synthetic or conventional

[ziggy]

1995 plymouth neon, 67, 400 miles. for about a year now ive been using Mobil 1 synthetic. terrific stuff! but, it costs $5.99 a quart. i was looking at Mobils newer conventional oils, the 5000 red bottle one. i do a fair amount of stop an go traffic, highway and slow to stp and idle driving, but idfe like to keep my car as long as i can. i change my own oil and filter regardless at every 3 months. i was thinking about switching back to conventional, Mobil oil. under my driving circumstances, which rate as sever driving, would it be worth it/ or stay with synthetic then? i like o keep m engine as clean possible. ive read all the situff about conventional causes sludge, carbon deppsoits, gum and varnish build up ect so i am kinda looking for good information to make a decision.

 

[AndyH]

Question for you...how many miles do you put on the car in three months?

 

[TallPaul]

Hasn't it been established that the Mobil Clean 7500 is all "synthetic," that is, a combo of Group III and PAO? So maybe that is a cost effective alternative.

In fact, what is the Clean 5000? All Group III?

 

[1999nick]

If you bought this car new in 1995 and you only have 67,400 miles on it, you are changing M1 out at less than 2,000 mile intervals. In my long and varied experience, unless you have a turbocharged engine, the only reason to use synthetic is to extend your OCI's. I used M1 for many years before I retired, using yearly OCI's, usually about 20,000 miles. Now that I am retired, driving about 5 or 6000 miles a year, I do conventional oil changes, twice a year.

 

[kingrob]

I agree with nick above, if you're changing your oil that frequently then find a cheap conventional oil. Find a cheap brand that you're comfy with cause at 2,000 mile intervals you're not harming anything.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Havoline.

 

[ziggy]

moblie clean 7500 is all synthetic? i read about it on mobile.com and the bottle, and it says its a blend, of conventional, and 30% synthetic. i would say in a month, i put about 320 miles on my engine. so in 3 months its about 960 to 1,000 miles, give or take. i suppose i should just stay with coneventional, hugh i wa looking for a way, to keep my engine as celan and free from build up deposits ect, for the long run.

 

[TallPaul]

According to this linked thread, Mobil Clean 7500 is 70% Group III and 15% PAO and Mobil Clean 5000 is a fully Group III oil with a small amount of Group I in the add pack. These statements come from Carpy, a lubrication engineer, and apparently an industry insider. So, you would probably do quite well running the Clean 5000.