Engine Nosier with full synthetic?

[Newtonville]

Originally Posted By: asamek
My engine has never been particularly nosy. In fact, it's always been pretty good about minding its own business and doing its job.


I can't stand nosy engines. Nosy engines are usually pretty quiet about it though.

So what causes the noisier engine? Seems to me it is a simple clashing of parts, like someone said we use to pour stp or motor honey in and loved the quiet. More oil film cushion between metal, seems like the best thing? But synthetics flow better and are "thinner" at a given temp? They say(the makers) synth. is better for wear, but it seems contrary to average man logic, if the parts are noiser. I use synth anyway as I tend to believe what they tell me.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: Craig in Canada
I've noticed that M1 tends to be noisy, but I particularly observed it in my BMW w/ M52 engine. M1 0W40 is much noisier than GC or dino HDEO 15W40.

It may be the case that whatever XOM base is used for M1 0W40 and various other M1 oils is responsible for the "noisier" operation. If this is true, there are likely many, many other syn oil manufacturers using XOM base oils since there are only so many base oil manufacturers out there. It would then stand to reason that there may also be increased noise levels from any of those other syn oils using XOM base oils.

All of this is hypothesis and not meant to beat up on M1. I've personally observed significantly higher noise levels on M1 oils and have heard from lots of other people who share my observations and lots who don't. Clearly it's engine-by-engine whether this is a factor.

So, to the OP, your increased noise may not have been because it was syn, but because it might have been XOM-based syn... Just a thought...


After reading about VWs with bad engines and your noisey BMW engines, I'm glad I don't drive German cars. The Ford engines I have had for decades have not had the cronic problems you guys have with your German engineered engines.

 

[lexus114]

 

[Hermann]

I do believe Tig1 likes Fords.

The 3.0L Duratech in the GF's Mariner is very noisy, and is easy to tell which oils quiet the chatter.

 

[SLCraig]

In my saturn with a noisy timing chain or guides, not sure which, the conventional oil is definitely slightly quieter.

On my Nissan, it hasn't made any difference, syn vs conventional. (Although different brands too, same weight)

 

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted By: Newtonville
So what causes the noisier engine? Seems to me it is a simple clashing of parts, like someone said we use to pour stp or motor honey in and loved the quiet. More oil film cushion between metal, seems like the best thing? But synthetics flow better and are "thinner" at a given temp? They say(the makers) synth. is better for wear, but it seems contrary to average man logic, if the parts are noiser. I use synth anyway as I tend to believe what they tell me.

What I'd really like to know is that with all the interest, and money, riding on the effectiveness of various oils... why is there such a dearth of infomation on how well particular lubricants protect?

It always seems to come down to this or that oil running "smoother" or "quieter". Used oil pouring out blacker, which seems to be considered very bad. Or cleaner, which is considered good... except one has to wonder where all the gunk is if it's not dissolved or suspended in the oil. People stick their fingers in the oil and pass judgement upon how it "feels". Can an oil that "just doesn't feel right" really have been providing proper protection? Would it be more illuminating to bathe in, or perhaps, give it a run as a personal lubricant, it before coming to a decision?

UOA's look like a promising avenue, at first. Until one notes that the lab results seem less reliable and less repeatable than rubbing it between one's fingers.

It seems to me that with all the interest in the topic, someone out there would be running a service where they run various oils in various engines on a dyno, take wear measurements, and then sell the results.

Executive summary ($1,000): We felt that this oil "ran smoother" and was "less nosy" in many of the target enines...

 

[modularv8]

There is such a place, SWRI. This is where motor oil gets certified and anything automotive gets tested. It is the premier research organization for science and engineering. To have an UOA that means anything, you'll have to pay $$$. Large corporations can fork out the money to run these tests. However, the tests and results are all confidential. I don't know of any organization that has the same scientific facilities. If there is such a place, they probably wouldn't sell the results.

 

[jeremy34756]

I used to use RP, Until I found schaffers. It has a similar chemistry which I feel is even better than RP, Bottom line is I think I will stick with there 7000. That oil is what they advertise the most, It has always run quiet, reliable, long lasting and never let me down. And the 9000 is overkill for me anyway. Schaffers does not seem to push there 9000 like they do there semi synthetic 7000. I believe the only time I will use a full syn again is when I move back to the northeast in the dead of winter then it would pay to use the full syn. Yeah the M1 also gave me crazy valve train noise on my 99 taurus SHO also. This is all tested in very hot weather not cold. The complete opposite would probably happen in very cold weather but I am no expert. The molecule theory may be plausable as stated prior in the post.