1996 Cavalier, 4500 mi, Synpower 5W30

[Mach5]

This vehicle is my daily driver. This OCI used the first batch of half price Synpower which I bought last year. The car primarily sees an 11 mile one-way commute to work each day, of which about 90% are freeway miles. The oil gets changed twice a year. I was a little disappointed to see that a synthetic oil sheared this much in 4500 miles, especially considering how much makeup oil was added (1.5 qts 5W30, 0.25 qt 10W30). The air filter is a Wix with about 10k miles on it. I always seem to have high silicon in my UOAs no matter what the vehicle...maybe because it's always construction season around here.

 

[Dr_No]

Try replacing the air filter and run another oil.
Fram Tough Guard is oiled and is made for dusty conditions.

 

[Cutehumor]

I got a leak around the rear main seal so I've got 15w40 running in my 2.2L

 

[addyguy]

I can't believe the amount of thinning that has happened to that oil! If there had been no top-up, I could sort of understand it, BUT, with almost 2 quarts of top-up in 4500 miles, the oil STILL thinned a full 2 cst (10.7 to 8.68)! the topoff oil should have helped it stay in grade. Vavoline must use some really unstable VI improver in their Synpower blends....

Even with this, the oil did really well - I never actually thought I'd see a 2.2 OHV report with single-digit wear over 3k miles. Gives me hope for my 2002 2.2-powered Cavalier....

 

[mikeg5]

not too bad. the shearing didnt hurt your car at all nor the #'s.. not too shabby for BOGO oil. i have a year's supply of this. i have about 2k miles on a current run of synpower.

 

[Cutehumor]

this is a case where thicker is better to combat shearing. On another note, when you start your car cold, do you smell fuel at all? probably where the fuel dilution is coming from which is shearing the oil.

 

[Mach5]

Quote:

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this is a case where thicker is better to combat shearing. On another note, when you start your car cold, do you smell fuel at all? probably where the fuel dilution is coming from which is shearing the oil.

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I've occasionally smelled fuel on cold starts, but it doesn't happen very often at all. The car still runs fine and gets great gas mileage. Lots of piston slap when its cold, though.

I'm running some 10W30 Synpower through it now, which will probably be the last Synpower it sees. I'm considering either 5W30 Maxlife synthetic ($1 qt after rebate) or 5W40 Rotella. The rear main seal is starting to seep a bit, which is why I'm considering the HM oil.

 

[mikeg5]

still nothing wrong with the synpower. esp at bogo.

 

[surfstar]

Quote:

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I'm considering either 5W30 Maxlife synthetic ($1 qt after rebate) or 5W40 Rotella.

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Go for the ML syn. Buy 12 qts to get the max on the rebate. Should be a good fit for a car that shears Synpower and has a slight leak developing.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I am not a Mobil-Exxon fan anymore -- but their M-1 HM looks like potent stuff.

Reluctantly-speaking

, may I suggest you try it(gulp).

 

[mikeg5]

i would just find stuff on sale and use it.

 

[wgtoys]

Those are excellent wear metal numbers. Being on the thin side wouldn't concern me too much. The slight fuel dilution might be part of the reason. Now if only M-1 could turn in those kinds of low Fe numbers!

 

[mikeg5]

hahaha yeah right that means M1 would have to quit spending $ on advertising how great their stuff is. they spend more $ on advertising than on their product lol.... (that i dont know for sure but i do know M1 is way overated)