Types of Synthetic Oil???
April-7th-2002 | 02:26 PM
#16
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 154
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Catchme: dude, where'd you get Agip? I know you live in Canada but, sheesh!!! Id like to get some. Can you email me privately if you can somehow send me some?
Also, we here in the States don't get Formula Shell full-synthetic (i wanted to use it recently.). instead we only get the semi-synthetic. How much is the Shell synthetic up there also?
i feel that if Shell oil is good enough for Ferrari F1, its good enough for me! But, id love to try Agip too!! I wonder why the north american market(s) dont get Shell Helix brand oils either?
Also, we here in the States don't get Formula Shell full-synthetic (i wanted to use it recently.). instead we only get the semi-synthetic. How much is the Shell synthetic up there also?
i feel that if Shell oil is good enough for Ferrari F1, its good enough for me! But, id love to try Agip too!! I wonder why the north american market(s) dont get Shell Helix brand oils either?
April-7th-2002 | 02:35 PM
#17
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 154
From: Atlanta, Georgia
I used to use Mobil 1 in my high revving 99' Civic Si. when you rev daily to 8Krpms, you gotta have some protection against viscosity breakdown.
Now I use Exxon/Esso Superflow Synthetic 5w-50 and I love it! and its only $3.20 a quart. Mobil 1 here in Atlanta is $4.50/qt! but here in Atlanta its $4.50/qt!
I would like to use Shell's full synthetic but, the U.S. just isnt quite good enough it seems as its missing from the U.S. Shell website.
if you do want to use a Shell syn. then buy Rotella-T 5w-40. its marketed as an heavy duty truck oil, but its type SJ and usable in the 2L motor. also, the reason its not marketed to regular petrol burning cars is that its not a EC(energy conserving) oil, thus not API approved. otherwise use it for a race oil or everyday. its almost $5 a qt though!
Now I use Exxon/Esso Superflow Synthetic 5w-50 and I love it! and its only $3.20 a quart. Mobil 1 here in Atlanta is $4.50/qt! but here in Atlanta its $4.50/qt!
I would like to use Shell's full synthetic but, the U.S. just isnt quite good enough it seems as its missing from the U.S. Shell website.
if you do want to use a Shell syn. then buy Rotella-T 5w-40. its marketed as an heavy duty truck oil, but its type SJ and usable in the 2L motor. also, the reason its not marketed to regular petrol burning cars is that its not a EC(energy conserving) oil, thus not API approved. otherwise use it for a race oil or everyday. its almost $5 a qt though!
April-7th-2002 | 02:39 PM
#18
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 154
From: Atlanta, Georgia
oh, one last thing. last i heard, Slick 50 uses teflon in its oil and thats not exactly something that should be in your engine as it turns to sludge. I thought that Castrol used to use it as well. i believe it was marketed by it atleast.
Although, Castrol does supply the engine oil to the F1 engine maker with the highest hp engine-BMW. It is thought that Toyota may actually be not far behind. They use Esso/Exxon.
Although, Castrol does supply the engine oil to the F1 engine maker with the highest hp engine-BMW. It is thought that Toyota may actually be not far behind. They use Esso/Exxon.
April-8th-2002 | 11:09 AM
#19
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 147
From: Regina, SK, CA
Mobil 1 in both my cars. I change it in my MR2 more frequently, usually every 4K km's compared to twice that for the Pro.
Richard: what do you use in your cars? What about the rotary? I've heard some people say that one should not use synthetics in the rotary engine.
Richard: what do you use in your cars? What about the rotary? I've heard some people say that one should not use synthetics in the rotary engine.
April-8th-2002 | 02:30 PM
#20
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From: New Jersey
Re: Great article...
Originally posted by 90&00 Protege
Synthetic Semantics
- © Patrick Bedard, Car & Driver
Synthetic Semantics
- © Patrick Bedard, Car & Driver
If that's true that Castrol Syntec is still petroleum based, then I won't be using it any more. Just for kicks, I wrote to them and asked them if there was any petroleum based compound in their synthetic product. I can't wait to see how they dance around that question.
April-9th-2002 | 12:16 PM
#21
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From: New Jersey
Castrol Response
Here was Castrol's response to my question... note the enormous amount of crap PR they had to spew out before finally answering my question in the second to last line:
Thank you for contacting Castrol regarding Syntec Full Synthetic Motor Oil.
