replacing oil

[leobmw]

can i put Mobile 1 on my car?
do i have to make any changes in order to change to synthetic oil i'm not sure how to spell it sorry!

[jllphan]

Yes you can, but would you want to? If you change your oil every 3K miles, synthetic is a waist of money!!!

[Mattitjah]

Why is that? Admitted, I use Mobil 1 and I change every 5k miles(or there about). But why is it a waste? Technically speaking. I know synth. oil holds up better but is that the whole reason for it to be a waste?

[jllphan]

Using the proper weight, in an engine that is functioning properly is all that is really necessary (IN MY OPINION). I have read about the supposed benefits that one gets with synthetic oil and i just don't feel that it is enough to warrant the additional cost. I once owned a 1986 Porsche 951 and switched to synthetic under the advise of my trustworthy mechanic. Over the course of the next several years, I still incurred the same issues that I would have if I hadn't switched.

I am not saying that synthetic is not better, I only feel that is not a cost effective investment.

[El Presidente]

synthetic fares better than conventional at breakdown, but not at getting dirty. You can use sythetic longer, but it helps the change the filter.

[Andrewsd1985]

can i put Mobile 1 on my car?
do i have to make any changes in order to change to synthetic oil i'm not sure how to spell it sorry!

Personally I would put it IN my car. Synthetic is so expensive to change every 3000 miles but if you go to 5 or 6 its pretty cost effective, especially if you have horrible driving conditions, like me at a university.

[Autotechnica]

If you have an older engine w/ high milage it's better to use regular oil such as Castrol GTX. Synthetic oil is actually much thinner and burns up faster as well. Especially for the M3, where it constantly burns oil at high revs, I would definitely use regular oil. Synthetic is a waste of money unless your car is brand new, but I doubt anyone here has a new E36 or any engine rebuilds recently?

Bry

[Mattitjah]

Odd, the whole thing about syth. oil is that it does not burn as fast. It has been engineered so that all the hydrocarbon chains are the same length and less volatile. In regular motor oil all the chains are different lengths and the shortest and most volatile will burn and evaporate and thus you will notice a faster loss of oil.


This is what I do for a living. Oil and Gas is my life.

[jllphan]

Mattijah, if your car doesn't burn oil (a negligible amount anyway) and you change your oil every 3K miles or 90 days (whichever comes first), then is there much of a benefit. Like I posted earlier, I realize it is better with reagards to thermal breakdown and superior lubrication properties, but with the above stated scenario would I REALLY benefit from synt. Oil and gas are not my life so I would love for you to teach me the ways of the dead dinosaurs (or testubes)
By the way.....Quiz: What does the "w" stand for in 10W40?

Autotechnica: Comparing the two (given the same viscosity) I don't think there is much of a difference in thickness, hence the same weight rating.

[bitcore]

It's the waist size limit of a passenger that you can fit in your car. EX: W40 means the *maximum* waist size of a passenger you can put in your car is 40 inches.
I run 10W30 because I don’t want any fat chicks in my car, but I'm not limiting myself to the anorexic W20 freaks.

(it means that the oil is suitible for 0F/winter use)

[jllphan]

LOL!!!!!!!!!


And you are correct sir!!
Bobby, give him something off the top shelf!!!!

[bitcore]

I'll take your engine as a prize.... Please??
edit: BTW, This is a good read.

[Mattitjah]

Many think the W stands for weight but it does not. W stands for winter. The first # is the average viscosity during cold start summer time and the second is during winter time. This is the extremely simplified version.

Of course you do not HAVE to use synth. oil in a vehicle. It is just a better treatment. Just like I do not HAVE to use the best gas but I do anyway. I want to treat my car the best I can afford.

[jllphan]

I guess I'm retarded then because not only do I use premium gas ONLY, I supplement eveythird tankful with an octane booster. How do you feel about those??

[Furious]

i use sythetic and only synthetic, i use it for the peace of mind aspect and really only that reason.