WELL, hmmmm give me your thoughts

[OtisBlkR1]

2006 Silverado 1500 5.3 ltr i switched from white bottle valve 5-30 to synpower 5-30 a while back. Much information on this board says synpower is not a true syn but truly conventional oil . This is my question; local chevy dealer says when you switch to syn im fine just dont go back to conventional, am i safe to switch back to white bottle valve ? im not doing the extended OCI'S as i thought i would and thus not getting my $'s worth out of this oil. and in todays economy im ready to save some money where i can.
thanks.

 

[Kuato]

I've heard that some factory guys are saying not to switch back. But oil is supposed to be compatible either way, and I've never had a problem going from Syn to Dino [or vice versa].

 

[Astro14]

Old wive's tale...switch back and forth all you want...

"not a true synthetic" - who cares? In all seriousness, it's the performance of what you're using that counts, not the derivation...

For me, the best oil is the one I can get a deal on! Seriously, I am a big synthetic fan (turbo cars particularly) and I wait until Advance Auto parts has a special...usually $28 - $32 for 5 QTs of synthetic and an excellent filter...With the synthetic, I can run a longer drain interval and reduce the number of maintenance "actions" in a year...my time is worth something too...and at the price above, if I run the synthetic twice as far as the dino, it's cheaper per mile...

 

[OtisBlkR1]

i agree, i just havent been able to let myself leave that oil in the sump more than 6-8 months or around 4000mi at that point i get the itch and its getting changed. ive read (on bitog) that its a old wives tail about going back and forth and frankly i believe its bull, But when the service manager at the local dealership says with alot of conviction (YOU can go to syn just dont switch back, youl jack up your seals) it makes me nervous. ive read about old school syn cleaning seales and uncovering pre-existing leaks long plugged by sludge, or bad chemical reactions with tru syn formulas.. thats why im putting the question back up before i buy the white.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Dont worry - only a couple real syn oil on the market here - Amsoil and Redline. Syns in Noth America are high detergent oils with more refined base stocks - thats all. Luckily they split the price between the real syn and the new GF-5 dino. Given GF-5/ API SN targeted performance increases, I'll betcha that most GF-5 dino are withing a cat's whisker of the advertised "full synthetic" base stocks - only the detergent level is changed. Hard to beat Royal Dutch's slack wax stuff though - no matter what you call it

 

[beast3300]

You can jump all over the place in terms on engine oil. I have done this for about 14 years in all my cars. No ill effects....

 

[OtisBlkR1]

i appreciate the input, I think i will depleat my stash of valve-syn, pen-syn, and switch back to Dino. I enjoyed the idea of running syn but frankly i think im just waisting $.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Dont worry - only a couple real syn oil on the market here - Amsoil and Redline. Syns in Noth America are high detergent oils with more refined base stocks - thats all. Luckily they split the price between the real syn and the new GF-5 dino. Given GF-5/ API SN targeted performance increases, I'll betcha that most GF-5 dino are withing a cat's whisker of the advertised "full synthetic" base stocks - only the detergent level is changed. Hard to beat Royal Dutch's slack wax stuff though - no matter what you call it

Arco,

You post some derivation of this frequently.
Do you have any evidence to back up your assertion?

 

[big_impact]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Dont worry - only a couple real syn oil on the market here - Amsoil and Redline. Syns in Noth America are high detergent oils with more refined base stocks - thats all. Luckily they split the price between the real syn and the new GF-5 dino. Given GF-5/ API SN targeted performance increases, I'll betcha that most GF-5 dino are withing a cat's whisker of the advertised "full synthetic" base stocks - only the detergent level is changed. Hard to beat Royal Dutch's slack wax stuff though - no matter what you call it

Arco,
You post some derivation of this frequently.
Do you have any evidence to back up your assertion?

AMEN, this coming from a guy (arco) who bought out lowes lawnmower oil as it had a good add pack? do you have any credibility? Or are you like most the posters in the smallengine section, all opinion and no facts?

 

[johnnydc]

Are any of them a true synthetic? Synthetic covers a broad range now. As long as it performs as advertised that's all tha matters. You should have no problem switching over.

 

[yaris0128]

I go back and forth all the time. As soon as I finish my "syn" stash Im going to stick with PYB or QSAD from now. There really isnt a point in using "syn" these days. Dont care for extended oci's much.

 

[river_rat]

What for? Synpower is excellent.

 

[johnachak]

Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
i appreciate the input, I think i will depleat my stash of valve-syn, pen-syn, and switch back to Dino. I enjoyed the idea of running syn but frankly i think im just waisting $.


Not for nothing but when i do a syn or syn blend change compared to a dino change the syn and blend definitely feel more slippery to me and are harder to get off my hands. ( and everything else ). IMHO i would use the syn in the cooler months and the dino in the warmer. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
2006 Silverado 1500 5.3 ltr i switched from white bottle valve 5-30 to synpower 5-30 a while back. Much information on this board says synpower is not a true syn but truly conventional oil . This is my question; local chevy dealer says when you switch to syn im fine just dont go back to conventional, am i safe to switch back to white bottle valve ? im not doing the extended OCI'S as i thought i would and thus not getting my $'s worth out of this oil. and in todays economy im ready to save some money where i can.
thanks.


Now you said Synpower is not true synthetic. So if you believe Synpower is not a true synthetic, what is the problem with switching back and forth with WB Valvoline?

 

[dparm]

Synpower is a group 3, which is considered synthetic. Purists would say it's not a real synthetic. It's still a fine oil for your truck.

 

[ArtDart]

Valvoline's website says that SynPower
uses group 3 & 4 (PAO) base oils.

 

[tinmanSC]

Originally Posted By: Ringo
Valvoline's website says that SynPower
uses group 3 & 4 (PAO) base oils.

Yup. Just like every other synthetic on the shelf. Never trust a man who says he "knows" it's not a "synthetic".

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
2006 Silverado 1500 5.3 ltr i switched from white bottle valve 5-30 to synpower 5-30 a while back. Much information on this board says synpower is not a true syn but truly conventional oil . This is my question; local chevy dealer says when you switch to syn im fine just dont go back to conventional, am i safe to switch back to white bottle valve ? im not doing the extended OCI'S as i thought i would and thus not getting my $'s worth out of this oil. and in todays economy im ready to save some money where i can.
thanks.


Now you said Synpower is not true synthetic. So if you believe Synpower is not a true synthetic, what is the problem with switching back and forth with WB Valvoline?


Read closely: I stated much information i have read on this board says its not a true syn, i personaly dont possess the facts as to if valve syn is a "true" syn or not, thus i have my doubts on what to do. so i am asking the forementioned question so those with more knowledge than myself can lend there advise to my situation.

 

[tig1]

The answer is, of course Synpower is a true synthetic.

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Originally Posted By: tig1
The answer is, of course Synpower is a true synthetic.


ok with that being said, and considering what the chevy dealer told me.. am i safe to switch back to white bottle, or do i need to continue using synpower ? this goes back to the old wives tale.. but why would the dealer tell me not to do it ? ? ? and they know im doing my own OCI'S .. so there not making $ on this information
thanks