Getting away from synthetics

[gathermewool]

I think it all comes down to what gives you peace of mind. If running top quality oils for the maximum amount of time is your thing, then by all means follow that routine till your heart's content. If you're a nervous over-thinker like me, but also not a sucker for marketing gimicks, maybe a cheaper dino oil will suffice at the appropriate OCI. Running Amsoil @ factory OCI would not give me peace of mind unless it was proven to be necessary.

Unfortunately, what is necessary seems to be based mostly on speculation, feel and to some extent UOA. I see UOA as an overall indication of how an oil is doing, and how the bottom end is holding up, and unless there are gross differences in UOA results for my engine between synth and dino I can't make an informed decision.

The solution seems to be to run a quality dino myself and see if my wear numbers come down after break-in. If some one comes along and tells me he had turbo seal leakage, reduced performance or any other oil related issues that seem to be attributed to dino usage I'll reconsider. I'm not a cheapskate, but nor am I willing to buy something because people say I should just cuz...

 

[Bambam]

I understand and will never begrudge anyone for using synthetics. After reading Franks post on longevity I thought it prudent to tell my story which is kind of the other side.

Being employed municipally for the past 20+ years I see get by maintenance when it comes to vehicles. All plow trucks get yearly oci's,which I am sure the mileage is low as they rarely leave town but hours and time of useage is hard. low speed,long idling,extreme temperatures.This ranges from 5.4 Tritons,6.6 D-max's,Cat,Cummins, you name it. Also,not one other fluid ever gets changes unless there is a failure. Not being directly involved but knowing those that are,lubricant type failures are extremely low and I believe there has been 1 engine failure and that was due to the mechanic forgetting to add oil. Transmissions and other drive components are just as rare but I have no solid proof right now.

Case in point

1995 Ford L8000 with an Allison transmission 25k on the odo, 30k on the hour meter. Trans fluid has never ever been changed and gets checked once a year. No issues

1984 Mack- being traded in with close to 200k without a lubricant induced failure.

I am not sure what this proves other than there are bean counters out there or John Q that don't put a second thought into going above and beyond regular maint and getting long productive life out of their machines.

 

[lexus114]

yeah but this was a 1984,it wasnt water cooled in 84.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
yeah but this was a 1984,it wasnt water cooled in 84.


or inter-cooled is the proper terminology i guess.

 

[VNTS]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
yeah but this was a 1984,it wasnt water cooled in 84.


sorry but they were all water cooled, 1984-1993

 

[VNTS]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Originally Posted By: lexus114
yeah but this was a 1984,it wasnt water cooled in 84.


or inter-cooled is the proper terminology i guess.


No

Turbo I engines were not intercooled, no intercooler used.
In 1987 with introduction the Shelby Daytona they added an intercooler next to the radiator and upped the boost in the Turbo II.

The Turbo IV engine used a variable nozzle turbo charger without a wastegate. Same as the turbo II but with a differrent Turbo.
It was a single year run of 525 units in 1990

THe Turbo III was the 16V DOHC Lotus head on the 2.2 These were used in the Spirit and Daytona IROC RT's in 91,92,93

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/22t.html

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: VNTS
Originally Posted By: lexus114
yeah but this was a 1984,it wasnt water cooled in 84.


sorry but they were all water cooled, 1984-1993


i dont know where your getting your information from.i know what my vehicle had.