“Synthetic oil absorbs more water than conventional”

[SubieRubyRoo]

I will make this without comment just to get an unbiased input.

I was at the KTM dealer the other day after doing plenty of research. The website mentions the recommended oil is a Motorex semi-synthetic. While talking with the sales guy about the Motorex since I’ve never used it, I mentioned that I wondered why KTM recommended the semi-syn when Motorex also offers a full syn oil in the same viscosity.

Sales guy says, “if you were in the south you could use the full syn oil, but here in the Midwest where we have high and low temps and lots of humidity, the full syn oil will absorb more water and cause corrosion. The semi-syn is better in that regard.”

Comment away

 

[Zee09]

I like that. Let the FS. oil sit in the garage without a cap and it will grow more quarts by itself. A real bargain.

 

[PimTac]

I didn’t know that high humidity was exclusive to the Midwest.

 

[walterjay]

Sounds a bit silly to me. If oil is up to operating temp water will flash off.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

If synthetics did “absorb more humidity”, wouldn’t this essentially steam clean the internals since water is a great solvent?

 

[FowVay]

The key words here are - "The Sales Guy". The man likely couldn't find Switzerland on a map, never heard of tribology and thinks TBN is a religious television broadcast.

Sorry, these stories just seem to keep getting better and better.

 

[mpack88]

If synthetics did “absorb more humidity”, wouldn’t this essentially steam clean the internals since water is a great solvent?

Might be why it cleans better. Lol

 

[RDY4WAR]

If he thinks the midwest is high humidity, he's obviously never been to the southeastern states. I live in South Carolina, where it rains without raining. We were up in Illinois last month, and it felt dry by comparison.

 

[Pablo]

The key words here are - "The Sales Guy". The man likely couldn't find Switzerland on a map, never heard of tribology and thinks TBN is a religious television broadcast.

Sorry, these stories just seem to keep getting better and better.

The ironic thing...............well OK, maybe a couple things, just a few Amsoil dealers know a little more than some guy in a store selling oil that was in a warehouse, or warehouses, shipped to a real store and sold in a way that somehow seems more tasteful to handful of people who can't see out of the box.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

The key words here are - "The Sales Guy". The man likely couldn't find Switzerland on a map, never heard of tribology and thinks TBN is a religious television broadcast.

Sorry, these stories just seem to keep getting better and better.

Yes, but the sales guy was actually promoting the oil that cost half as much as the oil I was looking at, so he doesn’t seem like a very smart sales guy lol

 

[Zee09]

The conclusion is FS. is simply watered down conventional.

 

[simple_gifts]

He is probably referring to the hygroscopic nature of POE, but doesn't realize it. Scoff away but it might be based in some historical concern.

 

[Pablo]

He is probably referring to the hygroscopic nature of POE, but doesn't realize it.

I’m sure he was but wow a tortured logic path

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

He is probably referring to the hygroscopic nature of POE, but doesn't realize it.

I don’t know because I haven’t checked the SDS, but I’d doubt that the Motorex (or the Castrol he recommended) contain POE, certainly in amounts that would result in significant absorption.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

I’m sure he was but wow a tortured logic path

But what’s preventing a semi-syn from using some POE? Group II + POE?

 

[Pablo]

But what’s preventing a semi-syn from using some POE? Group II + POE?

It could but that doesn’t mean the oil is hygroscopic

 

[simple_gifts]

I don’t know because I haven’t checked the SDS, but I’d doubt that the Motorex (or the Castrol he recommended) contain POE, certainly in amounts that would result in significant absorption.

I'm referring to dubious "general historical oil knowledge", not any specific product, that is often dispensed by motor enthusiasts, (e.g. 5w is too thin in winter, don't use pennzoil because it has wax, can't switch between syn and conventional) This tidbit might have some historical basis but is not understood as to modern relevancy or accuracy.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

I'm referring to dubious "general historical oil knowledge", not any specific product, that is often dispensed by motor enthusiasts, (e.g. 5w is too thin in winter, don't use pennzoil because it has wax, can't switch between syn and conventional) This tidbit might have some historical basis but is not understood as to modern relevancy or accuracy.

Listening to the sales guy just made me resolute that if I get the KTM, I will be buying a factory service manual and doing everything except tire replacements as DIY…

 

[aba4430]

This is truly a forum for all things oil related.....

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

This is truly a forum for all things oil related.....

Wonder if you dumped some of those little silica packs into the sump that say “do not eat” would keep the synthetic oil as dry as the conventional?