Say you have a higher mileage car or truck that has a few leaks, and you use a regular conventional, not HM, and changing the oil on proper OCI. Does that motor run a risk of not lasting as long unless you run a HM oil? I know all the marketing makes it sound (especially Valvoline) like your motor will run until spaceships are flying around if you use HM. Do leaks really cause any problems other than spots on the ground?
HM oil = longer life?
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I don't think there's that much of a drastic effect between HM and regular oils.
HM oils offer the following attributes:
- Slightly thicker for increased engine clearances
- Seal conditioners for keeping your seals pliable
- Extra detergents for keeping your engine clean
- Added anti-friction agents like molybdenum
Ok, well, my engine has approx 150k. I don't think that necesarily means that the engine clearances have deminished.
Yes, my seals are likely older and less pliable.
Do I really need EXTRA detergents if I'm already changing my oil every 3-4 months or 3k?
Do I really need ADDED anti-friction modifiers above and beyond what are already there if I'm changing my oil every 3-4 months?
I guess when I weigh my maintannce schedule and my engines contion, I only "maybe" need HM oil to help with the seals. But it seems more like a bandade to me.
You know, this is just a thought.. If I were an oil company, I would create a conventional oil that alreayd has the seal conditioners built in vs marketing HM oil. It would seem to me that if one like this were created, then they would run away with all the profits. Especially if they kept the price as it is now.
Yes, my seals are likely older and less pliable.
Do I really need EXTRA detergents if I'm already changing my oil every 3-4 months or 3k?
Do I really need ADDED anti-friction modifiers above and beyond what are already there if I'm changing my oil every 3-4 months?
I guess when I weigh my maintannce schedule and my engines contion, I only "maybe" need HM oil to help with the seals. But it seems more like a bandade to me.
You know, this is just a thought.. If I were an oil company, I would create a conventional oil that alreayd has the seal conditioners built in vs marketing HM oil. It would seem to me that if one like this were created, then they would run away with all the profits. Especially if they kept the price as it is now.
The real question always has to be: what causes the death of the equipment? And that only applies to those few who run equipment 'til it dies.
HM like many oil features is largely a retail $$ enhancer, IMHO.
HM like many oil features is largely a retail $$ enhancer, IMHO.
Most engines will produce some level of sludge or varnish so why not try to prevent it from happening?
If you trade your car in every 3 to 4 years with less than 60,000 miles then you will do fine with plain grade oil. However if you plan on keeping your ride till the bitter end, like me, then you will benefit from HM oils over the long haul.
Mobil 1 has a tall claim on cleaning up sludged up motors by running their full syn HM oil. Stay tuned over the next year I will be posting clean up result on my 98 Civic that I acquired with 109k miles with top end varnish.
Buy the HM oils on sale - drive happy.
Clearances do increase with use, but they're measured in thousandths of an inch. That's not very much, but an increase in thickness of 2 cSt @ 100C, may fill in the difference between new factory clearances and the clearances of an engine with 150,000 miles on it.
Quote:
Quote:
Mobil 1 has a tall claim on cleaning up sludged up motors by running their full syn HM oil.
Buy the HM oils on sale - drive happy.
Synthetic engine oils like Mobil 1 and Amsoil (Gr IV's)use ester co-bases to 'carry' the additive package since the PAO's don't do well with that. A by product of esters is a 'solvent' like cleaning and they do a great job. So these types of fluids will help with cleaning up sludge. But any HM fluid is worth the extra couple of bucks IMHO.
The main reason I run an HM oil is because of the added thickness. It may be a thick 10W-30, but it's still a 10W-30.
Well stated. There is a very popular ester oil based engine cleaner here on this forum. I am currently using it on 3 of my 4 vehicles. However I have been trying to figure out which full synthetic oil contains the most ester oil for this very reason. No sludge formation, no additives or extra expense etc. There has been a tendency for the owner of that company to lean in the direction of not recommending synthetic oils due to the claim of sludge formation.Quote:
Synthetic engine oils like Mobil 1 and Amsoil (Gr IV's)use ester co-bases to 'carry' the additive package since the PAO's don't do well with that. A by product of esters is a 'solvent' like cleaning and they do a great job. So these types of fluids will help with cleaning up sludge. But any HM fluid is worth the extra couple of bucks IMHO.
Quite a number of posters here on BITOG do just that.
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