Switch to synthetic oil?

[87mefull]

I changed the oil in my car last Sunday when I was home and it made a nice improvement in perfomance. Ran the car with a quart of rislone, 4 quarts of 10w40 pennzoil, FL1A filter, etc. The engine is definitely getting sludged up because it sounded like it freed a stuck lifter(s) the last two oil changes when I used rislone, never noticed it before.

So, Ive been debating running synthetic oil in my car but from what I hear I'll probably have good results with it. I drive my car daily and I've put a good 2,200 miles within 2 months so oil changes are going to be more frequent (commute to class and work). Can get 5k out of synthetics, might get better gas mileage, and might improve performance.

[Tiggie]

I put synthetic in my dad's fresh 8BA Flathead (after break-in with the dino stuff). It cranks over cold much easier than the old motor (with less compression) and oil pressure is great. I definitly like it in there.

But on a used motor, especially one with 132K, I wouldn't waste my money on full synthetic. The dino stuff should serve you well.

[91LTDProject]

I switched to Castrol Syntech in my car when it was at about 115000km. Noticed that the engine felt much smoother, and I got a little bit better gas mileage. It probably isnt really worth the money I spend on oil for the old girl, but I like how it runs with the Syntech. I flushed the engine out pretty good before putting in the synthetic. Ran an off the shelf engine flush treatment through it, drained oil, filled back up with cheap bulk oil from my garage, ran for 20 minutes, drained that, then put the Syntech in. I couldnt belive the crap that came out when I drained it again. I liked the results, and you cant complain about a smoother engine, better mileage and extended drain intervals.

[Lincolnmania]

i've been running synthetic in the lincoln.......dont notice any difference

[moneypit]

I run Mobil 1 in the tudor, but only because it's been driven less than 1000 miles in the last year. Synthetic doesn't break down when sitting and the moisture from condensation doesn't affect it. Plus my shortblock only has about 30k miles on it, so I figure I'd better keep it nice until I can torture it with some nitrous

[91 LTD]

I run synthetic cause I plan on keeping this car for a while, prolly just pyschological but it seems like she likes it better than dino oil.

[nitroracer]

I usually just go with the cheapest name-brand case in the store Im at. I can't see spending the extra money on an engine with over 100k and possibly creating more leaks due to old seals.

[gadget73]

I run synthetic from wal mart because its cheap. Used to run it in the VW because it wouldn't turn to black sludge in 1500 miles from the heat like dino oil would. As long as you change it regularly, I dont really think it matters very much. If you run a long time without changing the oil, go synthetic. If you change it on a scheduled basis, whatever you prefer is fine.

[AOD]

If it's all original and running fine, keep it on dino oil, there's no point in synthetic really unless you live in a cold-winter area or you have invested money into a new motor. I used to run my old box on synthetic Dec-March because it started up better on 7-degree mornings.

I've used Pennzoil 10W30 in my daily driver '95 Crown Vic for 2.5 years now, since I've acquired it. ~45K miles on it in that time frame and it still runs good.

I use Mobil 1 on my '85 because it sits more (3500 miles in 1.5 years) and I usually push the gas pedal a bit more when I do take it out.

~Adam

[85crownHPP]

Motorcaft synthetic blend - $2.20 a quart. Ive used it in my last 3 oil changes and Ive noticed reduced oil consumption.
I usually leak 1.5-2 quarts between changes, but this last time i added a quart only a few weeks before I needed to change it.
Mines leaking from the lower intake manifold gasket mostly... running down and getting all over my starter

[LTDMan83]

Before with the cheap oil my 302 was leaking/consuming 1qt. every 1500miles.After switching to Valvoline Maxlife 10W-30 have had No oil leaks or oil consumption at all over the last 3 oil changes.

[85crownHPP]

hell yeah I wish that stuff worked that well in mine. I tired the maxlife-extened mile type oils but didnt notice much difference. I guess they cant do much for a bad sillicone job.

[gadget73]

I get upset if I have to add oil between changes. Its happend once in the 25k miles I've put on this engine. I seldom check oil in my vehicles just because I don't need to. Before I put the new motor in, it blew a quart out of the intake about every 300-400 miles on trips, or roughly every 600 if I wasn't running highway speeds. I got tired of that shit real quick.