I found Blackstone lab's comment interesting. I use
synthetic in my Harley, changed every 3000 miles, and
when I mentioned it to one of their techs he said I
was wasting my money. Like you, I just can't force
myself to longer intervals between oil changes, so I
think I will go back to Dino oil for the Harley. One
place I believe synthetics ARE useful is endurance
events. When I run the Silver State races in Nevada, I
run the first 50 miles without letting up on the
throttle, UNLESS oil temps get above 300 deg (even
with a cooler). At 300 deg. I will use Corvette's
normally useless 6th gear to drop the rpm's and cool
the oil back intp the 290 range, then shift back to
5th. I sure wouldn't ask dino oil to put up with that
abuse......
Mobile 1 now has 7500 mile, 10,000 mile and 15,000
mile formulations in addition to the "regular" Mobile
1. Any ideas of what the difference might be??
Ed Van Scoy (the other Ed)
--- Bryan Savage <b.a.savage@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Ed,
>
> A "synthetic" that is not built on a Group 4 base is
> a waste of money because
> it can't match a Group 4 oil's ability to flow at
> low temps or it's resistance to
> extreme high temperature. Today, if you see a 0W-##,
> it is a Group 4 base oil.
>
> Most "synthetic" oil's available have a Group 3 base
> which is a more highly
> refined oil developed in the mid '90's. It costs 1/2
> as much as Group 4 stock
> but you pay about the same. Of the "synthetic" oils
> available at Walmart
> only Mobil1 has a Group 4 base.
>
> I have a 71 F250 and a 99 Ranger. Both get Walmart
> Super Tech oil.
> My 2001 Honda Van gets Mobil1. They all use Super
> Tech filters and
> I always have the oil (except the F250) tested by
> Blackstone Labs. All is
> well according to them but they keep suggesting I
> leave the oil in the Honda
> longer than 14 months and 8,900 miles. I can't do
> it. It's taken me over 12
> years to get from 3 months and 3,000 miles to where
> I'm at today.
>
> The question "Is synthetic oil (Group 4) better than
> petroleum oil?" was
> answered over 50 years ago at Edwards Air Force
> Base.
> The correct question is "Is the extra cost justified
> in my engine?"
> For my Honda the answer is "maybe", for my trucks
> "no".
>
> You asked Ed,
> Bryan
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