Switching oil... bad thing?

[Motorhead350]

For years I have used synthetic oil and just recently switched to regular. The reason is a good friend of mine said our Marauders do not need it even with all the mods I have, especially because I change it every 3,000 miles. So cheap oil is fine. Now here's the question:

Another friend who worked for Napa told me going from synthetic to regular could be bad for the engine. Going from regular to synthetic is okay though.

So is going back to regular bad for the engine?

[a_d_a_m]

Doing this...
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=can+you+switch+from+syntheti c+oil+back+to+regular+oil&aq=0&aqi=g2&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=7cb05bd54f18ebbc

Yields this...
http://www.valvoline.com/faqs/motor-oil/full-synthetic-motor-oil/

Which says this...



Is it ok to switch back and forth between regular and synthetic motor oil? I heard this causes leaks? Is this true?
Switching between synthetic and conventional oil does not cause problems. Because the oils are compatible, you can switch back and forth as often as you like.
I'd always heard the contrary was true, but there it is, straight from the horse's mouf.

[a_d_a_m]

All the same...for the $8-10 per change difference, I'll keep running my full synthetic and changing it at 3-4k. Ounce of prevention, pound of cure, blah blah blah.

[EMAS]

I wouldn't say "cheap oil" is Ok, you want high quality oil whether it is regular or synthetic base. Motorcraft oil is a synthetic blend and is comparable in pricing to the "regular" oils many times it's even cheaper than those big names and is commonly available at your local Wallmart.

[FordNut]

Factory recommended oil is synthetic blend.

Wife's car gets full synthetic, has run Mobil1 since the first oil change.

My car gets conventional, I broke it in with conventional and it never leaked. I switched to synthetic and it leaked so I switched back to conventional Valvoline.

The rest of my vehicles get synthetic blend.

I change oil and filter every 5k, no matter which kind of oil I use.

[RF Overlord]

Another friend who worked for Napa told me going from synthetic to regular could be bad for the engine. *sigh* Another urban myth/old wives tale. Your friend is wrong.

[fastblackmerc]

*sigh* Another urban myth/old wives tale. Your friend is wrong.

What a "friend"!

[ImpalaSlayer]

how do these dumb ass things start anyway? oil is oil, its all compatible so how would one make it leak or vise versa. as long as you use the right weight oil it dont matter

[RF Overlord]

Please allow me to amplify on my statement above.

There are situations where using synthetic may be a better choice, but switching between synth and conventional would never be "bad" for your engine.

Dom, I don't know why you've decided to switch, but if it's a financial thing, let me propose an alternative. Instead of using conventional oil for 3,000 miles, use a decent synthetic for 5,000 miles. The cost per mile would be about the same, and synthetic would be a better "choice" for your application (hard driving, supercharged). Changing ANY oil at 3,000 is a complete waste, except in certain very specific applications, for example the VW 1.8T engine...known to be very hard on oil. Another example is the Chrysler 2.7L V6...a design defect causes it to be very prone to sludge.

[CBT]

Dom starts oil thread, lures in RF, our resident oil expert. RF doesn't want to take the bait, but.....just......can't....... fight....urge....UUUuuuNNnggh! !!!, he screams to himself while typing to Dom.
Dom smiles, drops microphone, walks away in victory, "HA! I don't even use oil." he says.
RF feels dirty and used, takes long shower, wonders when knee high socks with sandals will make a comeback.

[steve fox]

I understand Ford commissioned Conoco to develop what became 5W20 for the 4.6L V 8. I do not know if it was synthetic.

[fastblackmerc]

I understand Ford commissioned Conoco to develop what became 5W20 for the 4.6L V 8. I do not know if it was synthetic.

Probably was the semi-synthetic although Ford now has a full-synthetic oil in 5w20.

[Motorhead350]

*sigh* Another urban myth/old wives tale. Your friend is wrong.

I am glad to hear that.


