Synthetic Oil

[JCasey]

I have decided to switch over to synthetic oil in my 350 mag and I recall that some time ago someone mentioned that it is best to use a flushing agent when first switching to a synthetic oil. I thought that I read a thread suggesting that best process for changing to synthetic oil was to:<br />Remove the old oil,<br />Flush the motor with a special flushing agent<br />Fill up with synthetic oil.<br /><br />I cannot, however, remember the name of the flushing agent. Since I cannot find anything like this at my automotive store I am beginning to wondering if this is really necessary. I believe the reason for using this flushing agent had something to do with the fact that natural oil and<br />synthetic oil don’t mix very well. The flushing agent was supposed to help thin out the natural oil to help remove any oil that may cling to the motor. <br /><br />Any thoughts on this?

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Synthetic Oil

I just put synt blend in my boat over the weekend.

 

[sroger007]

Re: Synthetic Oil

Flushing agent = money grab = waste of time and money<br />Semi-symthetics are a blend of both oils

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Synthetic Oil

You dont need to flush at all, and synthetic and conventional oil blend just fine.I am not able to use synthetic in one of my vehicles because it created or worsened a leak immediately when I switched to it so I was forced to switch back.However in the colder months I blend 1 quart of synthetic with conventional oil to keep it flowing upon starts.Charlie

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Synthetic Oil

No need for a flush, just change over.<br /><br />Sorry to hear about the excesive oil leak when you changes over Charlie, There is a chance if you woulf have waited a while, you would have seen the leak stop. I know, its hard to see that expensive oil hitting the ground, but you dumped 4-5 Quarts anyway. Where was the leak?

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Synthetic Oil

I really could not tell but it was immediate .A day or two after the change I had quite a bit of oil on my driveway.I paniced and changed the oil again as not to ruin my driveway and not to get a leak that I could not live with.When I switched back the leak subsided substantially.Unfortunately now I have a very slight drip that I did not have before the changeover.This is the only vehicle that I had the misfortune with.95 Jeep Grand cherokee 6cyl.about 3-4 years ago.This is the main reason that I am afraid to switch my twin 5.0lx mercr. that dont even seep a drop per season from anywhere.Charlie

 

[Merdoc]

Re: Synthetic Oil

Remember one thing with synthetic oils if it's going to leak it will with synthetic oils and they are usaully to thin for Marine and heavy equipment.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Synthetic Oil

I run Mobil 1 15W-50......

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Synthetic Oil

Originally posted by Merrrdoc:<br /> Remember one thing with synthetic oils if it's going to leak it will with synthetic oils and they are usaully to thin for Marine and heavy equipment.

Another case of missinformation.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Synthetic Oil

spend your money on manifolds,risers and waterpumps. old Dino oil will keep your motor running longer than you think. I have never seen a dino oil failure in a motor. however I tend to see a bunch of overheat and water intrusion deaths.<br /> good luck and spend money where its needed not where it feels good.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Synthetic Oil

Back to the engine flush question. Just add a quart of synthetic and run it a while before you change the current dino oil. The only reason that a flush was recommended is so that you don't contaminate a fresh load of sythentic oil with any sludge that may have developed with the dino oil. The added quart will do any cleaning necessary. I believe most synthetics today are compatible with dino oil. Synthetics are nothing more than man formulated oil molecules, of consistant and uniform size, minus all the other non lubricative and acid forming substances that are present in natural oil.<br /><br />Synthetic oil does not leak because it is thinner. It simply goes where no oil has gone before because it is slipperier (one of the reasons it is a superior lubricant) and it can clean off deposits that are even keeping your dino oil inside. Synthetics are superior to dino oil by every measurement applied in testing the qualities of lubrication.<br /><br />If you really want to get your money's worth, using synthetic, install an additional by-pass filter so you can go with extended oil changes. Although I am not recommending you do this, I have not changed my synthetic oil in 26 years. Every other season I spin on two new oil filters and top off with fresh oil. (ford 302) I've just now torn down my 302 to upgrade to a 331 stroker. The inside of the engine was incredibly clean with no appreciable wear. To date it did not use oil.