Engine life, synthetic vs. conventional

[unDummy]

DEPENDS ON THE ENGINE!

Anyone who thinks that the 'engine' coverage covers anything else but those 'oil lubed' internal engine components, is a fool.

With the low quality of some engines out there, it adds some peace of mind for 'product loyalty' for those that believe in preventive maintenance.

It has nothing to do with the performance of mineral vs. synthetic. The higher profit margin of the synthetic allows the better warranty coverage.

There will always be some engines that are a gamble.

A warranty like this, 20 years ago, would have eliminated ALL the sludged engine complaints.

 

[BubbaFL]

Quote:
Timing belt or chain snapped? Not covered.


The Valvoline guarantee does cover oil-lubricated timing components (chains, gears, hydraulic tensioners, guides, etc), and their warranty does not require you to prove that the failure was oil-related - only that the failed parts were oil-lubricated.

I've talked to them about this, and they say they'll cover it even if the failures are clearly a design flaw or quality control problem caused by the manufacturer.

Anybody with a Ford 4.0 SOHC, for example, (terrible design, notorious for timing failures) should look at the valvoline guarantee.

 

[Norm Olt]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
ALL of those engine guarantees are worthless, borderline scams. Read the fine print, and you'll see they don't actually cover anything.
Didn't change your oil? Not covered.
Oil somehow all leaked out and engine seized? Not covered.
Timing belt or chain snapped? Not covered.
Engine overheated or had some other failure not related to oil? Not covered.
Normal wear and tear, like worn piston rings, leaky gaskets, and valve seals? NOT COVERED.

There, I just listed every possible way an engine can fail, and these "guarantees" don't cover ANY of it. They can guarantee your engine to 6 million miles if they want. It doesn’t matter when they just tell you to read the fine print and tell you you’re screwed. Total scam.


Just how many claims do you think they have to process? I bet it is a lot less than one would ever dream. Remember, you have to document the use of THEIR product exclusively and then have to have an "oil-related" problem.

Not a jumped timing chain or a broken timing belt. Blown water pump, et al, ad nauseum, etc.

Not a "scam", per se, just very minimal exposure.

Cheers!

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: qdeezie
I've never seen a modern engine reach the end of "it's service life" and require a rebuild when it was properly maintained with conventional or synthetic and a quality filter. Others may have seen otherwise, but I've never seen it personally.


Not many people have. A reasonably good automotive grade gasoline engine, well cared for, is capable of achieving somewhere on the high side of 300k miles. And that was true as far back as the 60s, frankly. Fleet diesels are generally run to a half million miles or so, but they're overhauled to maintain efficiency, keep costs down, and reduce the risk of a failure causing unexpected downtime... not because they don't run acceptably well anymore. The thing about passenger cars is that people will either get tired of them and replace them, neglect something and precipitate a big repair (like letting a timing chain get loose enough to slip) or else the body, suspension, interior, HVAC, etc. will fall apart *long* before the engine will.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: river_rat
Forgot a few:
Body rust out? Not covered.
Collision damage? Not covered.
Car stolen? Not covered.
Right. Those lube manufacturers are totally scamming you with their oil only guarantee.

(I actually thought your post was intended to be serious for a second.)


My post was serious

I said that I listed every way an ENGINE can fail, not the rest of the car. I didn't bother listing ways the rest of the car can fail, since these guarantees obviously don't cover that.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: BubbaFL


I've talked to them about this, and they say they'll cover it even if the failures are clearly a design flaw or quality control problem caused by the manufacturer.


That's all nice and well but I wonder how many they have ACTUALLY paid for? My guess is I probably have more fingers on one hand!

They will TELL you anything you want to hear. The proof is in the pudding or the oil in this case!

 

[MetalSlug]

For dino every 3k or 6 month, THEN DONT MATTER WAT OIL U USE YOUR ENGINE WILL LAST.
For synthetic every 5k to 6 month DONT MATTER WAT OIL U USE YOUR ENGINE WILL LAST.

And not only engine oil that make, engine last, its also coolant, and many other part also. Part failure, ring get old, not everything last for ever, no matter how baby u take care of it, old part will eventually break

 

[river_rat]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
My post was serious

I said that I listed every way an ENGINE can fail, not the rest of the car. I didn't bother listing ways the rest of the car can fail, since these guarantees obviously don't cover that.

Oh. Sorry. Well they are only going to guarantee the stuff that the oil affects directly, can't blame then for that, but yeah, the guarantees are of limited value in the real world. I agree.

 

[BubbaFL]

Quote:
That's all nice and well but I wonder how many they have ACTUALLY paid for? My guess is I probably have more fingers on one hand!

They will TELL you anything you want to hear. The proof is in the pudding or the oil in this case! smile


Probably none, since the program hasn't been around that long and it takes 18 months before coverage kicks in. Time will tell whether they're going to stand behind it.

Here's the fine print, for anyone who wants to read it:

https://valvoline.promo.eprize.com/engineguarantee/view_terms

 

[PontiacFan]

I have 2 relatives that have the exact same car, the one that had Mobil 1 looked clean as a whistle when you pooped the oil cap off.

This engine had about 90,000 miles on it.

My other relative used dino oil, and when I popped the oil cap off the valve cover it had a nasty brown stain.

I have driven the car that has had a steady diet of Mobil 1 and it runs great, I have not driven the car that has the dino oil, the car with dino oil had about 75,000 miles.

The engine was the GM 3.1 V-6

My thoughts are if your going to keep a car for a few years, then dino is fine, but if you are keeping a car for the long haul then a synthetic oil might be the best bet.

If your engine was clean as a whistle from the factory, then why not use a synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or even Pennzoil Platinum to keep everything clean and working properly.

I have confidence in saying that if anyone bought a new car and after the intial fill they went to a synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or Pennzoil Platinum, and depending on there OCI's and driving conditions, they would probably have a clean engine for as long as they drove the car. JMO

 

[Brian Barnhart]

If I drove a lot of miles and wanted to keep a vehicle for more than a few hundred thousand miles, I'd go the synthetic route. Historically, it seemed to keep my engines cleaner inside and running essentially like new. Whether today's dinos do as well as the older synthetics I used, I don't know (yet).

I still use both synthetic and conventional, but since I'm not planning on running a vehicle for that many miles I don't concern myself much with any possible differences in engine life. I'll also add, that I have no interest in the oil manufacturer warranties since I'm not willing to follow their requirements and conditions.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: BubbaFL
Quote:
That's all nice and well but I wonder how many they have ACTUALLY paid for? My guess is I probably have more fingers on one hand!

They will TELL you anything you want to hear. The proof is in the pudding or the oil in this case! smile


Probably none, since the program hasn't been around that long and it takes 18 months before coverage kicks in. Time will tell whether they're going to stand behind it.

Here's the fine print, for anyone who wants to read it:

https://valvoline.promo.eprize.com/engineguarantee/view_terms



I thought it had been around for quite a few years. I noticed the copyright date on the page you linked to was 2001 - 2010!

Don't get me wrong - I like Valvoline and I have used their oil since the 60's. But I still think there are so many hoops to jump through and legal loopholes, that even if someone had a engine failure they would have a better chance of winning the lottery than they would getting Valvoline (or any other oil company) to pay the claim.
Like as been said - it's a marketing scheme, plain and simple.

 

[BubbaFL]

Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc

I thought it had been around for quite a few years. I noticed the copyright date on the page you linked to was 2001 - 2010!


In the text of the agreement, it says they started accepting registrations 3/1/2010.

I did the math, and complying with their 4k / 1 year OCI won't cost me any more than I would have spent on Mobil 1, so "why not" use the oil with a better guarantee?

It's a great marketing strategy! Interesting to watch how their program evolves over the next few years, and to see what their claims experience is with certain engines that are notorious for failures of parts they cover (Ford 4.0 SOHC V6 comes to mind, just got done rebuilding mine, wish I had their guarantee on that vehicle!).

 

[Superbuick96]

Originally Posted By: BubbaFL
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc

I thought it had been around for quite a few years. I noticed the copyright date on the page you linked to was 2001 - 2010!


In the text of the agreement, it says they started accepting registrations 3/1/2010.

I did the math, and complying with their 4k / 1 year OCI won't cost me any more than I would have spent on Mobil 1, so "why not" use the oil with a better guarantee?

It's a great marketing strategy! Interesting to watch how their program evolves over the next few years, and to see what their claims experience is with certain engines that are notorious for failures of parts they cover (Ford 4.0 SOHC V6 comes to mind, just got done rebuilding mine, wish I had their guarantee on that vehicle!).
What year is your RAnger?

 

[BubbaFL]

Originally Posted By: Superbuick96
What year is your RAnger?


97 Explorer, 160k on the clock, just finished rebuilding the motor after a catastrophic timing chain failure.

 

[MetalSlug]

Just use any dino oil and with motorcraft oil filter, it every 3k or 6 month.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: CamaroT56
Just use any dino oil and with motorcraft oil filter, it every 3k or 6 month.

So, none of the other oil filters are any good?

 

[MetalSlug]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: CamaroT56
Just use any dino oil and with motorcraft oil filter, it every 3k or 6 month.

So, none of the other oil filters are any good?

what ever he want, i tend to use motorcraft oil filter in ford applicatio, since its 3 dollar somthing at walmart and it just a dam good oil filter , 99% peoples here will have nothing bad to say about motorcraft oil filter ^^, beside walmart need carry more for more car.

 

[ltslimjim]

Well, yeah, by the time you've lived up to their requirements, you have paid them enough in oil changes over the life of the vehicle to an excess of enough for at least at 'partial' rebuild.

 

[Zaedock]

The only reason I use any syn at all was because it was on closeout or rebate (Q-HP / Q-TP / PP). It's more important to change your oil than what you change it with. There are too many "you should get 350,000 miles out of that engine with syn" comments, when in real life, the engine is probably the last thing that will go, especially if you live in the rust belt.

My old 6.2L Chevy had 485,000 miles on 15W40. To my knowledge, the guy I sold it to still runs her. The best wear numbers I had on my 2.5L trail Jeep were on Chevron Delo SAE30. That was with frequent stops/starts and multiple roll overs.

If I never find another rebate or closeout deal again and my stash dwindles away, I'll be back to QS dino oil.