What a "friend"!

Good man, just not quite right upstairs... especially when drunk. :shake:

[ctrlraven]

Go with whatever Zack tells you to use Dom and just use it.

[guspech750]

Dom starts oil thread, lures in RF, our resident oil expert. RF doesn't want to take the bait, but.....just......can't....... fight....urge....UUUuuuNNnggh! !!!, he screams to himself while typing to Dom.
Dom smiles, drops microphone, walks away in victory, "HA! I don't even use oil." he says.
RF feels dirty and used, takes long shower, wonders when knee high socks with sandals will make a comeback.
:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Motorhead350]

Go with whatever Zack tells you to use Dom and just use it.

Doing that. Just heard switching could be a problem, but didn't ask him.

[slickster]

(I change my oil at 3k) (I change my oil at 5k) change your oil when it gets dark. If your under powertrain warranty do it every 3k on the dot or your warranty will be voided

[RF Overlord]

change your oil when it gets dark.Do some research on BITOG or Noria...colour is not a good indicator of oil condition.
do it every 3k on the dot or your warranty will be voidedFalse. Unless you have an aftermarket extended warranty which specifically calls for that interval, the "normal" interval is what's required for warranty protection; in the case of the Marauder that's 5,000 miles..for many other vehicles it's 7,500.

[JOEMERC]

Depends how much you like your engine and car if you like it a little use conventional oil if you love it use great oil ,being synthetic.and why would switching back and forth between the too make it leak,not true.

[FordNut]

how do these dumb ass things start anyway? oil is oil, its all compatible so how would one make it leak or vise versa. as long as you use the right weight oil it dont matter


...why would switching back and forth between the too make it leak,not true.


My car gets conventional, I broke it in with conventional and it never leaked. I switched to synthetic and it leaked so I switched back to conventional Valvoline.

All I can say is what happened with my car. I do prefer synthetic, and when I pull the engine and seal the leaks I'll switch back. For now, I'll keep petroleum based oil in it. BTW, once the synthetic got the leaks started, switching back to conventional didn't stop it. It does leak less than it did with synthetic, though. Both are 5w20, factory specs.

[MOTOWN]

i have had that happen before, all oil is far from the same, mineral based, and synthetic are night, and day!
to say synthetic oil is better than mineral based is an understatment, theres no comparison between the two

[Joe Walsh]

Please allow me to amplify on my statement above.

There are situations where using synthetic may be a better choice, but switching between synth and conventional would never be "bad" for your engine.

Dom, I don't know why you've decided to switch, but if it's a financial thing, let me propose an alternative. Instead of using conventional oil for 3,000 miles, use a decent synthetic for 5,000 miles. The cost per mile would be about the same, and synthetic would be a better "choice" for your application (hard driving, supercharged). Changing ANY oil at 3,000 is a complete waste, except in certain very specific applications, for example the VW 1.8T engine...known to be very hard on oil.
Another example is the Chrysler 2.7L V6...a design defect causes it to be very prone to sludge.

Is that why all those Chrysler Minivans smoke like a frickin' diesel?

An inordinate amount of Chrysler minivans that I have the misfortune of getting caught behind belch so much oil smoke, that they would best be used as smudge pots!......:mad2:

[JOEMERC]

Those minivans are known for bad valve guide seals that allows oil down into combustion chamber and makes them smoke.

[Joe Walsh]

Those minivans are known for bad valve guide seals that allows oil down into combustion chamber and makes them smoke.

Ahhhh, that explains it!

So.....Chrysler minivans SUCK!

BTW: I just saw a younger guy showing off in his SRT4 Caliber....and everytime he punched it, a HUGE cloud of oil smoke would come out of the tailpipe.
:hmmm:....Me thinks that his highly boosted 300HP 4 banger is about to expire!

[Da Dark Jedi]

That reminds me ... I'm down to my last 3 oil filters, time to stock up.