Synthetic Oil

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Any opinions out there on synthetic vs. petroleum oils?

-- Larry Nipon (vze277jp@verizon.net), May 18, 2002

Answers

Motul is used by the MV Factory according to a post below.

-- mod (mvf4s@excite.com), May 22, 2002.

Full synthetics aren't supposed to have the ability to withstand shearing as well, which is what you get in spades in a motorcycle transmission. Synthetic blends are able to address this problem somewhat.

I haven't actually seen a study that shows which one lasts longer/is better in bikes, but I do believe that the shearing comment I made is fact. Whether it matters in practice or not is another thing.

I used Mobil 1 for 35,000 miles in my Kawasaki. Compression is still good, and it shifts fine. I use Motul blended oil in my R1. Still deciding on the MV about if I want to spend big bucks on Agip (as recommended) or just go with something equally good.

In any case, change it often and you'll be fine.

-- Andy Ruhl (quadreverb@yahoo.com), May 19, 2002.


Synthetic oil has the advantage that its oil film is more resistance to very high pressures, on the other hand be sure that all gaskets used in your motor block in contact with oil, or resistant to synbthetic oil, otherwise , they will shrimp and cause oil leaks.

As to the life time of the oil, I do not entirely agree with the previous answer. The quality of all top lubricants to day, is that high that they can last easily for 30 000 km and even more. One should replace the oil, according to the pollution of the oil by rest products of the combustion or by metal elements. To illustrate, I drove a car, Honda Legend, where I replaced the oil after 100 000 km. (I added a liter every 40 000 km, the car used LPG as fuel. Lab test in the company I'm working followed the quality. I did this for fun. You can decrease maintenance cost, by being a little more critical. On the other hand one should wonder if the cost of replacing the oil every 10 000 km even if it is not proven to be necessary, worth the risk.

-- patrick maes (patrick.maes@electrabel.be), May 29, 2002.


It's goes way too much against tradition for me to think about running oil that long! I've heard of vehicles that had the oil turn into sludge because it was never changed. Then again, my mom's '55 Chevy burns off enough oil so that it never needs to be changed... You just add a half quart every other time you drive it pretty much.

That said, my friend's new BMW Z3 has recommended oil change invervals of like 10,000 miles. It uses some huge amount of oil, like 8 quarts or something.

I have never heard of any harm being done to an engine by changing the oil too often. Is this what you are implying? Even if studies show that you don't need to change oil that often, I'd probably still change it every 2000-2500 in my bikes. It would feel weird not to. And I change the water about twice a year too.

Andy

-- Andy Ruhl (quadreverb@yahoo.com), May 31, 2002.


Synthectic versus Petroleum oils. I started using synthetic oil in 1984. I had a new Toyota Supra. I used Amsoil in the car until 1992 when I sold the car. At about 80,000 miles I had to replace gaskets because the car began to leak oil, I must say that the engine was powerful and ran excellent even though it had high mileage. I purchased a 1992 300zx Twinturbo and started unsing Mobil 1 (12,000 miles) because I heard that Amsoil promoted leaks. Well much to my disbelief the Nissan 300zx Started leaking oil at about 80,000 miles. I paid about 1400 dollars to replace all leakings gaskets and switched back to petroleum oils. What I have now is the same 92 300zx that runs excellent. My belief is that snythetic oil prolongs the life of an engine but it does seem to cause leaks. My 300zx's engine is powerful and smooth at 167,000 miles which I contributed to the synthetic oil. I have thought about using the synthetic blend because I do believe Synthetic oils provide the best protection when it comes to heat and friction reduction but I'm convinced that synthetics also causes oils leaks. I am currently using Max Life and things seem to be great.

-- Bill Coleman (Wcolemat@aol.com), September 14, 2003.


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