their very small), but with many miles driven will add up in savings.

 

DEWFPO

 

[dewfpo]

If you use a good quality filter and one that is oversized, you wouldn't need to change it in between unless it's gotten really dirty. Especially if most of your miles are highway miles and your vehicle is in good running order. I have run 10K on one filter w/o problems, but if you want, you can change out the filter at 5k. It's really up to you. Some companies now BMW, Mercedes, etc... are suggesting 15+K oil changes. Now if your towing or hauling heavy loads or really working the engine, than changing it sooner would be more prudent. Say 7.5K miles or less.

 

DEWFPO

[davzog]

There are lots of "PROS", and the only "CON" I can think of is thr higher price....even there, the difference does not have to be too great. By the quart, synthetic is $4-6 a quart or more, but by the 5 qt. jug, it is about $20 or so, depending on brand.

 

So, for an extra $10, or so, you get all the "PROS"....a no brainer for me...

[Black02Silverado]

I'm sure this topic has been discussed many times, but I was wondering the pro's and con's of switching to synthetic oil vs. conventional. The main reason is that I'm a traveling salesmen and my pick-up racks up alot of miles. I generally try to change every 3-4K when I can. If I switched to full synthetic I could go up to 25K. My concern is the dusty dry conditions I constantly drive in.

 

Welcome Doodle,

 

I've been using synthetics for 23+ years in everything I own and have never looked back. I use it in tractors, garden equipment and all my vehicles. Engine oil, gear lube, trans fluid, etc....

 

The only con is cost, but much of that can be made up with longer intervals.

 

If you putting o a lot of miles, I would also consider changing out the rear diff fluid as well.

 

As far as how long you keep an oil in the engine, it would depend on who's oil you use, what type and whether you do an oil analysis. If you want to keep it in for really long periods of time you could add an additional filter called a bypass filter and do regular oil analysis to see how's it's doing. Or, the simple way, is use a high quality synthetic and change it every 10K or so. If you drive in dusty conditions, make sure you have a top quality air filter. GM makes and HD filter that has more pleats and fits in the stock airbox.

 

Don't expect huge mpg gains (actually their very small), but with many miles driven will add up in savings.

 

DEWFPO

 

 

 

dewfpo pretty much covered it. You can go the distance with synthetic. The only thing is if you plan on running it past 10k miles I would have an oil analysis taken. That way you know for sure your engine is running like it should. In general it usually isn't the oil that goes bad but the conditions the oil has to perform in that breaks it down. If you engine isn't running in top condition then there are all kinds of factors that come into play and make your oil work harder. I have been able to run a year and right around 16k miles on my trucks oil changes with no problems. My oil analysis all show no issues.

 

The oil filter will go the 10k miles, just use a good quality filter such as Wix. Now AMSOIL's oil filter is made to go the distance up to 25k miles or one year. You can safely run the AMSOIL filter to 15k with no worries.

 

A good quality air filter is also important. AMSOIL's EaA air filter has great flow and filtering capability. You can read about it here. Keeping the engine clean in the oil and from the air it takes in makes a difference on engine life. I have seen main and rod bearings where the air was not filtered well and they had serious wear to them.

[John Dillinger]

The only disadvantage that I have found is that if you have a leak you'll leak a little more with synthetics.

 

Someone told me this one time and I doubted it....but on my Ford Expedition I have a small leak on a engine oil cooler line and on front differentual on my Chevy 2500HD...which has leaked from factory - both diffinately leak a little more with synthetic fluid. But without question I believe it's superior to traditional oil & grease....synthetic fluids in my vehicles don't break down as fast as traditional oil. In my Expedition with traditional oil I burn a quart between changes...when using synthetic I show full between oil changes (3,500 miles).

 

I use M-1 synthetics and a K&N filter and change both regularly.