Semi Synthetic- Why use it.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Messages
705
Location
Maumee, Ohio
I not sure what purpose to use Semi-Synthetic oils, there almost the same prices a synthetic, conventional oils have greatly improved and semi-synthetics are usually just a 70/30 Blend. I usually just go synthetic, I never was a person that like to go less than halfway in on anything in life..LOL!
 
Why not use it? Lol. Cheaper than Full Synthetic and a little higher than conventional. Pricing is right in the middle and for non-entended drains its not too bad as most of the High Mileage oils are a blend- maybe to help reduce consumpion without having to go to a Full Synthetic?
 
Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
Is this a question? Looks like you answered it.


Just wanted some conversation, as you can see I already formed my opinion, just wanted to hear others, maybe I'm off based and I can see something more to semi synthetic than actually what appears to me. Looking for opinions that don't align to mine perhaps.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Originally Posted By: volk06
Why not use it? Lol. Cheaper than Full Synthetic and a little higher than conventional. Pricing is right in the middle and for non-entended drains its not too bad as most of the High Mileage oils are a blend- maybe to help reduce consumpion without having to go to a Full Synthetic?


Thanks for your reply. I need to do 6,000 mile oci until warranty is up. Would Semi-Synthetic be a good choice for me?
 
Make you're own semi-syn, 2 quarts Mobil 1 and 2 quarts of a good conventional, would be better than anything bought over the counter.
 
Originally Posted By: Topo
Originally Posted By: volk06
Why not use it? Lol. Cheaper than Full Synthetic and a little higher than conventional. Pricing is right in the middle and for non-entended drains its not too bad as most of the High Mileage oils are a blend- maybe to help reduce consumpion without having to go to a Full Synthetic?


Thanks for your reply. I need to do 6,000 mile oci until warranty is up. Would Semi-Synthetic be a good choice for me?


For 6,000 personally I'd rather use a synblend then a straight conventional. I really dont worry about it to much as I use Motorcraft and thats a semi-syn but its 60% synthetic base for only $3/more per 5qt jug than 100% dino but its still $3-4/cheaper than the cheapest Full Synthetic (Quaker State Ultimate Durability). I can get MC for 3.49.qt so thats 17.50 for 5qts. I like knowing that the synblend being 60% will help the oil hold up better to a DI and severe service. I'm not sure on other syn-blends though, maxlife (30%?), mobil super High Mileage, GTX High Mileage are all blends but not sure on the composition. The cheapest AC Delco that meets dexos is a syn blend also, so there might be something more to a synblend over a conventional. Added benefits but not as expensive as a Full Synthetic oil. Kind of a compromise, price and performance.
 
When Motorcraft semi was $12 at Walmart, it was a nice choice if you didn't want to spend the $20 on Quaker State Ultimate Durability.

It was always a bit of a pricing anomaly with dinos all about the same.

Can anyone confirm that the price increase is a result of the blend having much more synthetic in it now?

If so, that move in an of itself is interesting as it suggests Ford feel synthetic is better for longevity purposes (for the average consumer who may not follow severe service schedule or otherwise neglect their car).
 
Last edited:
Is Semi Synthetic oil 'doing things halfway'?
No.
It is like buying a 12 foot ladder when an 8 is all you will ever use.
No need for more, and the performance and price justify it. MC is great.
 
Originally Posted By: rjacket
When Motorcraft semi was $12 at Walmart, it was a nice choice if you didn't want to spend the $20 on Quaker State Ultimate Durability.

It was always a bit of a pricing anomaly with dinos all about the same.

Can anyone confirm that the price increase is a result of the blend having much more synthetic in it now?

If so, that move in an of itself is interesting as it suggests Ford feel synthetic is better for longevity purposes (for the average consumer who may not follow severe service schedule or otherwise neglect their car).


This has been discussed a couple times already. The msds states MC is 60% group III in SN flavor.
 
Originally Posted By: volk06
Originally Posted By: rjacket
Can anyone confirm that the price increase is a result of the blend having much more synthetic in it now?


This has been discussed a couple times already. The msds states MC is 60% group III in SN flavor.


It's really annoying when you get a response like this.

My question is specifically is the price increase related to an increase in the synthetic %.

Not what % of synthetic is in MC blend.
 
So I'm thinking if I do run synthetic blend, MC would be a great fit for my 6,000 mile changes, 60/40 split sounds real good. Now I understand why people prefer MC over other synthetic blends, thanks for that input. The price seems relatively good, Ford seems to think it's good for 7500 mile intervals.
 
Originally Posted By: rjacket
Originally Posted By: volk06
Originally Posted By: rjacket
Can anyone confirm that the price increase is a result of the blend having much more synthetic in it now?


This has been discussed a couple times already. The msds states MC is 60% group III in SN flavor.


It's really annoying when you get a response like this.

My question is specifically is the price increase related to an increase in the synthetic %.

Not what % of synthetic is in MC blend.


I don't think anyone knows for sure but one can speculate. It use to be ~14.50 for 5qts (sm) and now is 18.33/ 5qts (sn). It would seem like the increase in % syn would cause a price increase since it double the amount of syn in it but I don't think anyone can actually confirm if that was the only reason why the price went up.
 
I'm like you, I'd rather just spend a little more for a superior product.

But some people are like my father, who don't want to spend more than necessary. He goes for conventional oil.

I have to believe that there are people in the middle who go for "middle ground", semi-syn.
 
Originally Posted By: volk06
Originally Posted By: rjacket
It's really annoying when you get a response like this.

My question is specifically is the price increase related to an increase in the synthetic %.

Not what % of synthetic is in MC blend.

I don't think anyone knows for sure but one can speculate. It use to be ~14.50 for 5qts (sm) and now is 18.33/ 5qts (sn). It would seem like the increase in % syn would cause a price increase since it double the amount of syn in it but I don't think anyone can actually confirm if that was the only reason why the price went up.

Thanks for confirming that there is now twice the amount of synthetic in it.

Around here it went up from something like $12 to $18.
 
With ford really pushing the ecoboost engines it doesn't surprise me they made that change. GTDI engines can be hard on oil.
 
As mentioned, for a long time (years) MC Syn Blend 5w20 Wally jugs was one of the best, if not the best, everyday values going at ~$12 or less. Now at ~$18+ a jug, only ~$2 or less from Quaker State Ultimate Durability, little reason to choose it over that, or a much less expensive major's dino if Dexos cert is not a requirement.

Never found other blends like MC7500 to be any value at all. Next closest was Maxlife on rollback.
 
I do not see where using a synthetic or semi-syn will protect any better than conventional in 90% of applications today. Almost all of us fall in this category.
 
Originally Posted By: dave1251
I do not see where using a synthetic or semi-syn will protect any better than conventional in 90% of applications today. Almost all of us fall in this category.


Don't all German cars spec an oil that invariably has to be synthetic?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom