Is dino a better break-in oil than synth?

[Kyk noord en]

There's an old school notion that conventional is better than synthetic for break-in. So the trope goes, synthetic's better lubricity actually diminishes the rings' ability to "scuff" and therefore seat properly.

Assuming that this was at least once true (which might be a big assumption), is it still?

Or has the gap between conventional and synthetic narrowed significantly enough that there is functionally no difference between one and the other as a break-in oil?

 

[addyguy]

Considering a few engines come from the factory with synthetic right from the start, I don't think this is true anymore - I think driving style has more to do with it.

 

[jstutz]

Its better for me just becuase i dont do very long runs on break in oils. Personally i dont think it makes a difference but i really dont know. Hopefully you will get some good responses.

 

[sangyup81]

i would think additives are more important than the basestock

 

[chubbs1]

I really don't think it matters these days, engines are tighter and syn can really penetrate the smaller tolerances. On a side note; conventional's are getting better and better so the gap is narrowing between the two quickly, especially with the new SN and GF-5 specs.

 

[synthetic_crazy]

To err on the side of caution, run conventional for the first two oil changes(3000 OCI) and then switch to the full synthetic. You will sleep better knowing that you did, if fact, "seat" the rings properly with the conventional. Conventional will be just fine for the first 6,000 miles. I wonder in the cars that come with synthetic factory fill if the rings are in some way made of a different material?

 

[countryboy9799]

I doubt it matters much. When people say some cars come from the factory that is true but its a very small amount that do and they usually tend to be higher performance cars too.
I am not one the buys a new car and drains it right away to get the syn. in. There is no harm in running dino either for most cars.

 

[ChrisD46]

I plan to run Pennzoil Conventional 5w20 in my new Elantra for a couple of oil changes every 3500 miles and see where I go from there ...Hyundai considers just about any type of driving (save wide open stretches in Montana) to be severe sevice and thus states 3750 OCI's . With that limitation dino may be all I use for a while ...

 

[Corvette Owner]

I usually run the initial factory fill for 3,000 miles, then switch to synthetic. Mainly for 2 reasons, a short OCI for a new engine gets "intial wear" metals out of there and conventional oil helps seat rings.

However, my Corvette came with Mobil 1 as a factory fill. Now, with 128,000 miles on my engine, it still uses less than half a quart in 6,500 miles (OCI). So, I guess it worked out okay.