Is it ok to switch from conventional to synthetic after a life of only conventional? My friend recently purchased a high mileage minivan from a one owner who only ever used Pennzoil Conventional for the entire 85K+ on the vehicle. In an attempt to try and lengthen the life of his engine he'd like to switch to synthetic. Is there anything he should be concerned about in this switch? If so what, and is there a way to slowly switch over? Say go a blend for a change and then to full synthetic, or should he do anything as far as trying to get all the old out? Sorry if this has been asked before. I did some searching and was not able to find any past threads.
Is it ok to switch to synth at high mileage?
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WOW, now that is a FAST answer! thanks
Just for reference the reason you can't find any past threads is because the search engine defaults to "posts within the last 30 days" basically. You have to adjust the dates to search or, ideally, use Google to search BITOG by entering site:bobistheoilguy.com searchterms
You can switch to/from conventional, synthetics, semi-synthetics, high mileage oils whenever you want without any problems. One thing people have noted though is that synthetics tend to clean better, and as such might clean some grime that was actually preventing a slight leak at a seal. Most people though have no problems at all.
Though keep in mind in normal situations conventional oil will protect just as good as a synthetic. It's really when you start pushing the boundaries (extreme heat or cold, extended oil change intervals, etc) that synthetic really show themselves to be better than conventional oils.
So if your friend does normal driving in normal weather conditions, with a vehicle that isn't known for sludging, and is doing a normal ~4k miles oil change, chances are the engine will last just as long on conventional as it will on synthetic.
Though, if using synthetic gives them piece of mind, well that's cool too
Though keep in mind in normal situations conventional oil will protect just as good as a synthetic. It's really when you start pushing the boundaries (extreme heat or cold, extended oil change intervals, etc) that synthetic really show themselves to be better than conventional oils.
So if your friend does normal driving in normal weather conditions, with a vehicle that isn't known for sludging, and is doing a normal ~4k miles oil change, chances are the engine will last just as long on conventional as it will on synthetic.
Though, if using synthetic gives them piece of mind, well that's cool too
Here you go...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=OK+to+switch+to+synthetic%3F&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=bobistheoilguy.com&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=OK+to+switch+to+synthetic%3F&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=bobistheoilguy.com&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off
How would switching to syn prolong the engines life?
Originally Posted By: Steve S
How would switching to syn prolong the engines life?
Reconditions seals better, for one.
How would switching to syn prolong the engines life?
Reconditions seals better, for one.
In a high mileage car I would go to a Blend first for a couple of oil changes then to Full Synthetic...I am sure it is probably not necessary to do it but I would sleep better doing it that way...But that is just me.
85,000 miles is high mileage?
Not a chance.... The marketing idiots have done well!
I'd start thinking about high miles being above 200k. Pretty well anything will make 200k even being beaten on.
Bill
Not a chance.... The marketing idiots have done well!
I'd start thinking about high miles being above 200k. Pretty well anything will make 200k even being beaten on.
Bill
Bill, 85K can be high mileage if the engine hasn't been cared for. 85K for you and me is just getting broke in because we stay on top of maint. If and engine has some sludge build up then a High Mileage oil may be of some benifit. May be some help for seals as well if slight leakage occures. Just a thought.
Disagree.
85k is not that high. I've seen MANY engines that have been abused and still running fine at that mileage. Pretty well every fleet vehicle falls into that definition.
The high mileage marketing is a joke. (along with all the syn marketing)
IMO and I'm sticking to it.
85k is not that high. I've seen MANY engines that have been abused and still running fine at that mileage. Pretty well every fleet vehicle falls into that definition.
The high mileage marketing is a joke. (along with all the syn marketing)
IMO and I'm sticking to it.
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
85,000 miles is high mileage?
Not a chance.... The marketing idiots have done well!
I'd start thinking about high miles being above 200k. Pretty well anything will make 200k even being beaten on.
Bill
Did not notice the 85K miles...That is very low mileage...I will have to take back what I said.
85,000 miles is high mileage?
Not a chance.... The marketing idiots have done well!
I'd start thinking about high miles being above 200k. Pretty well anything will make 200k even being beaten on.
Bill
Did not notice the 85K miles...That is very low mileage...I will have to take back what I said.
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Disagree.
85k is not that high. I've seen MANY engines that have been abused and still running fine at that mileage. Pretty well every fleet vehicle falls into that definition.
