At what mileage can I switch to synthetic oil in my newly-rebuilt engine, and what weight synthetic should I use?
Everyone I've consulted has told me that I need to let the engine break in for between 3-5K miles before putting synthetic in.
Background
I have a 1982 280zx non-turbo (straight 6 2.8 liter).
I had to have the engine rebuilt at 160K miles because the previous owner's mechanic left the bolt on the crankshaft pulley loose and the resulting vibration destroyed the end of the crankshaft.
I had the engine rebuilt by a very reputable Z car specialty shop. The mechanic who worked on it has rebuilt about 80-90 of these engines. So I imagine the rebuild was about as good as they come.
Anyway, they insisted on starting the car on Valvoline's standard 20w-50. I've put about 3,000 miles on the engine changing the oil at 100, 500, and 1000 miles after the rebuild. I've kept Valvoline 20w-50 in it because I couldn't get anyone to say it was necessarily a bad idea. I've used Mobil1 and now AMSOIL oil filters.
Everyone I've consulted has told me that I need to let the engine break in for between 3-5K miles before putting synthetic in.
Background
I have a 1982 280zx non-turbo (straight 6 2.8 liter).
I had to have the engine rebuilt at 160K miles because the previous owner's mechanic left the bolt on the crankshaft pulley loose and the resulting vibration destroyed the end of the crankshaft.
I had the engine rebuilt by a very reputable Z car specialty shop. The mechanic who worked on it has rebuilt about 80-90 of these engines. So I imagine the rebuild was about as good as they come.
Anyway, they insisted on starting the car on Valvoline's standard 20w-50. I've put about 3,000 miles on the engine changing the oil at 100, 500, and 1000 miles after the rebuild. I've kept Valvoline 20w-50 in it because I couldn't get anyone to say it was necessarily a bad idea. I've used Mobil1 and now AMSOIL oil filters.