Should I bother sticking with synthetic oil?
04-27-2010, 11:22 PM
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Should I bother sticking with synthetic oil? I have been running 5w-30 Pennzoil platinum for the past 13k miles, but now I am considering going back to conventional. Mainly because I NEVER go over 3k on my oil changes. Even with synthetic I just can't bring myself to do it. I am completely **** about all my other maintenance too, and I typical service other fluids twice in the time they recommend changing it once.
FWIW I get full synthetic oil changes with wix filters for like 33$ after tax.
FWIW I get full synthetic oil changes with wix filters for like 33$ after tax.
04-28-2010, 01:34 AM
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It will run just fine on conventional. Unless you're really pushing the engine to extremes (in terms of rpm/WOT operation, tons of miles/time between changes, or severe temperature conditions....like cold starts well below 0°F), conventional is just fine. Your factory fill was conventional, it won't hurt a thing.
I use synthetic because I don't like to be bothered with oil changes every 3 mon./3k miles.
I use synthetic because I don't like to be bothered with oil changes every 3 mon./3k miles.
04-28-2010, 10:49 AM
#7
We run conventional in just about everything around here unless the customer requests otherwise. One of the owners did some oil analysis tests a while back and the results were pretty surprising. A lot of the big name synthetics didn't prove to be worth the money.
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04-28-2010, 11:15 AM
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We run conventional in just about everything around here unless the customer requests otherwise. One of the owners did some oil analysis tests a while back and the results were pretty surprising. A lot of the big name synthetics didn't prove to be worth the money.
04-28-2010, 11:44 AM
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Corvette has been receiving a synthetic factory fill since the LT1 introduction in 1992; but the F-bodies never did.
I've had 4 LSXs spanned over 10+ years time, and I've always used synthetic too..... but that's only because I've fit into the "severe" category for one reason or another. If I was doing 3mon/3k changes with basic daily driver operation, I would not waste money on synthetic.
04-28-2010, 12:04 PM
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Short intervals using synthetic is a waste of money. PP is a good oil, but if you're just going to change at 2k or whatever, there's not much point.
Since oil changes at short intervals is simply for entertainment purposes, if you want cheaper entertainment go to any name brand conventional oil. Neither you nor your car will know the difference.
Since oil changes at short intervals is simply for entertainment purposes, if you want cheaper entertainment go to any name brand conventional oil. Neither you nor your car will know the difference.
04-28-2010, 12:07 PM
#11
i was told by several vendors on here that conventional is just fine for these cars. I was running synthetic and switched to conventional and no issues. Mabye if your car had alot of miles then I might consider but otherwise conventional is just fine.
04-28-2010, 07:05 PM
#12
if you dont go over 3k on your oil, your an idiot. Why do people stick to the old train of thought. Many many many many many many many many many test have been done on OEM engines to show that more than 3k is fine. Its been proven time and time again. Why not just change the oil everytime you drive the car, it makes just as much sense.
04-28-2010, 09:09 PM
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if you dont go over 3k on your oil, your an idiot. Why do people stick to the old train of thought. Many many many many many many many many many test have been done on OEM engines to show that more than 3k is fine. Its been proven time and time again. Why not just change the oil everytime you drive the car, it makes just as much sense.
There are a lot of things that *can* wait or *can* be done less, but why chance it?
04-28-2010, 09:31 PM
#15
if you dont go over 3k on your oil, your an idiot. Why do people stick to the old train of thought. Many many many many many many many many many test have been done on OEM engines to show that more than 3k is fine. Its been proven time and time again. Why not just change the oil everytime you drive the car, it makes just as much sense.
. You're probably the guy that believes in the once a year oil changes because you bought the 15K mile synthetic right? The 3K mark is a guideline that we've been using in our family and we have a 99 grand am with 255K original miles, a 01 chevy express with 210K miles, and my 98 TA with 252K original miles so I think it has worked well for us. Oil changes are cheap insurance and just because you run synthetic and it "doesn't" break down as fast as conventional doesn't mean it doesn't get contaminated.
04-28-2010, 10:14 PM
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I think calling people an idiot is too harsh. However, you aren't really "chancing" anything. If you're going 3k or less, and don't fit the severe driving category, you're simply wasting money on synthetic. So my response is, why waste money for no benefit?
04-28-2010, 10:45 PM
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I wanted to see what other peoples opinions were on this subject. Which is how this thread came about. I may switch back to conventional since in all honesty I probably am wasting my money. Most of my driving is highway now and I rarely drive hard anymore. At work I get conventional oil changes for 20$ and synthetic for 33$...Not a huge difference in price, but every bit counts.
04-29-2010, 05:40 PM
#18
Ah I am an idiot for treating my car to good......
There are a lot of things that *can* wait or *can* be done less, but why chance it?
There are a lot of things that *can* wait or *can* be done less, but why chance it?
04-29-2010, 05:47 PM
#19
Oh good, I went 3100 miles before my last oil change so at least I'm not an idiot . You're probably the guy that believes in the once a year oil changes because you bought the 15K mile synthetic right? The 3K mark is a guideline that we've been using in our family and we have a 99 grand am with 255K original miles, a 01 chevy express with 210K miles, and my 98 TA with 252K original miles so I think it has worked well for us. Oil changes are cheap insurance and just because you run synthetic and it "doesn't" break down as fast as conventional doesn't mean it doesn't get contaminated.