The high mileage marketing is a joke. (along with all the syn marketing)
IMO and I'm sticking to it.
I've seen engines fail with less than 85K because of abuse. In fact I've seen engines fail with less than 30K.
Disagree.
85k is not that high. I've seen MANY engines that have been abused and still running fine at that mileage. Pretty well every fleet vehicle falls into that definition.
The high mileage marketing is a joke. (along with all the syn marketing)
IMO and I'm sticking to it.
I've seen engines fail with less than 85K because of abuse. In fact I've seen engines fail with less than 30K.
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
The high mileage marketing is a joke. (along with all the syn marketing)
IMO and I'm sticking to it.
I don't know that I'd disagree that the marketing, etc. may not be completely accurate, but I also think that a high mileage vehicle may very well have some different needs in an oil than a low mileage vehicle.
The high mileage marketing is a joke. (along with all the syn marketing)
IMO and I'm sticking to it.
I don't know that I'd disagree that the marketing, etc. may not be completely accurate, but I also think that a high mileage vehicle may very well have some different needs in an oil than a low mileage vehicle.
Originally Posted By: BeanCounter
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
The high mileage marketing is a joke. (along with all the syn marketing)
IMO and I'm sticking to it.
I don't know that I'd disagree that the marketing, etc. may not be completely accurate, but I also think that a high mileage vehicle may very well have some different needs in an oil than a low mileage vehicle.
But 85k miles is NOT a high mileage vehicle.
You'd REALLY have to be stupid to kill off a vehicle in 30k.
Like run Mobil 1 for a 30k OCI. (which if we took their Las Vegas test they SHOULD have run it for 45k PER OCI to make it fair)
The taxis MADE it PAST 100k with 15k OCI of conventional oils.
Again, you'd REALLY have to do something stupid to kill off a vehicle in 30k.
Bill
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
The high mileage marketing is a joke. (along with all the syn marketing)
IMO and I'm sticking to it.
I don't know that I'd disagree that the marketing, etc. may not be completely accurate, but I also think that a high mileage vehicle may very well have some different needs in an oil than a low mileage vehicle.
But 85k miles is NOT a high mileage vehicle.
You'd REALLY have to be stupid to kill off a vehicle in 30k.
Like run Mobil 1 for a 30k OCI. (which if we took their Las Vegas test they SHOULD have run it for 45k PER OCI to make it fair)
The taxis MADE it PAST 100k with 15k OCI of conventional oils.
Again, you'd REALLY have to do something stupid to kill off a vehicle in 30k.
Bill
Originally Posted By: tig1
I've seen engines fail with less than 85K because of abuse. In fact I've seen engines fail with less than 30K.
Then they ran it out of oil. Or it was a poorly designed engine.
See above for my comments on 15k CONVENTIONAL OIL OCIs and the engines made it past 100k with ease.
Sorry, not buying the marketing... Castrol started it with their 75,001 miles and you start running this koolaid/flavor of oil. Mobil then Pennzoil and Valvoline jumped into the mix.
I've NEVER run an High Mileage oil and have had engines real close to 400,000 miles using only NORMAL oils. (and yesterdays at that...)
With today's oils, NO NEED to fall for the 75,001 High Mileage koolaid.
IF you have a leak, FIX IT or let it drip. Don't expect a oil to fix a seal forever. It's just going to mask it.
Just MY opinion.
Bill
I've seen engines fail with less than 85K because of abuse. In fact I've seen engines fail with less than 30K.
Then they ran it out of oil. Or it was a poorly designed engine.
See above for my comments on 15k CONVENTIONAL OIL OCIs and the engines made it past 100k with ease.
Sorry, not buying the marketing... Castrol started it with their 75,001 miles and you start running this koolaid/flavor of oil. Mobil then Pennzoil and Valvoline jumped into the mix.
I've NEVER run an High Mileage oil and have had engines real close to 400,000 miles using only NORMAL oils. (and yesterdays at that...)
With today's oils, NO NEED to fall for the 75,001 High Mileage koolaid.
IF you have a leak, FIX IT or let it drip. Don't expect a oil to fix a seal forever. It's just going to mask it.
Just MY opinion.
Bill
Bill you've had allot of vehicles with high mileage that you post about how much do you drive and how old are you??
and you really gotta stop hitting people with that stick you were raised better then that.
and you really gotta stop hitting people with that stick you were raised better then that.
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