What is this I’m hearing about “preparing” an engine for synthetic oil?

[twiggy]

You don’t need to prepare the engine for synthetic. Just toss the synthetic in.

Topic

[Texarkana]

Thanks, I know there alot of conflicting info about synthetic oils. My co-signer keeps bitching about how if I switch back to convention at any point during the life of the engine I’ll ruin it. Bunch of BS, You can switch back and forth a couple times, not every oil change.

[ytram]

Quoted From Texarkana:

Thanks, I know there alot of conflicting info about synthetic oils. My co-signer keeps bitching about how if I switch back to convention at any point during the life of the engine I’ll ruin it. Bunch of BS, You can switch back and forth a couple times, not every oil change.

Yep, I believe another hocus pocus B.S.

I have switched back and forth on cars with no problems.

[twiggy]

You can switch back and forth between synth and conv as many times as you want. You can even mix the two. In fact they sell a mix.

[3SheetsDiesel]

All the old wives tales about switching between synthetic and conventional oil is now a load of bull. Once upon a time, back when synthetic oil was a new technology it may have been true, but oil technology has come a long way since then. I’ve seen some customers at my shop who switch between conventional and synthetic at every oil change, depending upon if they have a coupon or not.

[college man]

Just drain out the old and start using that beautiful synthetic. C8-)

[SpawnedX]

It’s mostly in your head.

The original old wives tale came from when people switched to synthetic in cars that they ran conventional oil in, but were not following proper oil change intervals. The old dirty oil was hiding their leaks, acting like a seal in places where other seals had started to fail. I know this sounds bad, but sometimes after leaving oil in your car for so long, for so many years, it actually becomes better to continue leaving it in that car, because it may be the only thing keeping it from running.

A lady came into a shop of one of my previous instructors with a Toyota Corolla. She never changed the oil, despite his recommendation. She always stated that her husband told her oil never breaks down, so it never needs to be changed and it was all an oil company conspiracy. Well that’s true, oil never breaks down, but it does get dirty and loses it’s ability to properly lubricate. One day she noticed an oil leak from her valve cover and decided to have her brilliant husband to fix it. In the process they decided to change the oil to synthetic. When they did, she began leaking oil from the rear main seal. They brought the car back to him, hoping he could fix it. He told them once he fixes this issue, a new leak will appear. She said to do it anyway and switch the synthetic out for conventional oil again, as she believes this was what caused the new leak.

Long story short, he fixed the seal and it started leaking elsewhere, oil leaked out of the car at a pretty alarming rate, and she just ignored it, eventually spun a bearing and continued to blame it on her short use of synthetic.

When you have people, who clearly have no clue what they are talking about, such as this lady, tell her story (in her own version of course) to other people who don’t know what they are talking about, you end up with these old wives tales. Generally speaking, whenever I read or hear a version of this prepare your car for synthetic or that your engine has too many miles for synthetic, I now know that the source is not trustworthy for good information.

[Texarkana]

Its an 09 Buick Lacrosse with 18,700 miles on it, so I’m not worried about leaks.

[Texarkana]

Are WIX any better than the new style AC Delco filters? If so can someone give me the wix filter number for an AC Delco PF47E?

[wafrederick]

Mixing the two,I have seen sludge buildup in the oil pan,a 2000ish Bonneville.Replaced the lifters at first,noisey and it was the mixing of a quart of synthetic with convential oil.Told the person,one of my father’s friends not to do it again and he does not anymore.The Saturn engines,don’t use synthetic in and says in the owner’s manual.A fresh rebuilt engine,Synthetic oil is not used at first start up.Synthetic oil is too slippery.Break in oil or convential oil is used at first.Synthetic lubricants can do damage too and Royal Purple is know for this for racing rear ends.Most race car drivers kick off Royal Purple synthetic gear lube off the side for racing rear ends,it does damage the ring and pinion including destroying the rear end used

[Texarkana]

Anyone else notice that the engine in their vehcles seems to run flawlessly after changing to synthetic, or is it all in my head?

[Author]

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