Leaking Seals - High Mileage or Synthetic

[shooter711]

I inherited an older car...1966 Ford 289 with 105,000 original miles. A mechanic I know told me not to go with a High Mileage oil because the seal expander in the oil would work initially, but down the road, "the seals would explode and really leak."
On his recommendation, I put in Mobil 1 5w30. The car runs ultra smooth but I do get larger pools if it sits for a few weeks. Its a classic I don't drive too often. Any recommendations are appreciated. Thanks. B

 

[MarkC]

If your seals explode, try to be there when they do and film it for us.
It seems like they're already "really" leaking with the Mobil 1, so why not give the High Mileage a shot ?

 

[bruce381]

seal swell additives work on time and heat so it takes a while to soften seals I would try it it may take a few weeks to work.

He is wrong on all counts.

I'd try some
bruce

 

[vronline]

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't use a synthetic... I'd go with a good dino.

 

[Turk]

I just switched to Amsoil on a no leak engine, I now have a leak in the engine !!! Yes, I used other Syn's before with no leaks...

Ugh!

 

[reyjay1]

I used to have a '66 Ford 289, I take it this in a Mustang....
anywho, i would agree with vron on this one.

 

[Cooper]

Have you ever thought of using Auto-RX. It will help with seal leaks.

 

[Mike242GT]

Shooter:

I would not be using M1 in a car that had seal issues. The Auto RX suggestion is a good one. I had good luck using Pennzoil High Mileage in one of my cars that had a slight seep at the rear main seal. Cleared it up completely over a six month/two oil change time frame. If you are getting "pools" of oil under the car, however, you may have to bite the bullet and replace the seal. Been there done that, too!

 

[milwaukee]

Your mechanic is wrong on this one. Nothing new about that.

Mobil 1 5w30 is possibly the worst selection for a 40 year old non rebuilt engine. Did he "sell" you the Mobil 1?

If that were my car I would be running one of the high mileage 10w-40's. Check out the free after rebate offer from valvoline for maxlife. If free is not your thing any of the High Mileage oils are good.

 

[pbm]

I believe it used to say right on the container of M1 or one of the other PAO synthetics-- "may not be compatible with seal material in cars built prior to 1980"

 

[JAG]

Yep, putting in M1 was a move in the wrong direction. A HM conventional oil would be my choice. With all the stories we hear here, mechanics must be one of the most productive spewers of bad information currently alive!

 

[KJA426]

Castrol High Mileage or Pennzoil High Mileage in the 10w30 or 10w-40 range for your engine.

 

[ebaker]

Why not use Maxlife synthetic (free after rebate)?

 

[Alcibiades]

I would go one of two ways, depending on how patient you are:
1. Auto-Rx. It will take a few months though, and will probably work better if you run the engine harder than normal as it needs heat to work well.
2. Replace the seal. More costly, but faster and more of a sure thing. And, if you're seeing pools of oil, the seals are likely leaking to much for the A-Rx to solve the problem.

 

[speedygonzalez]

Lucas works good for oil leaks and for burning oil. I'm thinking go with a dino Max Life type oil, and about 1/2 quart of lucas oil stabilizer. Try 10W30 first, if it doesn't slow it down, then try 10W40.


You know, I had a seal that was looking, down on my oil filter housing. It's pretty easy to get to, I don't have to pull the engine apart or anything drastic like that to get to it.

Anyway, that seal was SWOLLEN! So, it's rather interesting: A seal that swells so much it leaks...

Makes me wonder if it was conventional or synthetic that caused it to swell. Plus most people say that swelling helps keep them from leaking. Well not in my case. The old seal just looked a touch "bigger" then the new one. I was actually worried the new one was too small. Nope, worked perfect, the leak is gone.

 

[schwartr88]

"the seals would explode and really leak."

LOL

MaxLife

 

[MaxPilot]

I think the mechanic may not be as dumb as you guys think... maybe he should not have used the word explode.

I tried MaxLife last year when it was basically free after rebate on my 92 Toyota Celica. Before I tried it, it had no oil leaks. But I kid you not, within 2 weeks of switching to that oil, I started noticing drops of oil in my garage. It kept getting worse. I drained that oil out and went with Havoline 10w30. That slowed the leaking, but I still have some leakage on my garage floor... about 1 drop a night.

I think the Maxlife expanded the seals too much. I don't know when whould be a good time to try high milege oils. If your engine does not leak, don't mess with changing oils.

 

[jeepman]

quote:

---

Originally posted by schwartr88:
"the seals would explode and really leak."

LOL

MaxLife

---

Agree with schwartr88. Maxlife dino would be my choice. But I would ARX it with some Havoline first then use the Maxlife after. Plus as someone had mentioned, it is Free after rebate right now, so it seems like a win-win all the way around.

 

[memo]

I would not be running Mobil 1 in such a old car. Fords from that era and even new Mustangs (I've been told by MANY Mustang owners) that they all use oil from the factory.

Just use regular oil and you should be checking your oil level at least twice a week. Maybe even more depending on how far you drive. Just keep a case of oil in the car and your car will practacly change it's own engine oil

If the car is speacial to you and you want to improve the situation, then look in to just replacing the engine.