Converting to Synthetic

I have a 2004 V6 w/120K miles on it. I was thinking about converting from conventional oil to Amsoil 100% synthetic. Are there any issues with converting to synthetic with this kind of mileage? Currently, the engine does not burn or leak any oil. Does anyone have any experience/advise about converting to synthetic with >100K? Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

you'll be fine.

if you want more info than you could ever read in a lifetime on the subject try a search on this site.

 

Agreed, it will be fine.

If you want to go down the rabbit hole of oil threads, you are welcome to do so, but don't blame us for what happens to you. You'll come out the other end a quivering mess, sopping up every drop of spilt oil to send to Bob the Oil Guy for analysis, scheduling your oil changes so precisely that you stop on the side of the highway just to change at the exact right moment, nervously mixing your own additive packages in the basement because Bob said your moly was two points low...

I know, because I have been that man.

I've run synthetic in a number of high mileage engines (my '96 V6 has over 200k on it, and doesn't leak or burn oil). If it starts burning or leaking after changing - well, it was probably just going to do it anyway, and positive correlations are easier for humans to spot than negative correlations.

-Sam

 

Went to Mobil1 5w30 Full Synthetic at 81k on my '03 V6. Didn't leak or burn oil before, hasn't leaked or burned oil since the swap. There are arguments (&research) to support pros & cons of sythetic versus dino. To be honest, the main reason I switched is the change intervals. 3k for dino OR 5-6k for synthetic. I put maybe 5k a year on my truck since I bought it. Thus, oil change once a year (also running K&N Oil Filter). IMO, it is strictly what "works" for you.

 

switched to synthetic on my 320k '95 S-10.

Switch whenever, just don't start switching back n forth.

 

Well as far as intervals between changes for switching, if you drive short distances and the engine doesn't warm up to operateing temp you should most likely be changeing oil at 3 K, synethic or Dino but,I don't believe all that bullshit the Jiffy lube's and those like them are pushing, with the chemistry in the oil today I run dino 5-6 k and save my money.

 

Switched at 110000 with toyota filters. Easy to do and truck seems happy.

 

my dad insists that dino is fine to change at 5k intervals, it kinda worries me but hey not my truck

 

It is fine, but synthetic is better if you have a lot of cold starts (below 32*) or want to run longer intervals.

 

I average about 17-20K miles a year and using conventional oil, those oil changes come around pretty frequent. So I’m defiantly considering the synthetic to extend the time between oil changes. But I read somewhere that an older engine (w/high miles) is more likely to start leaking soon after converting to synthetic. I don’t have all the facts (and it could just be Bull S__t !) but it was something about the molecule of the synthetic is more likely to penetrate the aged seals/gaskets? Thoughts?

 

Go for it.

 

It don't matter what you do. if you have an engine with high mileage its gonna leak a little oil and when it does just poor some of that bars motor honey in there next time you change the oil. Been drivin a 1990 yota pickup since 1998 (w/ 300k + on it now) and ive ran both in it and it don't make no difference.

 

x1 million. I always use Mobil one and a OEM filter, but in the past I've used Royal Puple, Castrol Edge, Penzoil Plantnium and Mobil 1 Extended perfomance. And a K&n filter and a Mobile 1 flter. Didn't notice a big diffrence. Except that the OEM filter is longer than K&n and Mobil one oil filters.btw I try to change it at 3500 mi (no more than 4000) despite what the oil companies say like 20,000 intervals.

 

Its cause dino oil leaves "sluge"(especially if you make frequent short drives) pluging the holes of bad gaskets or small holes in the pan and when they swith to syn. it seeps through those small holes.

 

I dont think you would have any problems converting at that mileage.I did on the company trucks I have a few yrs ago, they ranged from 30k to 150k. I never had problems. I did go back to dino oil because I saw no $ savings, with my trucks being serviced at a shop, pulling oil samples, changing filters, my time tracking this, it really did not save money over dino oil.Saw no increase in fuel mileage.