Why pay for UOA's or synthetic oils.

[Avgas]

...When modern engines will outlast the frame by 500k miles on regular conventional oil. Proven time and time again.

I'm just trying to justify the money that people spend on this stuff, it's a little unbelievable. And I won't get into the OIC's, that's just being wreckless with the environment at a time when we need to save precious resources.

Europeans have been on insanely long intervals forever, and now finally in America does Mobil claim 15k on their top synthetic (too bad you can do it on conventional too).

So, you aren't racing at redline all day, and your engine will outlast the frame.

What's this all for?

Definitely not trying to flame anyone, just curious what the rationale is.

Pennzoil 5w30 conventional is good for 15k miles, by the way. Ran civic on that for hundreds of thousands of miles. UOA? PFFT.

 

[Colt45ws]

Just 'cause.

 

[apwillard1986]

Red-Alert! Re-route auxiliary power to the shields!

The simplest answer is because people are curious and will always expend resources to satisfy their curiosity; whatever it may be.

 

[Avgas]

Yeah fair enough and to reiterate I'm not flaming, I used to be the one pouring top synthetic oils into my car.

"Just because" is fair enough, hobbies are hobbies.

On that note, is there any recorded evidence of an oil-related failure other than running out of oil?

 

[tenderloin]

If you are happy with dino to 15,000 why you using MMO?

Avgas Registered: 08/16/10
Posts: 3
Loc: Ohio

I use MMO in every fill up both in my car and motorcycle, but about half the recommended dosage seems to work better here. Placebo doesn't work on me. MMO makes all these things run smooth and strong. Only regret is not using it sooner.

Funny, most of the skeptics and haters are people that haven't used it.

Try to be open minded, this stuff doesn't just benefit aircraft from the 1930's using leaded gas.

 

[wallyuwl]

What's your proof Pennzoil conventional (for example) would go 15k miles OCI in any engine as you claim while providing optimal protection the whole time? All engines are different. UOA in the Traverse, for example, show synthetics even getting beat up by 5-6k miles. Same with many turbos. Driving style and hwy vs city miles also matter. Just because your Civic ran on Pennzoil conventional with 15k mile OCI doesn't mean it was getting optimal protection for that full interval with each change. It just means the engine lasted. I agree 3 months or 3000 miles is outdated, but to say any engine can go 15k OCI on dino is a bit extreme.

 

[apwillard1986]

Oil is cheap therapy. I get my mechanical and fluid dynamics fix in one $20.00 jug every five months and thirty minutes a day on BITOG...

 

[Johnny248]

thats funny, we replace engines far more often then we replace frames at my shop..

 

[Patman]

I run synthetic because it's required for my Corvette, and I don't do used oil analysis to save money but simply because I find them to be entertaining and informative.

 

[LS2JSTS]

OCD.....

....at least for me.

 

[simple_gifts]

It is a hobby.

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: Avgas

Pennzoil 5w30 conventional is good for 15k miles, by the way. Ran civic on that for hundreds of thousands of miles. UOA? PFFT.

Dude what works in one engine doesn't work in all,you would now this with some reading..

that would be the day i'd run Pennzoil conventional for 15k, fine oil i'm sure but not in my environment [censored] no!!

 

[Avgas]

Right on, and Tenderloin thanks for quoting me but not necessary. I use MMO because it works. And a gallon of the stuff is cheap therapy compared to running synthetic oil or paying for used oil analysis.

See, I'm like you guys but with MMO.

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: Avgas
...

Pennzoil 5w30 conventional is good for 15k miles, by the way. Ran civic on that for hundreds of thousands of miles. used oil analysis? PFFT.


I worked for Pennzoil for 20+ years and I love Pennzoil conventional, but there is no way I would run it over 5K, with or without a used oil analysis. Glad you had that kind of success with it.

 

[Avgas]

And how do I know the Pennzoil conventional protected my engine? It's as quiet as a sewing machine and runs great. Then again it's a Honda, if I were driving 'Merican I might have to look into quality oils a little more

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: Avgas
...When modern engines will outlast the frame by 500k miles on regular conventional oil. Proven time and time again.

I'm just trying to justify the money that people spend on this stuff, it's a little unbelievable. And I won't get into the OIC's, that's just being wreckless with the environment at a time when we need to save precious resources.

Europeans have been on insanely long intervals forever, and now finally in America does Mobil claim 15k on their top synthetic (too bad you can do it on conventional too).

So, you aren't racing at redline all day, and your engine will outlast the frame.

What's this all for?

Definitely not trying to flame anyone, just curious what the rationale is.

Pennzoil 5w30 conventional is good for 15k miles, by the way. Ran civic on that for hundreds of thousands of miles. UOA? PFFT.


I do it out of curosity, a hobby, and because I like to know if there is coolant leaking into my engine oil.

The cost of synthetic is covered by the mileage my work pays me and the longer I can drive my car without replacing the engine/transmission the better because I can avoid payments and pocket the "Wear/Tear/Depreciation" money by making the vehicle last longer than foretasted.

IMO synthetic offers better longevity of the engine over a very long time period versus conventional for the amount of miles I keep my vehicles. (Others usually don't keep them this long because they get bored of them or they rust out before then. This isn't the situation I'm in...)

Also the oils available in Europe are much better quality than here IMO because they know that the OCI's are much longer than the stupid 3/3000 mentality here that the OC industry drills into the average consumers heads.

Fuel quality is also better over there and that makes a difference on oil longevity as well.

Steve

 

[BobFout]

 

[apwillard1986]

All aboard the pain train!!

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?! You must be a masochist!!

 

[Avgas]

Yeah well, you can call this thread stupid and me a masochist when you point me to documented, oil-related engine failure. And I don't mean cars prone to sludging like the Toyota, or running out of oil.

There isn't one to my knowledge, which makes choosing oils a fantasy.

I put something called "Mystery Oil" in my crankcase. Maybe we all are a little off.

 

[5sfe91]

No sludge in my Toyota Celica and its seen nothing but dino until this last oil change, and i have pictures to prove it.