What Year Did you Start Using Synthetic Motor Oil?

[Patman]

For me it was 1988, and it was in my brand new Dodge Shadow ES Turbo. I know it was Mobil 1, but I can't remember for sure if it was 5w30 or 10w30 that I used. I could only find it at Esso gas stations at the time, it wasn't sold in any retail outlets here at the time.

 

[zzyzzx]

1985, and in my 1985 Ford Escort GT. Like this, except blue:

 

[Ifixyawata]

It would've had to be 2005 when I bought my prior car, an '05 Dodge Neon brand new. I felt that using Mobil 1 5w-20 every 3k miles would make the car last forever. I was wrong.

Now I use frankenbrews and run out to 10k OCIs and my two bought-used cars are in better shape at 14 and 17 years old than my Neon was after it was 2 years old.

 

[THORROMIG]

Started using Pennzoil Synthetics around 2012 in a 2000 Ram 5.2L and 2006 Ford Explorer 4.0L.


Dale

 

[andyd]

2017-2018 using 0w20 synth. scary stuff to a thick oil guy

 

[Triple_Se7en]

1999..... Chevy S10 with 4.3
I used Castrol for 4-5 OCIs, then changed to mostly-all SOPUS products.

I stopped the Castrol purchases when my (2nd vehicle) 1994 Dodge Caravan developed varnish from all the Castrol conventional I fed it over the years. I then ran Pennzoil yellow bottle in the minivan and after 3 OCIs, the varnish was all gone.

I got ticked-off and even quit using the Castrol synthetic in the Chevy S10, even though no varnish developed there. That was probably due to it being synthetic oil. None-the-less / never-the-less, I never bought Castrol again.

 

[LeakySeals]

I was afraid of it "causing leaks" and "drying up seals" till I joined in 2011.. and found out most modern "full synthetic" oil is really "hydrocracked dino".

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

1991 or '92, Castrol Syntec 5W-50 in a slant-six Duster. I thought it made the temperature gauge run just a hair lower, but gave it up after a change or two because it was too expensive on a college student's budget. The engine used/leaked a litte between changes, and I was on the 2000 mile oil change program back then.

 

[Brigadier]

1988. Bought a 1985 Z28 with 50k miles on it. 305 LG4 with a 5 speed. I used Castrol Syntec 5W-50. I sold the car with 289k on it, never had the engine opened except to do the intake manifold gasket. Sold it to an 18 YO kid. Warned him that it had lots of miles on it, so take it easy. As he drove away, burning rubber.........received a phone call from him a couple weeks later asking if I had ever changed the timing chain......

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
1985, and in my 1985 Ford Escort GT. Like this, except blue:


This piqued my curiousity and I learned the first Escort GT had a HO I4 with 80HP...but, the vehicle only weighed 2200lbs.
My Honda CRX weighed something like 2000lbs and wasn't dog slow with 92HP, so that GT probably wasn't too bad at all.

 

[Inspecktor]

1988, Mobil 1 used in my 1985 Omni 2.2 5sp.

 

[zhang]

Im from china.its 2016 when i bought my first car,Mazda Axela 1.5l.I used factory oil at first,and then I bought and used Amsoil XL0W20 /Castrol Edge EP 5W20/TOTAL 9000 FUTUER 0W20.OILS are expensive in my country，but thanks to the import puchasing webside,I can get some awsome choices now.NEXT would be penzoil pp0w20.

My ENGLISH is not good enough yet.So nice to be here.

 

[Kira]

2002 when Mom bought her '99 turbo equipped, CPO car.

 

[TTK]

1978 in a vw rabbit, bought a whole case from local mobil distributor. sold car at 150k and it still had original cylinder compression.back then i used mostly kendall gt-1 20w-50, the green oil.

 

[DeepFriar]

Fall 1975 in North by gosh Dakota in '68 Cutlass and '73 RX-2 Mazda rotary. It was Mobil 1, don't remember the weight. We saw -32F that year.

 

[Kestas]

I started last year, after buying 120 qts of Valvoline Synpower for $1.70 / qt. At this price I can't justify using regular oil anymore.

 

[I_4]

1978, Amsoil in a 1978 Yamaha 500 four stroke twin cyl double overhead cam motorcycle.

 

[DeepFriar]

Originally Posted By: zhang
Im from china.its 2016 when i bought my first car,Mazda Axela 1.5l.I used factory oil at first,and then I bought and used Amsoil XL0W20 /Castrol Edge EP 5W20/TOTAL 9000 FUTUER 0W20.OILS are expensive in my country，but thanks to the import puchasing webside,I can get some awsome choices now.NEXT would be penzoil pp0w20.

My ENGLISH is not good enough yet.So nice to be here.

Welcome Zhang! Don't worry about the language, you are doing fine.

 

[MCompact]

1990
M1 15W-50
1987 E28 535is

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Tried the Mobil 1 20 grade in 1982 in my V6 S-10 with a stick. Took it out later that day.

Too thin, truck ran like garbage.

M1 5w30 ran well in a Mid 90's Mitsu Mirage. It was still a real synthetic back then. That's the ONLY instance a Mobil 1 oil worked for me - other than using M1R 4t synthetic as a "booster" and then only when it was a real synthetic.

I think I ran a Slick 50 0w50 Synthetic (found at closeout) in my Wife's early 90's Subaru Loyal 1.8 stick. Ran real good, but it leaked at every seam.