Cleaning oils and seals

[Falcon_LS]

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine today, and I happened to be wondering - will an oil with higher detergency additives help extend the life of seals to some extent?

The first thing that came to mind was the poor quality Group I oils almost everyone uses here. The oil breaks down, and you end up having sludge. The sludge then probably covers the seals, stopping the oil from getting to them, causing problems like oil burning through the valve seals because of heat and dryness. But if a quality oil with higher detergency is used, it helps keep everything clean and lubed so the seals would have proper lubrication, and last longer. Would this be a valid argument?

What about synthetics that supposedly "run cooler"? Would they have an affect on the life of any of the seals inside an engine? If synthetics run cooler, would Group III synthetics "run cooler" than Group IV or V based synthetics?

 

[Artem]

Where did you get the "run cooler" part? I've never heard this before. The engine will be at the same temp that the factory set it at regardless of the type of oil you put in it.

To answer your other question... A good quality oil will keep everything inside the engine cleaner and running longer before any leaks start to form. Which usually happen naturally as the rubber seals age. Has nothing to do with oil. It's all advertising B/S.

 

[Quest]

I personally would not buy into the notion that synthetics (Gp 3 or higher) runs cooler. Remember this: in a water-cooled internal combustion engine design, most of the heat as part of the combustion byproducts transferred into the water jacket to the coolant, and gets cooled by radiator. Whatever residual means (about 10%, maybe less) comes from the motor lubricant, which mainly from beneath the piston underside and as a heat carrier for all friction-related movable components.

thinner grade motor oil will definitely transfer heat better/faster but syn as opposed to non-full-syn in the same grade? Nah, not significant enough I'd say.

RE: cleaners to keep seals pliable, unless you want to form a habit of routinely using stoddard solvent-based cleaners (10 min flush)on a regular basis to rid of sludge and oil breakdown related deposits (so as to keep the seals pliable/clean), otherwise, resort to using the API SN grade motor oil and the additive package to keep them seals clean and that would be my recommendation.

Q.

 

[mechtech2]

Originally Posted By: Artem
Where did you get the "run cooler" part? I've never heard this before. The engine will be at the same temp that the factory set it at regardless of the type of oil you put in it.

To answer your other question... A good quality oil will keep everything inside the engine cleaner and running longer before any leaks start to form. Which usually happen naturally as the rubber seals age. Has nothing to do with oil. It's all advertising B/S.


Lot of nonsense here...
The engine oil temperature is not 'set' by the factory.
The original poster already stated that GpI oils are used, which are NOT high quality. Oil most certainly has an effect on seals - directly and indirectly.

 

[LeakySeals]

Sludge and varnish impede oil flow away from the hottest parts of the engine which can effect temps. If sludge builds up around the seals they can overheat, dry out and shrink. What reaction does heavy duty cleaners have on the seals cant be proven. Seals eventually fail sooner or later as the chemical composition of the seal breaks down over time. High Mileage oils both clean and condition seals. To me condition means an additive that is part of the chemical composition of a seal. But that's a tightly held secret. I use this oil occasionally on cars over 50k, and full time over 100k. Most people wait till there's a problem to use high mileage oil, and in most cases, by then its too late.

 

[Garak]

As for temperatures, water and oil temperatures are not the same thing. You likely won't get a measurable change in water temperatures by switching oils, assuming your cooling system is functioning properly. Switch to a different viscosity of oil, and your oil temperatures will change.

 

[bepperb]

I would point out a common problem exists in the Toyota v6's where long oci's and a bad design contribute to buildup in the valve seal areas. This causes premature wear and eventually oil consumption. Yes, a better oil would help, so would a shorter OCI.

Now, I would consider this is an engine design problem and therefore I'm not sure it validates your hypothosis or not. But, it also makes sense to use a higher quality oil just based on the conservative assumption that any engine may have similar issues. I took years for the Toyota 3.0 issues to surface.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Maybe the "synthetics running cooler" thing could have some pertinence via keeping the internals cleaner,running more efficient because they`re clean,therefore running cooler (although very minutely?).

 

[ltslimjim]

Originally Posted By: Garak
As for temperatures, water and oil temperatures are not the same thing. You likely won't get a measurable change in water temperatures by switching oils, assuming your cooling system is functioning properly. Switch to a different viscosity of oil, and your oil temperatures will change.



^This. +1.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: Falcon_LS
The oil breaks down, and you end up having sludge.


Keep your engine well ventilated and the oil changed regularly and you won't have any sludge.

Use quality detergent oils like Chevron and Valvoline.

 

[Quest]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: Falcon_LS
The oil breaks down, and you end up having sludge.


Keep your engine well ventilated and the oil changed regularly and you won't have any sludge.

Use quality detergent oils like Chevron and Valvoline.


remember that OP talks about motor oil avail in Kuwait, not in the state.

everything outside of those shabby local/domestic oil blends have to be imported somehow.

Q.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: Falcon_LS
I was having a conversation with a friend of mine today, and I happened to be wondering - will an oil with higher detergency additives help extend the life of seals to some extent?

The first thing that came to mind was the poor quality Group I oils almost everyone uses here. The oil breaks down, and you end up having sludge. The sludge then probably covers the seals, stopping the oil from getting to them, causing problems like oil burning through the valve seals because of heat and dryness. But if a quality oil with higher detergency is used, it helps keep everything clean and lubed so the seals would have proper lubrication, and last longer. Would this be a valid argument?

What about synthetics that supposedly "run cooler"? Would they have an affect on the life of any of the seals inside an engine? If synthetics run cooler, would Group III synthetics "run cooler" than Group IV or V based synthetics?


how do you know they are group I oils? can you link something?

Just about everything is group II or better nowadays to meet api specs.

unless you are talking non api.