Motor oil, in general, is composed of 85% base oil and approximately l5% additives.
Castrol Non-synthetic oil is made from paraffin based oil, which is resistant to chemical reaction and has good viscosity/temperature characteristics. It will also experience less change in viscosity with change in temperature and has greater oxidation stability, additive compatibility, and low volatility and oil consumption.
The composition of SYNTEC Blend, depending upon the formulation, is 10-30% synthetic. However, the key issue is not the quantity of synthetics, but it's ability to protect. Unlike other
part synthetics, SYNTEC Blend is formulated with Castrol conventional oil and SYNTEC components. SYNTEC Blend provides a level of protection unsurpassed by any other part synthetic motor oil, regardless of their level of synthetic content.
Castrol SYNTEC Full Synthetic Motor Oil neutralizes damaging particles and suspends them away from engine surfaces.
Castrol SYNTEC has an excellent detergent dispersant system, which provides superior performance in maintaining engine cleanliness and helping to prevent build-up of deposits within
the engine. SYNTEC contains patented stabilizers that interact with harmful pollutants more effectively than conventional oils. In doing so, they seek out combustion by-products and other corrosive particles and hold them in suspension while maintaining engine cleanliness. SYNTEC neutralizes or stabilizes corrosive effects and provides deposit formation protection, resulting in a
cleaner running engine, thus reducing wear and helping extend engine life.
SYNTEC Full Synthetic SAE 5W-50 provides the widest range of protection available. The 5W provides rapid oil circulation at start-up and the 50 delivers a thicker high temperature oil film for ultimate wear protection.
Castrol SYNTEC Full Synthetic Motor Oil, with its exclusive chemical esters, is also available in
SAE 5W-30, l0W-30, 10W-40 and 0W-30.
Syntec is predominantly a hydroisomerized base stock. This new base helps achieve and enhance higher levels of performance.
Motor oil, in general, is composed of 85% base oil and approximately l5% additives.
Castrol Non-synthetic oil is made from paraffin based oil, which is resistant to chemical reaction and has good viscosity/temperature characteristics. It will also experience less change in viscosity with change in temperature and has greater oxidation stability, additive compatibility, and low volatility and oil consumption.
The composition of SYNTEC Blend, depending upon the formulation, is 10-30% synthetic. However, the key issue is not the quantity of synthetics, but it's ability to protect. Unlike other
part synthetics, SYNTEC Blend is formulated with Castrol conventional oil and SYNTEC components. SYNTEC Blend provides a level of protection unsurpassed by any other part synthetic motor oil, regardless of their level of synthetic content.
Castrol SYNTEC Full Synthetic Motor Oil neutralizes damaging particles and suspends them away from engine surfaces.
Castrol SYNTEC has an excellent detergent dispersant system, which provides superior performance in maintaining engine cleanliness and helping to prevent build-up of deposits within
the engine. SYNTEC contains patented stabilizers that interact with harmful pollutants more effectively than conventional oils. In doing so, they seek out combustion by-products and other corrosive particles and hold them in suspension while maintaining engine cleanliness. SYNTEC neutralizes or stabilizes corrosive effects and provides deposit formation protection, resulting in a
cleaner running engine, thus reducing wear and helping extend engine life.
SYNTEC Full Synthetic SAE 5W-50 provides the widest range of protection available. The 5W provides rapid oil circulation at start-up and the 50 delivers a thicker high temperature oil film for ultimate wear protection.
Castrol SYNTEC Full Synthetic Motor Oil, with its exclusive chemical esters, is also available in
SAE 5W-30, l0W-30, 10W-40 and 0W-30.
Syntec is predominantly a hydroisomerized base stock. This new base helps achieve and enhance higher levels of performance.
April-12th-2002 | 01:05 AM
#23
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
i like how they still avoided anwering your question
! just like a good politician they talked about how great their product is and what is does rather than answer your question directly. they still never said whether or not syntec is dino based. they danced around it beautifully! i am tired so, perhaps they did answer it, but i dont think so.
chris j.
! just like a good politician they talked about how great their product is and what is does rather than answer your question directly. they still never said whether or not syntec is dino based. they danced around it beautifully! i am tired so, perhaps they did answer it, but i dont think so. chris j.
September-30th-2002 | 03:35 AM
#26
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 67
From: Austin, Tx
well...
