Should I switch to full synthetic oil?

Question

I am currently using Valvoline Maxlife in my 1994 Volvo 960. It has almost 150,000 miles on it and I really want to make it last as long as possible. I change the oil every 4000 miles. Is switching to full synthetic (Mobil 1 High mileage) a good idea or a waste of money?

Answer 1

If your going to switch to a synthetic oil at least switch to a good one...via Amsoil, Redline, Royal purple, Lucas......these oils will go 25k to 50k without needing anything but a new filter every 10k (more or less depending on application.) www.amsoil.com they can answer your questions there.. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN SWITCHING TO A SYNTHETIC:
1 synthetics have the additives already in them, no need to add more
2 synthetics will clean the sludge and carbon buildup out and keep it out.
3 its recomended you flush the engine before adding synthetics
4 if you dont want to flush the engine, synthetics will mix with any oil
5 synthetic oil is alot more cost effective than standard oil
6 AMSOIL is made right here in the good ol USA.. Superior, Wis


I've been selling and using Amsoil for 10 yrs brad m.....my car and truck are both way over 100k. i change the oil once a year and the filter every 10k. Its not hype, you can really do this....the stuff works. AND if it doesnt the good ol AMSOIL warranty kicks in. any engine failure due to oil is covered by Amsoil. not sure what it is for other brands, but you wont get that with mobil or any other oil that i know of. The standard has changed...most newer cars and trucks come factory with synthetic oil. Why do you suppose that is?

Answer 2

Changing To Synthetic Oil

Answer 3

Being a car of that age and mileage, i am not sure it will help you extend life. If you used it 100k miles ago, then yes. With that said, switching shouldnt hurt either. I have run synthetic oil in my high performance engine for over 100k miles, and that thing still puts down great power and has held together despite have the snot kicked out of it.


Although some person has bought into the amsoil hype (or royal purple for that matter) and said only change the filter every 10k, thats incorrect. Sure, you can go longer distances on synthetic, but that is retarded to go 25-50k, regardless of the claims amsoil says. Thats more marketing than smart business practice. Even if you could with that oil, do you really think a 2 grand engine is worth any chance?

To be fair, I go 6-8k between oil change intervals when daily driving, and when I raced a few years back, a lot sooner than that.

Answer 4

I've read alot on synthetic vs. conventional and unfortunately, the detergents that keep your engine clean wear off at the same rate. Synthetic, though, does have its' benefits as far as lasting longer because that's the real purpose behind it. Just change your oil more frequently if you notice the oil is dirty when it is changed at your current 4,000 mile interval. Detergents in either oils only last 3,000 miles though, and since you change your oil every 4,000 miles with conventional, you're going a good 1,000 miles with broken down oil, so in your case, if the engine is clean, you should probably make the switch to synthetic.

If you do switch to synthetic, wal-mart sells a great full synthetic for $13.xx a whole 5 quarts. Bring that to the shop who does the oil changes because they'll charge you a crazy amount for using their synthetic.

Answer 5

I read about some guy who drove like 500,000 miles in a 2002 Chevrolet and claimed that 'high-mileage' oil was the trick. My advice: change every 3000 with conventional or every 5000 with the high-mileage synthetic.

Answer 6

Looking at your Yahoo ID(airforcewolf), it looks like you might be interested in the Amsoil story. Fighter pilot Lt. Col. Al Amatuzio realized that if every jet engine in the world used synthetic oil, then it must have benefits for automotive applications as well. He started experimenting and with a team of chemists produced the world's first synthetic motor oil API certified for automotive use in 1972. This was the birth of an industry with Mobil-1 becoming commercially available in 1975. Now every major oil company has followed the Amsoil lead and produced 'synthetics' of their own-- some are synthetic, some are the highly refined petroleum (group III) oils. Amsoil uses group IV polyalphaolefins as the basestock which is highly resistant to thermal and oxidative breakdown. Combined with premium long-life additives this allows Amsoil to have a service life of 25,000 miles/ 1 year when the filter is changed at manufacturer recommended intervals. Amsoil EaO oil filters are the preferred choice since they remain effective for the same 25,000/1 year as the oil. The difference is the filter media. A regular oil filter uses cellulose (paper) as the filter media where Amsoil EaO filters use synthetic nanofibers which filter smaller particles while not impeding oil flow. In fact they are 98.7% efficient at removing 15 micron particles. Beware of filters claiming a % efficiency, but no particle size or vice versa. Amsoil's advertisements include scientific, repeatable ASTM tests.
Amsoil VS. Mobil-1: http://www.amsoil.com/redirect.cgi?zo=1463115&page=performancetests/g1971/index
Amsoil EaO oil filters: http://www.amsoil.com/redirect.cgi?zo=1463115&page=StoreFront/eao
3000 mile oil drains? See what GM and others have to say: http://www.amsoil.com/redirect.cgi?zo=1463115&page=news/oil_drain_intervals_2_06
If you can't find a dealer in your area or you need shipping to an APO/FPO address, you can buy online at my website or contact me directly for assistance: http://www.number1synthetic.com

Good luck-- I put Amsoil 20W-50 racing oil in my '89 5.0 Mustang with over 200K on it and haven't had any problems.

Answer 7

I would say it's a waste of money. Regular motor oil changed at regular frequencies (like you are doing) will be just fine. Keep you car in good tune and fix things as they need to be fixed. Change the fluids on regular schedules and you will give your car the best chance at survival.

Answer 8

sYNTHETICS ARE GOOD BUT ARE YOU HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT OIL/ some times leak will happen becuase different blend of oil especially on oil pan gasket.. cost is any thing they are more expensive same amout of oil changes! every 3000 miles? ask shops, parts places. close friends?
friends,what oil they use? ask volvo dealer? too!

Answer 9

Keep in mind that "Full" is not the same as 100%. The syn***tic additive package is likely 100% but that part of it might only total as little as 10% syn. Due diligence will reveal whether or not your choice is smartest for your situation.

Answer 10

if you change your oil often as you do then there is no need to switch.
Hope you are changing the filter as well. You are on the right track.
No need for the extra $$