Motor oil myths and facts

[07Corolla]

All you ever wanted to know about motor oil, and filters.

http://www.nordicgroup.us/oil.htm

[Flashmn]

Oh I love this

Engine Flushes--The Latest Scam
Engine flushes pump heated solvent through your engine, supposedly to wash away sludge. But regular oil changes with detergent oil already take care of the sludge problem. And if you actually have an engine that is full of sludge the last thing you want to do is do an engine flush because the sludge can clog the oil passages and destroy the engine completely. These flushes are completely unnecessary. All they do is wash the money out of your wallet.

thats for all the seafoam fans out there

[tnmk]

You opened a can of worms here.

The guy that wroote that article reall needs to do his homework.

What I got using an oil flush? No more oil burning, that's what. And I was burning about a qt every 700 miles.

Synthetic is far and away better and in the end cheaper than conventional oil.

How is it cheaper? For one, better mpg. I've yet to meet someone that uses synthetic that doesn't see better mpg. For two, extended drain intervals. I use Amsoil oil and filter. Both are good for 25,000 miles or one year. Don't believe me? Try it and then do a used oil analisys. Tractor trailers are going 100,000 miles and more (One report I saw went close to 500,000) all because they do used oil analisys and it usually comes out good. So no need to change.

Wear protection, there is no comparison. Engines that run on synthetic seem to run forever and when they get taken apart the inside is still clean and most if not all parts are well within specs to be re-used.

So for synthetic you get:
less friction
less wear
better mpg
extended change intervals
better for your seals
better cold starting
more protection from heat.
air cooled engines run cooler

so what the disadvantage of synthetic?

All of this info is very well documented

[Flashmn]

There really isnt disadvantages running synthetic, its the superior oil compared to mineral.

Only real downside is that it has better detergent qualities, so you might start to leak from seals in older cars or the crud inside might start moving and clog passages.

[tnmk]

I suppose that's possible, but in most cases it will re-condition those seals, and not that I'm a mechanic, but I've never heard of clogged oil passages and I've been a gearhead all my life. For that matter, isn't there a better chance that thing might break loose if you do nothing? I mean really, if the crud is building up to that extent, wouldn't you have chunks break loose occaisionally anyway?

That would have to be a pretty large chunk to create that problem. A good engine flush should disolve those particals small enough that it wouldn't be an issue.

And if the flushes were truly causing that problem, I would think there would be a number of law suits.

Typically a company doesn't create a produt that will cause damage if for no other reason than to avoid a lawsuit. They may make claims that aren't real to sell a product, but not usually something that will cause damage.

[Flashmn]

Typically a company doesn't create a produt that will cause damage if for no other reason than to avoid a lawsuit.

Try for example motor-up, its not sold anymore for said reason. Typically companies have disclaimers to get their asses out of the hotseat.

Oil wont re-condition old and stiff rubber seals, it'll just find a path around it. as for clogging oil passages, it is indeed a problem ,I aint talking out of my ass. I do this stuff for living...and no I dont work at jiffy lube

[tnmk]

synthetic does indeed "swell" seals. But it depends on how far gone they are of course.

But I guess I learned something new about the clogged oil passages. That's a problem I've never heard of b4

[Flashmn]

it might swell them, but it wont help them if they're in the condition that when you take them out, they break apart

[07Corolla]

What I got using an oil flush? No more oil burning, that's what. And I was burning about a qt every 700 miles.

Synthetic is far and away better and in the end cheaper than conventional oil.

How is it cheaper? For one, better mpg. I've yet to meet someone that uses synthetic that doesn't see better mpg. For two, extended drain intervals. I use Amsoil oil and filter. Both are good for 25,000 miles or one year. Don't believe me?

If you're running 25,000 miles between oil changes, maybe that's the reason your burning oil and needing engine flushes.

[freakinbox]

I'll stick to wanting to rebuild rather than chance flushing it and freeing something up that will block oil flow. I push my engine hard all the time, which is probably why my car burns oil. I don't want to chance blowing the engine because I ran a flush through it.

I don't care what their studies say you can't really say a 1 year oil is overly reliable and is good on the engine over many years of use as it hasn't been out for 15 years.

you may not know if the flush has blocked anything for awhile if you don't push the engine. BUt the areas with the blocked oil flow (if not completely blocked) will eventually have issues.

[tnmk]

Originally Posted by 07Corolla

If you're running 25,000 miles between oil changes, maybe that's the reason your burning oil and needing engine flushes.

I just bought the car less than 2500 miles ago and it only has 57,000 total miles on it. And it's 25000 or one year, I only go about 18,000 a year. If you want to wait that long I'll do a used oil analasys too see what the result is.

If you do your homework you'll find there are a lot of people on the 25,000 mile plan and not having any problems at all. The key words are "do your homework". There is tons of documentation on this. Granted most of it from Amsoil customers. But then no other company provides as much info as they do or even tries to give you even half the info that Amsoil does.

Redline says it's good for 18,000 and Mobil One for 15,000

Just try to find any legitimate bad press on Amsoil. If you can I'd like to see it, because I've searched for it and can't find it.

Someone here tell me what the number one reason is for burning oil.

I know what Amsoil says and because of their impeccable reputation and massive amounts of documentation along with 34 years of testing experience, I trust it. Not to mention some others on other forums I'm on swear by it. I don't go by hear say and opinions too much. Show me the proof. Amsoil does that. Unless they've been lying about it for the past 34 years. Lies don't go that long without being found out.

Hey freakin' man, Amsoil has been doing this for 34 years, not 15.

[tnmk]

This question is for Flashmn.

On the clogged oil passage issue. I'm curious under what conditions this happens. Is this happening only after someone does an oil flush? Or is it due to people just being bad about changing the oil?

Because as the article reads, the detergents in the new oil after you do the oil change will help "clean" up the sludge. So wouldn't a normal oil change create this problem also if there is some sludge built up?

I'm going to contact Tech support at Amsoil and get some answers as well.

[Flashmn]

Its always possible that you get particles moving, especially if you've used "bad oil" for a long time and have neglected oil changes.

[tnmk]

So what is your answer? Is it from flushes, or from neglect? Or from both, combination of the 2? New oil change dislodging the old crap? I'm looking for details. I'm a new Amsoil dealer and I like to be armed with knowledge. Real knowledge. I want to be able to share the truth with people so that I can build long standing relationships based on trust.

[Flashmn]

I'd say age, neglect and then when you add a flush on top, it brings the whole thing down. I'm not a fan of flushes, I use proper oil and change it at a regular interval. If I want to clean the insides of an engine, I'll tear it down.