Switched to Synthetic today
09-14-2002, 09:35 AM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Miami
Posts: 425
But remember that Race engines(most of the time) get an oil change after the day anyway, whether it's synthetic or regular oil. They have the money for it i guess. Synthetic is expensive and oil should be changed at 2500 miles in a rotary engine anyway, so i'm just going to stick to my Valvoline racing oil 20w50. Le us know if anything happens though.
09-14-2002, 12:25 PM
#32
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Frederick MD
Posts: 6,331
Well, it's been ...I dunno... How many days now? Running great! Been running her a little harder too... Seems to like it. Checked the oil... Not breaking down so far... Still gets a little fuel in it though... Which is normally the reason I change it @ like 1500 miles... I'll keep you guys updated.
10-07-2002, 07:47 AM
#35
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Columbia, MD
Posts: 1,278
Originally Posted by Fd3BOOST' date='Oct 7 2002, 07:23 AM
Where do you get the royal purple and what is it costing you?
or ayou can mail order it from somewhere like Jeg's:
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/Pro...807&prmenbr=361
'bout the same price as other synthetics
10-07-2002, 08:55 AM
#36
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Frederick MD
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Originally Posted by Jims5543' date='Oct 6 2002, 08:59 PM
I am getting ready to put some royal purple in. 9base3 hows your car doing?
If you want some good info, rxplicit did a really nice writeup of synth and dino and oil consumption... I'll see if I can find it...
10-07-2002, 08:56 AM
#37
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Frederick MD
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if you are burning oil, but know that your car is running well, read this. if not read it anyway. i posted this on the *other* forum, but as usual, the 3rd gen section is more like a kiddy lounge and offers little to no assistance. usually seeing topics like rx7 vs. supra and check out this rice car. that is why i am here. guys, do not make me eat my words now that i am here. i like advice and real support. all of you guys that i know from over there are here. i trust yall. guys like jspec, rikki, vr6, fd3b.., and a few others.
my findings with oil usage
i have been doing a study of oil usage in my car for the past 4-5 months, and i think that what you will find could be useful for you all. however, everyone's opinion will differ, but you will know whick way that i lean after this write up....
well, after deciding that 600-800 miles was too much for my car to be burning a quart to a quart and a half of oil, i decided to experiment.
here is what i have found.
jackson, ms avg temp since may ~85degrees in the day.
9500 miles logged on rebuild since 5-21-02
mobil 1 15-50 synthetic: burned AT LEAST 1qt. every ~950mi.
valvoline 20-50 synthetic: burned AT LEAST 1qt. every ~750-800mi.
amsoil 20-50 race syn.: burned AT LEAST 1qt. every ~800mi.
valvoline regular mineral oil 20-50 : burned LESS than 1qt over a 1400 mile period. oil still looked good, but i still change it every 2200-3000 miles...
mobil 1 20-50 regular : burned less than 1qt as well, under the sam circumstances as the valvoline.
i chose the valvoline because cam at pettit put it in my car after the new engine was installed and i trust his prefrences.
i definately know that the synthetice that heve gone into my car have all burned more rapidly than the regular types of oil. each one of these tests have been closely watched and documented. i decided to try this out because i simply got tired of seeing the oil light come on while halfway home on the interstate or sitting in traffic. these things concern me because my engine life sconcerns me as well.
i understand the ash content variables as well, and can tell you that the regular vs. the synthetic test i have done has its differences.
synthetic seems to burn slightly cleaner, but the sear amount that the car was going through as compare to the regular oil was proof enough for me.
i am going to stay with the regular oil for now. ****. i have been using the syn. oils for a few years now, but have a new outlook now.
synthetics are thinner, and yes can seep into the small areas better, but what about during the super high heat runs and cool downs. this is where the regular oil makes me more secure.
heat some up in a pan at the house. a side by side comparison will show you what i have seen and hopefully you will see my reasoning.
well that is it for now, but i am sure that i have other things that i can add but am simply forgetting....
add in your thoughts and reasoning as well. i know that this is an age old battle, full of opinions and differences, so lets hear them.
louis
my findings with oil usage
i have been doing a study of oil usage in my car for the past 4-5 months, and i think that what you will find could be useful for you all. however, everyone's opinion will differ, but you will know whick way that i lean after this write up....
well, after deciding that 600-800 miles was too much for my car to be burning a quart to a quart and a half of oil, i decided to experiment.
here is what i have found.
jackson, ms avg temp since may ~85degrees in the day.
