Is 1,500 miles really too soon for synthetic?

[ZiTS]

Hey guys, got a question:

I recently purchased a 2004 Wrangler 4.0L. I've gone ahead and dumped the factory fill 10w30, and replaced it with 10w-40 Castrol GTX. From all the searching I've done, it seems that the 4.0L likes the 40 weights.

The weather will soon be getting a lot colder here, and I was thinking about using Mobil 1 0w-40 during the winter, and Mobil 1 Truck & SUV 5w-40 in the summer. The Jeepster won't have more than about 1,500 miles on it before I really want to switch to the M1 0w-40. Do you think this is too early in the engine life to do use synthetic? With so many cars coming from the factory now with synthetics, I'm not overly concerned, but I don't want to risk anything either. I do almost exclusively short trips (
Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

1500 miles is absolutely fine. The rings have long seated by now.

 

[Gary Allan]

You'll be fine. I wouldn't be too concerned over your short trip issue either. You should have noticed by now that you're almost at full operating temp in less then 1/2 mile with the 4.0 (I dunno how they do it in a cast iron block/head configuration

). I used Delvac 1 5w-40 year round in the 4.0 and Rotella 5w-40 is in both the 4.0 and 2.5 TJ's for the uncoming winter.

What's your annual mileage?

 

[buster]

Nope, your fine. You can change the oil at any time to a full synthetic. Only with Redline would I wait until 1,500.

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by buster:
Only with Redline would I wait until 1,500.

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I'm curious. Why do you say this?

 

[John_E]

I was surprised to read on the box that Mobil 1 0W-40 is "original fill" on several high-end European cars. I, too, had thought one should use dino for break-in, although I recognize that today's engines require far less break-in than those of old.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

The way I understand it many European engines are dynoed to ensure proper performance before they are installed. The rings are probably seated before the motor is ever put into the vehicle.

 

[John_E]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bryanccfshr:
The way I understand it many European engines are dynoed to ensure proper performance before they are installed. The rings are probably seated before the motor is ever put into the vehicle.

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That makes sense, Bryan, particularly in the higher price strata. Thanks for posting.

 

[ZiTS]

quote:

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Originally posted by Gary Allan:
You'll be fine. I wouldn't be too concerned over your short trip issue either. You should have noticed by now that you're almost at full operating temp in less then 1/2 mile with the 4.0 (I dunno how they do it in a cast iron block/head configuration

). I used Delvac 1 5w-40 year round in the 4.0 and Rotella 5w-40 is in both the 4.0 and 2.5 TJ's for the uncoming winter.

What's your annual mileage?

---

Approx 7,500 miles

 

[mf150]

quote:

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Originally posted by buster:
Nope, your fine. You can change the oil at any time to a full synthetic. Only with Redline would I wait until 1,500.

---

With Red Line, I'd be more careful...3,000 mile minimum.

 

[rshaw125]

Does'nt the Corvette have Mobil 1 from the factory? I can't imagine Chevrolet doing a factory dyno run on every engine. The LS1 also goes in the new GTO and a version in some Caddys.

 

[Eddie]

Switched my Jeep 4.0 L engine over to Mobil 1 10w30 at 2000 miles aqnd sold at 156,000 miles. Engine was tight and no oil leaks with 5,000 miles oil/filter changes. O-Yes I used Mobil1 5w30 during the chicago winters. ed

 

[ekpolk]

This is one of those topics that seems to generate as much disagreement as it does consensus. Twenty years ago, I bought a very interesting book entitled Drive it Forever. I still have it in a box somewhere. The author is of the opinion (as best I recall) that total break-in wasn't done until 10,000 miles, but the bulk of it was done by 2,000 miles. He also advocated oil changes at 600 and 2000 miles, then transitioning to the normal schedule.

I now know that different engines will follow different patterns as they break in. I don't know much particularly about yours. I own what seems to be something of a break-in oddball. My present car is a 2004.5 Infiniti G35, which has the VQ35DE V-6 engine, a Nissan stalwart. In a slightly wilder state of tune, this engine appears in the 350Z sports car. On the Z-car boards, I've seen a bunch of posts insisting that the VQ V-6 requires a full 10k miles before it's broken in enough to use syn oils. I have no idea where this idea started, nor how valid it is. Mine is approaching 6k miles, and oil use has completely stabilized at dead zero. The current oil has been in since 4k miles, and the level has not moved from "full". This is what I look for as a functional indicator of break in. Has yours settled down?

 

[Drew]

1500 miles on the odometer is not to soon to use synthetic. There are several vehicles that are filled with synthetic at the factory.

0W-40 is a good year round oil for your 4.0 and should easily last you 10,000 miles or 12 months.

 

[KJA426]

You'll be fine. I switched my Dodge 4.7 at 600 miles.

 

[Gary Allan]

quote:

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Approx 7,500 miles

---

If you think one year is too long ..and you're reluctant to use something like Delvac 1 or Rotella synth. You may consider an OCI biased to a shorter interval for the winter.

 

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by rshaw125:
Does'nt the Corvette have Mobil 1 from the factory? I can't imagine Chevrolet doing a factory dyno run on every engine.

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Yep, it's factory fill on the Corvettes. My 98 Corvette doesn't burn any oil at all, despite running nothing but synthetic oil since the engine was born.

As far as dyno runs, every single Corvette made does go on a short dyno run actually, to test out the ABS and a few other things. I saw it at the Bowling Green assembly plant, they bring each car up to 70mph on the dyno and do a few tests. It's not really a dyno session to break in the motor though.

 

[q2bruiser]

Why not use what the manual calls for? 10w30. If you check the UOA section you will see these motors do as good or better on Havoline dino as they do on syn. Save some bucks and put Havoline 10w30 in her ...

 

[Blokey]

Quote:

---

Hey guys, got a question:

I recently purchased a 2004 Wrangler 4.0L. I've gone ahead and dumped the factory fill 10w30, and replaced it with 10w-40 Castrol GTX. From all the searching I've done, it seems that the 4.0L likes the 40 weights.

The weather will soon be getting a lot colder here, and I was thinking about using Mobil 1 0w-40 during the winter, and Mobil 1 Truck & SUV 5w-40 in the summer. The Jeepster won't have more than about 1,500 miles on it before I really want to switch to the M1 0w-40. Do you think this is too early in the engine life to do use synthetic? With so many cars coming from the factory now with synthetics, I'm not overly concerned, but I don't want to risk anything either. I do almost exclusively short trips (
Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

---

Wait, are you saying this 2004 Jeep has 1,500 miles on it? Or are you saying it'll have 1,500 miles on the GTX when you're ready to change it? I think you mean the latter. How many miles are on the Jeep total?

It's all moot anyway IMO, I just wanted to clarify your initial post. Go ahead and run synthetic, you'll be fine.

 

[Blokey]

My bad! The OP was dated 10/17/04!!