Audi,
This may not be a place where rigorous scientific method is the primary mode of inquiry, but there is great value in having a place like this where experience can be talked about and shared. Enough anecdotal information adds up to science--you should know this if you paid attention in research design or logic class.
I have used synthetic oils since they first came out due to the fact that they flowed immediately in an cold engine. I had a k-car that was widely known to die at 70k miles on m1 and it lived to 165k miles, sold it and it was still running. It burned a valve at 80k miles, decided to rering it and the original hone marks were still there and I put standard rings in it. Always did a 10k oci with filter change at 5k. Engine looked like the inside was cleaned with a steel wool pad it was so clean.
also built a 340 drag strip motor in 1989, ran it down the quarter at least 1200 times. Pulled the oil pan thinking i may need to re-ring it while putting the engine in another car. Same thing, hone marks still there and bearings looked like they had never been used. Engine so clean inside it looked burnished....this after 10 years and all the drag strip abuse plus many miles on the street wide open too.
Right now I have two slant six cars that i have done valve adjustments on, both have been on synthetic since I have owned them. Insides of valve covers no varnish, and no wear on valve stems. SLants last forever, but you usually have to adjust valves every 12k, i adjust mine every 30k and usually dont have to adjust, its just checking them.
Synthetic oil works, if you keep your cars for over 5 years the returns come in less repair, upkeep, and more reliability.
Audi, quit trolling!
Dan
[ July 14, 2004, 06:43 PM: Message edited by: Dan4510 ]