synthetics vs. Dino
Hi all, in regards to synthetics vs dino oil, there are a few good points made by various posters.
any "true" 100% synthetic oil, and there are only about 3 brands, believe it or not, will out-perform the dino oils, hands down. they are designed from the moleculalar-level to meet a particular property. the Semi-Synthetics are a waste of money because they are more than 50% dino oil, and have the limitations inherent to dino oil base-stocks, but cost more than double the price of regular dino oils.
As for oil-change intervals, a good 100% synthetic oil has the ability to go many more miles before it needs to be changed than a dino oil because of its resistance to break-down, but there is no hard-and-fast rule on how many miles that is. The driving condidtions and enviromental conditions a particular vehicle encounters has more to due with the life of the oil than what the label says. That's just common sense. the ONLY way to determine the maximum oil-change interval is a proper oil analysis, PERIOD! Even a good grade petrolium oil can exceed the 3000 mile interval if a satisfactory analysis concludes that the oil is fit to continue use. Similarly, that same oil may fail the test, and the drain interval can be much shorter as well.
My experience with Amsoil over the years confirms what some of the poster's have said regarding the milage figures, and also I have found that on first start-up after converting, the engine WILL run faster, that is, the idle speed increases by about 400-600 RPM, and a subsequent adjustment to lower the idle speed back down to normal speed. Only one conclusion can be made for that......it lowers internal friction.....and that can only be a GOOD thing!
I truely believe that Amsoil, Mobil 1 and any other true 100% synthetic oil is the way to go if you plan to keep your truck for a long time. The other rerason to use it is if you live in a climate that is extreame, either very hot, or very cold. Arizona = Hot, Alaska = Cold. Most other climates in the USA rarely see real extreams, but of course there are exceptions.
I live in the Yukon Territory, which is beside alaska, and I run Amsoil gear lube in the drive-train, because of the cold....and Amsoil has the lowest pour-point, -54F, and I run Mobil 1 in the engine because the price is significantly cheaper than Amsoil, but I would prefer to run Amsoil, but $14 per quart is a bit steep. Mobil 1 engine oil is close to the performance of Amsoil, low pour-point, and lubricity, but I change it every 5000 miles.
Anybody who says that Amsoil is the cause of engine damage, and didn't change it when required ( not as per the label, but when oil analysis dictated ) is FULL of Sh*T. neglect, abuse, and ignorance notwithstanding. annecdotal hear-say just doesn't cut it.
as one poster said: keeping clean oil in the engine will make any engine last forever is right-on....but extreame climate or driving conditions requires better oil/ more frequent changes.