9500 miles logged on rebuild since 5-21-02
mobil 1 15-50 synthetic: burned AT LEAST 1qt. every ~950mi.
valvoline 20-50 synthetic: burned AT LEAST 1qt. every ~750-800mi.
amsoil 20-50 race syn.: burned AT LEAST 1qt. every ~800mi.
valvoline regular mineral oil 20-50 : burned LESS than 1qt over a 1400 mile period. oil still looked good, but i still change it every 2200-3000 miles...
mobil 1 20-50 regular : burned less than 1qt as well, under the sam circumstances as the valvoline.
i chose the valvoline because cam at pettit put it in my car after the new engine was installed and i trust his prefrences.
i definately know that the synthetice that heve gone into my car have all burned more rapidly than the regular types of oil. each one of these tests have been closely watched and documented. i decided to try this out because i simply got tired of seeing the oil light come on while halfway home on the interstate or sitting in traffic. these things concern me because my engine life sconcerns me as well.
i understand the ash content variables as well, and can tell you that the regular vs. the synthetic test i have done has its differences.
synthetic seems to burn slightly cleaner, but the sear amount that the car was going through as compare to the regular oil was proof enough for me.
i am going to stay with the regular oil for now. ****. i have been using the syn. oils for a few years now, but have a new outlook now.
synthetics are thinner, and yes can seep into the small areas better, but what about during the super high heat runs and cool downs. this is where the regular oil makes me more secure.
heat some up in a pan at the house. a side by side comparison will show you what i have seen and hopefully you will see my reasoning.
well that is it for now, but i am sure that i have other things that i can add but am simply forgetting....
add in your thoughts and reasoning as well. i know that this is an age old battle, full of opinions and differences, so lets hear them.
louis
10-07-2002, 06:03 PM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: jackson, ms
Posts: 1,305
hey, my thread magically duplicated itself...
BTW. once you go synthetic, YOU CAN GO BACK.
UHHHH. oil is oil. right? no. well, yes. in a sense of a few viscosity points, it is all similar. you can switch the weight of your oil, so why couldn't you switch the type?
i tell you, everyone has opinions, and mine is indefferent. i can not tell you the temp differences in the different oils, but what my above write up meant was that SYNTHETICS BURN QUICKER THAN A STANDARD MINERAL OIL. THAT'S THAT. i just got tired of worrying about when i was going to need to add half of a quart or so...
i will definately be using royal purple over the winter, simply because it is thinner, and won't be as hard on the engine. i use a thicker mineral oil in the summer and change it every 2000~ miles or so......
louis
BTW. once you go synthetic, YOU CAN GO BACK.
UHHHH. oil is oil. right? no. well, yes. in a sense of a few viscosity points, it is all similar. you can switch the weight of your oil, so why couldn't you switch the type?
i tell you, everyone has opinions, and mine is indefferent. i can not tell you the temp differences in the different oils, but what my above write up meant was that SYNTHETICS BURN QUICKER THAN A STANDARD MINERAL OIL. THAT'S THAT. i just got tired of worrying about when i was going to need to add half of a quart or so...
i will definately be using royal purple over the winter, simply because it is thinner, and won't be as hard on the engine. i use a thicker mineral oil in the summer and change it every 2000~ miles or so......
louis
10-07-2002, 08:47 PM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Jensen Beach, FL / Sylva, NC
Posts: 2,934
I bought the royal purple at a local speed shop and it was $6 a quart.
My buddy owns a 10 minute oil change and put it in for me for free (free filter too!)
I do not daily drive my car I race it. I have put a total of 900 miles on it in the last 4 months.
I change my dino-oil every 1000 miles. I hope to keep the synthetic in for 2000 miles with a filter change at 1000 miles. That will last me over 8 months.
I did notice the engine temp was very slightly lower than normal during spirited driving.
I will be Autocrossing in 2 weeks that will be the real test. My engine temps tend to climb during a 40 sec. run. But.. I am beating the living **** out of the car. You might think you drive hard on the street, I used to think so too, if you have never Autocrossed you have no clue how hard you push your car.
I need new brake fluid after 900 miles if that gives you an idea of the beating. And my dino-oil looks like it has 5000 miles on it after that same 900 miles.
Thanks 9BASE3 for your input. Oil consumption is not an issue with me.
One last note. If you even have the tiniest oil leak on your engine it will be 10X worse with synthetic. My oil pressure sending unit leaks I ordered a new one due in on friday that is my only leak and I noticed it had a lot more oil on it than usual at the end of today.
My buddy owns a 10 minute oil change and put it in for me for free (free filter too!)
I do not daily drive my car I race it. I have put a total of 900 miles on it in the last 4 months.
I change my dino-oil every 1000 miles. I hope to keep the synthetic in for 2000 miles with a filter change at 1000 miles. That will last me over 8 months.
I did notice the engine temp was very slightly lower than normal during spirited driving.
I will be Autocrossing in 2 weeks that will be the real test. My engine temps tend to climb during a 40 sec. run. But.. I am beating the living **** out of the car. You might think you drive hard on the street, I used to think so too, if you have never Autocrossed you have no clue how hard you push your car.
I need new brake fluid after 900 miles if that gives you an idea of the beating. And my dino-oil looks like it has 5000 miles on it after that same 900 miles.
Thanks 9BASE3 for your input. Oil consumption is not an issue with me.
One last note. If you even have the tiniest oil leak on your engine it will be 10X worse with synthetic. My oil pressure sending unit leaks I ordered a new one due in on friday that is my only leak and I noticed it had a lot more oil on it than usual at the end of today.