Id like to get some good feedback on opinions in regards to engine oil changes, types of oils, oil weight, changing frequency, different applications - i.e., regular driving vs. regular towing and hot rodding. Ive been doing some research on this and have come up with some information posted here and some I am holding onto until i get more info - im sure some will agree/disagree with, and some of this may be right or wrong, which is why im posting !!


SNYTHETIC OIL - probably better oil all in all, but from my research it will still start wearing down after 5k miles, especially with towing and hot rodding - most people will change every 10k miles. Now changing more frequently might be the answer if the performance level is so much more, but im not sure that it is yet.


REGULAR OIL - doesnt seem to be a hinderance in regards to performance in any way, and changing more frequently at 3k miles is great for engine longevity. Not sure about the performance difference yet / final research on this being done now.


Anyone have some good feedback and information that can back up some of this info - again I am doing this out of my own questions and seeking to become more knowledgeable in this aspect and am looking for any bit of information that i can add to my research.


ThanksEdited by: tbone1227

Life of oil is effected by the condition (tightness) of engine and the
tempature it runs at. Convential oils will break down sooner in higher
temps than syn but they both get dirty and filtering only removes so
much of the dirt/pollutants from oil and cannot replace regular changes completely.

Edited by: snoman

thats one of the things i found in some private party tests that i was able to take a look at - the detergeants in the oil will break down in both oils and it happens a lot sooner than people think in the synthetics. when that happens, you are no longer utilizing your oil the way it was meant to be used in the engine

thats one of the things i found in some private party
tests that i was able to take a look at - the detergeants in the oil
will break down in both oils and it happens a lot sooner than people
think in the synthetics. when that happens, you are no longer
utilizing your oil the way it was meant to be used in the engine



Yes the tigher the engine, the longer it lasts but as engine loosens up
a bit blown by residue (even in very small amounts) soon neutrulizes
the detergent in oil before it is broken down otherwise.

what i would really like to do is use a good synthetic and change frequently but then you get into the pricing issue, and does it and will it really improve things that much by using synthetic more frequently to not worry about the added cost. im trying to figure out some ways i can get synthetic at a really good cost, when i need it, and trying it in the real world like mentioned above - i usueally tow my toy hauler every week and about 25% of my miles are from heavy towing.

You know I haven't read much about "syn-blends". What's the verdict on those? I'll do some checking. JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

Syn blends can be be tricky. There are no hard and fast laws on the percentages of syn and dino. Abc co. may have 5% syn and call itself a blend.


A good dino will outperform a poor syn.


All oils really come down to. Base stocks,additive packages, and blending techniques.


One more thing on syns. They also have different base stocks of varying degrees of quality same as dino's ( base stocks). Many of today's "syns" are Hydrotreated dino"s.

Frequent changes with good quality oil is the key to long engine life, not so much the "type" of this oil.