Can you go from HM back to using synthetic or Conventional?
HM to Syn/Conventional
- Thread starter KevGuy
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Repeat this for me:
There's no universal truth
There's no universal truth
...
Of course you can switch back-and-forth between HM and "regular" products - the question is whether or not you'll experience any undesired side effects. The only way to determine this is to do it yourself. In your application. Period.
There's no universal truth
There's no universal truth
...
Of course you can switch back-and-forth between HM and "regular" products - the question is whether or not you'll experience any undesired side effects. The only way to determine this is to do it yourself. In your application. Period.
wemay
Site Donor 2023
LOL, Ramblejam is on-point here. You will get many opinions concerning this. One is, if the HM shows the same certifications and approvals as any other synthetic or conventional, why not. All SN/GF-5 etc oils are interchangeable. Another opinion is that the 'seal swell' additive will prohibit you from going back because the seals will then reduce in size and now cause a leak. Pat Goss of Motorweek is of this frame of mind. Valvoline (link below) is more inline with the former opinion.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FXqkOZAkXZw
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FXqkOZAkXZw
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For what it's worth I got my current car two months ago and the previous owner had been using high mileage oil for a long time (car had 154,000 on it). I had the dealer use regular Mobil Special and have put over 1,500 miles on it since and so far no signs of a leak.
Supposedly synthetics are more prone to leaking in older vehicle though, as the molecules that make up the oil are more uniform and the oil is actually more "slippery" through the seals. Also syns have been cleaning ability and have a higher likelihood of washing away deposits that may be plugging seals and gaskets from leaking.
Bottom line: You can go back. Your bearings and everything in your engine will be fine. But there is somewhat of a risk of gaskets leaking after the switch back that some people experience and others do not. I know it sucks but we really can't predict what your seals will do. To be safe, keep using a high mileage oil but don't panic if you have to use a regular oil for some reason as it won't actually harm your engine. Just check the oil more often if you switch so that if there is a leak you can catch it to top off the oil instead of letting it run too low.
Supposedly synthetics are more prone to leaking in older vehicle though, as the molecules that make up the oil are more uniform and the oil is actually more "slippery" through the seals. Also syns have been cleaning ability and have a higher likelihood of washing away deposits that may be plugging seals and gaskets from leaking.
Bottom line: You can go back. Your bearings and everything in your engine will be fine. But there is somewhat of a risk of gaskets leaking after the switch back that some people experience and others do not. I know it sucks but we really can't predict what your seals will do. To be safe, keep using a high mileage oil but don't panic if you have to use a regular oil for some reason as it won't actually harm your engine. Just check the oil more often if you switch so that if there is a leak you can catch it to top off the oil instead of letting it run too low.
these days it may be safer to use fram than purolator
Yes, you can go from HM to synthetic and back again if you so desire. I did just that with my Acura and it just recently made it to Fargo, ND and back.
It had a very leaky oil pan gasket and so far the leak hasn't returned after the MaxLife almost completely stopped it. I've had Havoline Synthetic in it for the past 2,500 miles or so after the MaxLife, for reference.
Originally Posted By: wemay
LOL, Ramblejam is on-point here. You will get many opinions concerning this. One is, if the HM shows the same certifications and approvals as any other synthetic or conventional, why not. All SN/GF-5 etc oils are interchangeable. Another opinion is that the 'seal swell' additive will prohibit you from going back because the seals will then reduce in size and now cause a leak. Pat Goss of Motorweek is of this frame of mind. Valvoline (link below) is more inline with the former opinion.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FXqkOZAkXZw
Wemay I am with you on this one.
Too many here follow the hype and switch brands back and forth, and get away with it when the seals are pliable, as the vehicle ages (ie engine condition) this may become an issue.
LOL, Ramblejam is on-point here. You will get many opinions concerning this. One is, if the HM shows the same certifications and approvals as any other synthetic or conventional, why not. All SN/GF-5 etc oils are interchangeable. Another opinion is that the 'seal swell' additive will prohibit you from going back because the seals will then reduce in size and now cause a leak. Pat Goss of Motorweek is of this frame of mind. Valvoline (link below) is more inline with the former opinion.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FXqkOZAkXZw
Wemay I am with you on this one.
Too many here follow the hype and switch brands back and forth, and get away with it when the seals are pliable, as the vehicle ages (ie engine condition) this may become an issue.
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Originally Posted By: wemay
One is, if the HM shows the same certifications and approvals as any other synthetic or conventional, why not. All SN/GF-5 etc oils are interchangeable. Another opinion is that the 'seal swell' additive will prohibit you from going back because the seals will then reduce in size and now cause a leak.
Perhaps there is some difference when using the non-ILSAC HM oils. There could be more seal swelling additives, or they could just be thicker and/or have a little extra phosphorous. In any event, if it were SN/GF-5, I wouldn't worry much.
For what it's worth, MaxLife (non-ILSAC at the time) did a good job with slowing leaking in my truck before it got sealed up. Mobil Super 2000 (our HM blend up here) in SM/GF-4 didn't do so well. That's all anecdotal, of course, but who knows?
One is, if the HM shows the same certifications and approvals as any other synthetic or conventional, why not. All SN/GF-5 etc oils are interchangeable. Another opinion is that the 'seal swell' additive will prohibit you from going back because the seals will then reduce in size and now cause a leak.
Perhaps there is some difference when using the non-ILSAC HM oils. There could be more seal swelling additives, or they could just be thicker and/or have a little extra phosphorous. In any event, if it were SN/GF-5, I wouldn't worry much.
For what it's worth, MaxLife (non-ILSAC at the time) did a good job with slowing leaking in my truck before it got sealed up. Mobil Super 2000 (our HM blend up here) in SM/GF-4 didn't do so well. That's all anecdotal, of course, but who knows?
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
these days it may be safer to use fram than purolator
You're right about that, which is the reason that I have a Fram filter stash to rival the one I once had of Purolators.
I intended only a humorous shot at BITOG's premier Fram fan.
these days it may be safer to use fram than purolator
You're right about that, which is the reason that I have a Fram filter stash to rival the one I once had of Purolators.
I intended only a humorous shot at BITOG's premier Fram fan.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Originally Posted By: KevGuy
Can you go from HM back to using synthetic or Conventional?
You can only do this if you avoid the use of Fram oil filters.
fdcg27 are you trolling here?
Please explain your reasoning how the filter brand impacts the query in hand.
Originally Posted By: KevGuy
Can you go from HM back to using synthetic or Conventional?
You can only do this if you avoid the use of Fram oil filters.
fdcg27 are you trolling here?
Please explain your reasoning how the filter brand impacts the query in hand.
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