Switching to synthetic oil with exisiting leak - OK?

[NissanMaxima]

Thanks all. Valvoline has sent some pretty detailed replies. For what it's worth they say their full synthetic will not cause leaks or worsen exisiting leaks. To those here that are not fans of switching now to full synthetic, are you therefore comfortable with the MaxLife blend which Vavoline tells me contains ">15% synthetic base stocks"? In regards, to actually getting a better idea of sludge, I'm looking forward to the moment that front valve cover gasket is removed and getting a good look. Finally, as far as my concerns about cleaning, when I bought the car, I actually posted on the forum here a photo of inside the oil filler cap. It showed a black, almost crusty/oily material on a baffle-like looking plate below, that seems to remain an unsolved mystery. Unfortunately, you can't see below this plate. Some here (and I also read this on toyotanation.com) say that it is a black coating from Toyota, but others jumped to the conclusion it was sludge buildup, and others thought it was quite natural - condensed and hardened oil deposits since that area is cooler. The shop I had do a pre-inspection had no concern, but at the same time they tried to sell me on some items they claimed needed to be addressed which I think were perhaps exaggerated as to urgency.

Overall, I think the approach of sticking with the blend for now until gasket change does make sense, but if I had to take a gamble (and I don't even think it is that much of a gamble), that switching to their full synthetic with MaxLife will really worsen the exisiting small leak, but at the same time theoretically provide more protection and detergent power.

 

[tblt44]

We bought a used 2002 highlander, oil was low and black, removing the oil cap didn't look to good.
Didn't see any signs of any oil leaks
I decided to use Mobil 1 HM 10w 30.
A few thousand miles later a oil leak on the front valve cover at the 4k mile mark oil everywhere, front back
sides ect.
I dumped that oil and put maxlife red bottle 10w 30 in. This was 2 weeks ago.
Hope oil leaks slow down.
My mistake going full syn with a good cleaning oil.
My opinion I won't do that again, on a older car

 

[awguy]

Synthetic oil will find existing leaks better than regular oil and once it finds them it just flows better out those leaks. It wont create new leaks. Gasket or seal compatibility would have to go back to the 60's or earlier to even remotely find an issue. I've used synthetic oil since the mid 70's. Compatibility is not the issue, it just flows better.

 

[53' Stude]

Thanks all. Valvoline has sent some pretty detailed replies. For what it's worth they say their full synthetic will not cause leaks or worsen exisiting leaks. To those here that are not fans of switching now to full synthetic, are you therefore comfortable with the MaxLife blend which Vavoline tells me contains ">15% synthetic base stocks"? In regards, to actually getting a better idea of sludge, I'm looking forward to the moment that front valve cover gasket is removed and getting a good look. Finally, as far as my concerns about cleaning, when I bought the car, I actually posted on the forum here a photo of inside the oil filler cap. It showed a black, almost crusty/oily material on a baffle-like looking plate below, that seems to remain an unsolved mystery. Unfortunately, you can't see below this plate. Some here (and I also read this on toyotanation.com) say that it is a black coating from Toyota, but others jumped to the conclusion it was sludge buildup, and others thought it was quite natural - condensed and hardened oil deposits since that area is cooler. The shop I had do a pre-inspection had no concern, but at the same time they tried to sell me on some items they claimed needed to be addressed which I think were perhaps exaggerated as to urgency.

Overall, I think the approach of sticking with the blend for now until gasket change does make sense, but if I had to take a gamble (and I don't even think it is that much of a gamble), that switching to their full synthetic with MaxLife will really worsen the exisiting small leak, but at the same time theoretically provide more protection and detergent power.

VALVOLINE EPHM

 

[NissanMaxima]

Thanks @53' Stude . Sounds like you don't have any concerns for leaks worsening with the full synthetic Valvoline EPHM. Any personal experiences with that oil?

