Silly question about diff between Dino and Syn

[kbuzbee]

My wife's car doesn't get driven much (read 30K in 10 years!)...

I've been running M1 EP in it even though, when I change it at 6 months, the mileage is pretty low...

I know one of the big reasons for Syn is long OCIs but is there any difference in (for lack of a better word) stability between the two?? In other words, just sitting in the engine, does Syn hold up better than Dino??

I'm gonna keep running Syn (similar to the "psychological limit" of 3000 miles in another post ;-) it just makes me feel BETTER!) but I am curious...

Thanks!

Ken

 

[mcrn]

IMHO you are wasting your money. With those little miles the body will probably rust out before the engine ever thinks about failing with 6 month OCI even on dino.

 

[Quattro Pete]

What car/engine are we talking about here? If it's not a turbo, I agree that it's probably a waste of money to use synthetic.

 

[Quest]

Agreed that given the relatively low miles you cover on this car, running syn is an utter waste of money if you don't have turbo.

Q.

 

[StevieC]

So that's 3,000 Miles a year... I would do an oil change once a year and use whatever Dino oil you can find. The engine will surely outlast everything else on the car IMO.

 

[Footpounds]

I'll take a different stance. A waste of money or not, feeling better is worth something. Some people drink, some smoke, some gamble, and if you feel better by using synthetic then that makes perfect sense and that is it's value to YOU. Keep doing what you are doing and save your worries for something else!

 

[mechtech2]

I'd use a dino in that situation.
I use dino anyway!

 

[oilboy123]

I would use the M1 and just change the oil and filter every year.

You are changing waaay to often.

Depending on many factors the syn can protect better in your case. Like if the engine does not get warmed up all the way etc. So it could protect better just sitting in the engine, especially with grocery store runs and stuff like that.

 

[mcrn]

There was a recent UOA of a Mobil 1 user that left it in his vehicle for I think 5 years and it looked perfectly fine.

 

[kbuzbee]

Thanks guys!

The Car is a non-turbo Eclipse. It does get warmed up (especially on cold winter days in Ohio) but obviously, most trips are very short (
Like I said, for my peace of mind (thanks for the support footpounds!) I'll stick with what's worked (the car runs like it's brand new) but it's good to know there's no diff leaving the oil in. For me, the cost is too insignificant to change what I'm doing.

Cheers!

Ken

 

[Steve S]

Use the syn oil! mobil needs the money more than you do!

 

[steve20]

it is brand new- 30K = brand new

dino change once a year


Steve

 

[FastSUV]

My friend, I have a similar situation in a vehicle that is retired as a daily driver and is now just a second vehicle for me...

It has had Mobil-1 almost all its life and is an 11yr old SUV with 178k.

I will be putting a couple thousand miles per year tops...I have tossed this same idea around and for now, I have come to the conclusion that I WILL be switching it from synthetic (changed once a year), to dino changed every 6 months; maybe even once a year.

I have yet to get a straight answer about moisture absorbtion, but it gets warmed up once a month so I am gonna try some Castrol HM dino on my next change.

 

[Gary Allan]

I'd use a 5w-20 in that situation. If I went synth it would be a 0w-20. That oil never reaches temp ..even in summer.

Most that are doing 3k with annual changes are garage queen summer Sunday drivers. There are very few DD's with 3k/year. 6 months is not an unwise service interval.

If you have a longer commute, I'd offer that you two should swap once a week or so.

 

[kbuzbee]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
I'd use a 5w-20 in that situation. If I went synth it would be a 0w-20. That oil never reaches temp ..even in summer.

Most that are doing 3k with annual changes are garage queen summer Sunday drivers. There are very few DD's with 3k/year. 6 months is not an unwise service interval.

If you have a longer commute, I'd offer that you two should swap once a week or so.


Thanks Gary, 5W20 is an interesting choice. I agree the car rarely sees any temp at all.

I don't have a commute either but I do tend to run more errands and longer distances...

I take her car out periodically just to get it up to temp for a bit. Sometimes for errands but mostly just so it gets driven some....

Appreciate all the input guys.

Ken

 

[vxcalais]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Use the syn oil! mobil needs the money more than you do!


Yeah plus Mobil 1 is probably 4 x better than a Dino....