Changing back and forth with impunity...

[LouDawg]

...and is it okay to change back and forth from conventional to synthetic to conventional to synthetic (and on and on) depending on price? On BITOG alone, I've read that it's okay to switch to syn but not back, and I've read it doesn't matter, and I've read not to switch to syn when you have a higher-mileage vehicle.

What about *constantly* switching based on price and availability? Does running syn sometimes and dino sometimes create problems, or does having some syn in there off and on help your engine? Is it like having a syn blend? Or what?

I assume there's no consensus on this one either, but I'm sure trying!

 

[wavinwayne]

Switch between syn. & conventional as often as you wish. It will not cause any problems. For that matter, mixing syn. & conventional oil won't hurt anything, either.

 

[m2200b]

Might be ok for a near new car but I wouldn't with an older car.

This is on your other thread on how to price syn and dino but I don't really think you'd be switching based on price. Either you use price per mile and are always looking for under $1 SM dino and would virtually never go syn or you put enough premium on syn or willing to drive enough miles on syn and it would take 49 cent Chevron or free maxlife to make you use dino.

PP at under $2 and maxlife for sales tax is the only recent price deals that I saw much switching. The rest switch when they change their view of the relative value of conventional or synthetic.

 

[Dave Hess]

You can run a different brand of oil every oil change with no harm.

 

[BrianWC]

I DO run a different brand of oil every change!

 

[LouDawg]

quote:

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Originally posted by m2200b:

This is on your other thread on how to price syn and dino but I don't really think you'd be switching based on price.

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It's a little different...as I'm working toward my final decision. I'm just trying to get as much information as possible before I decide. It seems like the more I think about it, the more questions I have. Maybe I'm just overthinking it!

 

[LouDawg]

So is switching back and forth similar to running a syn blend, or something totally different?

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Just don't expect to get much info from a used oil analysis with this practice.

 

[Ray H]

However, do expect to get much difference of opinion on this forum.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

I'm going to do a used oil analysis just to see if there's anything up in the engine. A different oil's going in the next time in all likelyhood.

 

[blupupher]

quote:

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Originally posted by GROUCHO MARX:
Just don't expect to get much info from a used oil analysis with this practice.

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You kinda answered this already, but you can get lots of info from a used oil analysis even if switching oils, just not good info on the oil, but you will know if something is up in the engine.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Yea Blu, the used oil analysis on most oils are looking pretty good. The engines can be another story.

People used to be obsessed with trending before extending. It doesn't look like the case anymore.

 

[widman]

You can switch as often as you like, but don't bother with oil analysis. The oils will not only be mixed, but higher detergent or solvent oils will pick up more crud left behind by the others. Sometimes it will look like the best oils are the worst.
You won't see the real results of an oil until around the third oil change with the same brand. Then you can start yor trend line to fix other maintenance items and procedures.
For anyone in a proactive maintenance program, who is interested in trending equipment and looking for minimizing wear and improving maintenance, switching oils, even between dinos, eliminates the possibility of continuous improvement. For companies with 100 pieces of equipment that they depend on, it is imperative that they continue on a programed course. Changing brands is done on a few pieces and monitored for 3 to 5 changes before decisions with UOA.

For the average car owner, for the average car, in average driving, you will probably crash your car or forget to change the timing belt before you wear it out. Your owner's manual is designed with the KISS principal to keep it running no matter what oil you put in it.

 

[pepper32]

I run Mobil 1 in the winter and Chevron Supreme in the warm months.