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

Thanks all. Valvoline has sent some pretty detailed replies. For what it's worth they say their full synthetic will not cause leaks or worsen exisiting leaks. To those here that are not fans of switching now to full synthetic, are you therefore comfortable with the MaxLife blend which Vavoline tells me contains ">15% synthetic base stocks"? In regards, to actually getting a better idea of sludge, I'm looking forward to the moment that front valve cover gasket is removed and getting a good look. Finally, as far as my concerns about cleaning, when I bought the car, I actually posted on the forum here a photo of inside the oil filler cap. It showed a black, almost crusty/oily material on a baffle-like looking plate below, that seems to remain an unsolved mystery. Unfortunately, you can't see below this plate. Some here (and I also read this on toyotanation.com) say that it is a black coating from Toyota, but others jumped to the conclusion it was sludge buildup, and others thought it was quite natural - condensed and hardened oil deposits since that area is cooler. The shop I had do a pre-inspection had no concern, but at the same time they tried to sell me on some items they claimed needed to be addressed which I think were perhaps exaggerated as to urgency.

Overall, I think the approach of sticking with the blend for now until gasket change does make sense, but if I had to take a gamble (and I don't even think it is that much of a gamble), that switching to their full synthetic with MaxLife will really worsen the exisiting small leak, but at the same time theoretically provide more protection and detergent power.

Maxlife blend is only 15ish% synthetic? That surprises me as I thought it would be more. Even chevron supreme has more than 40% synthetic base stock according to their customer service folks

 

[NissanMaxima]

That's what they told me in an email specifically - synthetic blend products contain >15% synthetic base stocks. I've never looked into this topic before but it did strike me as low.

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

That's what they told me in an email specifically - synthetic blend products contain >15% synthetic base stocks. I've never looked into this topic before but it did strike me as low.

In any case, I think maxlife blend is a great performing oil and many use it faithfully. I don’t think we should get too caught up in the numbers.

 

[NissanMaxima]

Thank you. Yes. Before I went with the blend, I did see many great reviews here. I'm sure it is equal, and probably better than what was used before I bought the car. Although most of the previous oil changes by the previous owner were done at Toyota dealerships, I think they buy oil in bulk and unless you pay more, pretty sure it is conventional oil.

 

[kschachn]

That's what they told me in an email specifically - synthetic blend products contain >15% synthetic base stocks. I've never looked into this topic before but it did strike me as low.

The whole concern is unfounded. Way back when “synthetic oil causes leaks” that referred to the improperly additized majority Group IV products of the time. Those were subsequently improved with seal swelling additives and that became a non-issue.

The product here is a partial hydrocracked Group III blend that is chemically different than a Group IV. The molecules here are essentially the same as any Group I, II or III on the market. It’s 15% of a slightly higher VI and lower sulfur content base mixed with more or less the same chemical structure for the rest. Even a typical full synthetic oil would have the same structure - unless it contains Group IV. And there, even if it did the oil would be formulated with proper seal swelling additives to prevent leaks (as does the product you’re considering).

 

[NissanMaxima]

The whole concern is unfounded. Way back when “synthetic oil causes leaks” that referred to the improperly additized majority Group IV products of the time. Those were subsequently improved with seal swelling additives and that became a non-issue.

So any concern about a full synthetic worsening pre-existing leaks is unfounded? Again, so everyone is clear, I'm not trying to fix the leak with a HM oil with seal conditioner - I just don't want things to get worse before I can get those gaskets changed next spring/summer. In fact, if the leak stays as small as it is or even stops, I might not have to do this at all. The car will have low mileage put on it too.

 

[kschachn]

So any concern about a full synthetic worsening pre-existing leaks is unfounded? Again, so everyone is clear, I'm not trying to fix the leak with a HM oil with seal conditioner - I just don't want things to get worse before I can get those gaskets changed next spring/summer. In fact, if the leak stays as small as it is or even stops, I might not have to do this at all. The car will have low mileage put on it too.

It’s not something I would worry about.

 

[TomYoung]

The whole concern is unfounded. Way back when “synthetic oil causes leaks” that referred to the improperly additized majority Group IV products of the time. Those were subsequently improved with seal swelling additives and that became a non-issue.

The product here is a partial hydrocracked Group III blend that is chemically different than a Group IV. The molecules here are essentially the same as any Group I, II or III on the market. It’s 15% of a slightly higher VI and lower sulfur content base mixed with more or less the same chemical structure for the rest. Even a typical full synthetic oil would have the same structure - unless it contains Group IV. And there, even if it did the oil would be formulated with proper seal swelling additives to prevent leaks (as does the product you’re considering).

It’s late in the day to be repeating campfire wisdom about problems with synthetic oil v Dino oil. Fifty years plus late.