LSJr- Synthetic Oils vs Conventional

[jetman]

I switched to synthetic oils in 2009. No regrets
Here's another synthetic vs non-synthetic video:

 

[2.7ecoboostFordBronco]

I found it interesting that they talk about WWII airplanes being one of the initial applications for synthetic oils. Legacy piston airplane engines are one of the few applications where we can't use synthetics today because, as I understand it, full synthetics don't sufficiently scavenge the lead that is in still present in most piston airplane fuel. I presume the fuels back then were heavily leaded as well, maybe they were using a blend. It seems like the best we can do today for that application are synthetic blends and 15W-50 seems to be the best viscosity spread we can get. If we get wide distribution of 100 octane unleaded fuel maybe we can go to a full synthetic, but I'm not sure.

In the video it states the reason for developing synthetics in airplanes is cold temps at high altitudes. I wouldn't think this would be a huge issue once the engine is running, but maybe I'm wrong. I don't know of any multi-engine airplanes of the era that shut down engines in-flight then restarted for cruise efficiency as the Lockheed P-3/Elektra does/did.

 

[scoot]

I know the Germans during world war II were making synthetic oil for their airplanes . It was a top priority for the US pilots to keep bombing the refinery

 

[jetman]

needed better lubricants for all the equipment operating in the cold European theater.

 

[FCD]

But not in their tanks, in winter the oil would often freeze and they poured in kerosene to thin it out, should have thought better.

 

[OVERKILL]

But not in their tanks, in winter the oil would often freeze and they poured in kerosene to thin it out, should have thought better.

They did pioneer the use of the Fischer-Tropsch process however, to make synfuel from coal gasification to work around the oil embargoes. Of course now Shell is using that technology to make base oils.

 

[BobsArmory]

I would take a guess that many times fighter planes would be sitting cold at an air base, get an alert and have to do a quick start and go to full power asap to intercept incoming bombers etc. A syn would be an advantage there. But that is just me thinking out loud.

 

[Plumb Bob]

Here's another synthetic vs non-synthetic video:

Here's another synthetic vs. non-synthetic white paper. I read it many moons ago. No ragrets

https://bobistheoilguy.com/

 

[irollo]

I would take a guess that many times fighter planes would be sitting cold at an air base, get an alert and have to do a quick start and go to full power asap to intercept incoming bombers etc. A syn would be an advantage there. But that is just me thinking out loud.

That checks out

 

[FCD]

They did pioneer the use of the Fischer-Tropsch process however, to make synfuel from coal gasification to work around the oil embargoes. Of course now Shell is using that technology to make base oils.

They also got the Amerikanische to the moon ya know

 

[Jetronic]

I know the Germans during world war II were making synthetic oil for their airplanes . It was a top priority for the US pilots to keep bombing the refinery

voltol, group V synthetic. Ionized vegetable oil. But that was mostly an additive. They did make a lot of synthetic oils/fuels as they lacked mineral oil.

 

[TiGeo]

Liked this one, good info at a reasonable technical level. It's like legos, break it down, build it back up. Got it.

 

[ATex7239]

Overcomplicating it. Just mix up that bathtub frankenbrew and sent it.

 

[irollo]

Overcomplicating it. Just mix up that bathtub frankenbrew and sent it.

Why choose 1 base oil when you can have all of them?

 

[wemay]

For those who haven't watched, the video is predicated on "synthetic" meaning PAO, not GrpIII.

 

[gfh77665]

Good video. Lots of good content. There is no doubt full syns are superior to conventionals. The G4's have "a much broader temp range and are great for use in extreme cold and high heat applications". The real question is, how much does an average person benefit if you don't live in an extreme climate? Full syns are better, but todays conventionals are great products too, much better than a few decades ago. The performance gap has narrowed. For the average suburban driver it may not even be noticeable.

 

[SimpleSyrup]

Good video. Lots of good content. There is no doubt full syns are superior to conventionals. The G4's have "a much broader temp range and are great for use in extreme cold and high heat applications". The real question is, how much does an average person benefit if you don't live in an extreme climate? Full syns are better, but todays conventionals are great products too, much better than a few decades ago. The performance gap has narrowed. For the average suburban driver it may not even be noticeable.

This entire forum is predicated on focusing on that tiny gap. Please don't try to take that from me.