15 yrs. experience with maint, repair, mods, etc. leads me to believe all non syths provide similar protection. Only one, first hand, stood above the others. Castrol GTX. My experience ranges from cars and trucks through bikes, boats, heavy trucks and machinery. The best evidence I've seen was a bike with well over 65K miles (extreme for a bike) that had no measurable wear upon a full tear down. I measured the parts and was just as amazed as the owner because this bike was often raced and almost daily driven. At last report this bike was approaching 100K miles. Castrol has one difference (in conventional oils) from the other brands. Castrol isn't petroleum based, but is castor oil based (parafin). It's a mute point when oil is contaminated by other elements in an engine. (oil turns black as a result of fuel contamination and heat) No oil is immune. Once it is contaminated by fuel blown by the rings, oil loses the reliability of it's viscosity.
Soon after synths were introduced, I cut open a few filters to find the teflon (ptfe) had begun to clog the filter media. (if the teflon is stuck in the filter, what good is it to the motor?) That's the last time I used a synth. Reduced friction is a bonus, but at what cost? I recently bought a truck from my brother and perplexed by substantial oil leaks, but quite happy when they suddenly slowed to almost nothing upon changing the oil. Turns out he had used Mobil 1 for 10 years and I had switched back to a conv. oil. (yes, Castrol). Think gasket materials designed to work with non-synth oil? Form your own conclusion. Another thought, If they make a good conventional oil, couldn't you expect them to make a good sythetic?
For the money, I'll stick with conventional oils and prefer Castrol. Since we don't have any kind of real winter in Texas, I use 20w50 year round.
Let's see... That's my two cents...and then some.
Soon after synths were introduced, I cut open a few filters to find the teflon (ptfe) had begun to clog the filter media. (if the teflon is stuck in the filter, what good is it to the motor?) That's the last time I used a synth. Reduced friction is a bonus, but at what cost? I recently bought a truck from my brother and perplexed by substantial oil leaks, but quite happy when they suddenly slowed to almost nothing upon changing the oil. Turns out he had used Mobil 1 for 10 years and I had switched back to a conv. oil. (yes, Castrol). Think gasket materials designed to work with non-synth oil? Form your own conclusion. Another thought, If they make a good conventional oil, couldn't you expect them to make a good sythetic?
For the money, I'll stick with conventional oils and prefer Castrol. Since we don't have any kind of real winter in Texas, I use 20w50 year round.
Let's see... That's my two cents...and then some.
Last edited by stealthscotty; September-30th-2002 at 03:39 AM.
September-30th-2002 | 10:30 AM
#27
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 46
Re: well...
Originally posted by stealthscotty
15 yrs. experience with maint, repair, mods, etc. leads me to believe all non syths provide similar protection. Only one, first hand, stood above the others. Castrol GTX.
15 yrs. experience with maint, repair, mods, etc. leads me to believe all non syths provide similar protection. Only one, first hand, stood above the others. Castrol GTX.
As for PTFE, I know of no full synthetic oil that uses that at all. The snake oil additives like Slick 50 have used it, but in terms of real lubricants, it's not used. I noticed that you mentioned you first tried synthetics when they first came out, which happened to be 30 years ago. Synthetic oil technology has come a long way since then, especially the seal problems you mentioned.
When Japanese cars first hit the marketplace people scorned them and stuck with the good old standbys. Now people pay a premium for them because they have slowly realized that they truly are better and worth the money. One could easily draw a few parallels here.
September-30th-2002 | 01:22 PM
#28
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 67
From: Austin, Tx
With so many factors
it's tough to make a clear choice, and to each his own. While synthetics may have debuted 30 years ago, I didn't see them in regular use until maybe 10 or 12 years ago. The products I saw then were questionable but I'm sure they have come a long way. The point I hoped to convey was that if such good protection can be had at $1.49 a quart, I can't easily justify the cost of using synthetics.
As for the seal concerns, that was only a couple of months ago. I am not convinced that the industry has changed it's technology to accomodate synthetics over conventional oils. Time will tell and I'm sure we'll see remarkable advances in this area. For now, I'll stick with what I've seen to work so well.
Not one to argue....
As for the seal concerns, that was only a couple of months ago. I am not convinced that the industry has changed it's technology to accomodate synthetics over conventional oils. Time will tell and I'm sure we'll see remarkable advances in this area. For now, I'll stick with what I've seen to work so well.
Not one to argue....
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