ARTICLE: Synthetic oil vs Mineral oil

[nitrous]

Guys i'm using Castrol magnatec the engine feels smoother and car doesn't rev for all that long during cold starts. Now since the oil change interval is coming i wanted to know the prices for a fully synthetic oil like mobile1 or helix ?

Varies from 500 to 600 bucks a litre.
Its definitely worth it.

[johy]

Originally Posted by GTO

No synthetics during the running-in period: Wear and tear is actually good for a new engine. Synthetic oil, with its superior lubricating properties, hinders the running-in process and is best used only after 10 000 – 15 000 km.

Only after 10,000-15,000 kms? Not before that? I was thinking of using synthetic engine oil with my 6-month service of my new Wagon R, but with a running of less than 300 km per month, there is barely 1500 km on the odo. The Maruti service center guys told me to use mineral for the first service and synthetic with my second service - what do I do? Just continue to use Mineral till 10,000/- kms?

[sandeep108]

Originally Posted by johy

Only after 10,000-15,000 kms? Not before that? I was thinking of using synthetic engine oil with my 6-month service of my new Wagon R, but with a running of less than 300 km per month, there is barely 1500 km on the odo. The Maruti service center guys told me to use mineral for the first service and synthetic with my second service - what do I do? Just continue to use Mineral till 10,000/- kms?

Yes, absolutely, just as recommended by GTO. Switching to synthetic just at 1,500 km is a no no for the reasons mentioned. In fact in most modern cars the first oil is a very carefully developed cocktail of synthetic, mineral oils, various additives like moly sulphide, etc., all designed for optimum bedding in of the various engine parts.

I have used both synthetic and mineral in my OHC. I agree with Floyd - it is better to use mineral and change more frequently than use synthetic with extended change intervals. With mineral oil, one must ensure a warm up period from cold start before revving the engine. I used to only change the oil filter when using synthetic to extend the change interval, but while there was some difference when using synthetic initially, it reduced over time and I did not simply feel that VFM. After all the OHC was rated for 200,000 kms on its regular honda oil and my driving is just too little.

[nitrous]

Only after 10,000-15,000 kms? Not before that?

Atleast 5000kms.
In ur case of 300kms per month which is 10km/day,think twice before switching over to synthetic.Ur oil change interval with synthetic wud be 4-5 years .

[gigy]

4 lts of synthetic oil from gulf is costing 1700 approx. written racing special, think its 5w-40 in a white can. is this good brand?

[moralfibre]

For everyone's info: Shell Helix Ultra 15W50 is available with all Skoda dealers for Rs. 2,800/- for 4 lts. I would prefer buying it from Skoda for genuineness.

Does the RS use synthetic oil grade as a standard?

[DRC]

Shell Helix ultra is available in Shell stations across Bangalore. 2650 for a 4 lit can.

In deed it is a very good oil.

[GTO]

I agree with Floyd - it is better to use mineral and change more frequently than use synthetic with extended change intervals.

These are two separate factors i.e. what oil to use, and the frequency of change. Of course, you can say that instead of spending Rs. 2,000 on a single oil change, you would rather change regular oil thrice more in the same amount and at more frequent intervals. Its like saying that you would rather eat low quality food 5 times a day than high quality food 3 times.

However, we have to understand that synthetic oil will offer FAR better protection at crucial times such as when you start the car, during high revving or in afternoon bumper-to-bumper conditions. Even brand new mineral oil will not come close to the protection level that synthetics will offer at these driving conditions.

Do car companies reccommend synthetic oil. Which ones?

Yes. You can check this link to see who uses Mobil 1 as a factory-fill

Does changing the oil from mineral to synthetic affect the manufacturers warranty.

No.

Where is it reccommended to get the oil change done? Authorized Service Centers only? or are there specialists who do this job?

Authorised service centers would be the best. If not convenient, any competent petrol pump / independent garage will do. Its adviceable to be present when they perform the oil change (you are assured that they are actually using the expensive synthetic oil that you paid for).

[sandeep108]

Originally Posted by GTO

However, we have to understand that synthetic oil will offer FAR better protection at crucial times such as when you start the car, during high revving or in afternoon bumper-to-bumper conditions. Even brand new mineral oil will not come close to the protection level that synthetics will offer at these driving conditions.

There is absolutely no disputing that, GTO. In fact that was the reason I switched to sythetic in my OHC - short drives, more cold starts, etc. But at the end, with very short total annual running, to me the protection / performance benefit was simply not worth it or even perceivable, beyond the initial new oil filling - which was identical to mineral oil.

[nitrous]

@Sandeep108:U have a point that justifies ur low running.
If anyone feels that synthetic oil is expensive, u can always use regular oil.
'Nuff said.So, lets not "coffee-toffee" over engine oil.

[NIP]

my scorpio has done 30k on the odo and i have switched from mineral to synthetic (Castrol Edge). I have also changed my service station from the riduculous India Garage to a local service station, and this chap is very enthusiastic and gives me excellent service + advice. on his advice, i have made the switch and i have only run 1k or so...and i can already feel the difference in the engine. also, the tune up job done on the engine was excellent so i will just have to wait and see if the engine really feels any different when i hit the highways. the cost difference is 1:5...i think normal oil costs 120 a ltr and Castrol edge costs 5 times that, and the next required change is 10k kms. hope my investment turns out to be good !

[NIP]

GTO...i was just going thru that link you posted earlier !! heres what it says :

If you do decide to change, only go up the scale. If you've been running around on synthetic, don't change down to a mineral-based oil - your engine might not be able to cope with the degradation in lubrication. Consequently, if you've been using mineral oil, try a semi or a full synthetic oil. By degradation, I'm speaking of the wear tolerances that an engine develops based on the oil that it's using. Thicker mineral oils mean thicker layers of oil coating the moving parts (by microns though). Switching to a thinner synthetic oil can cause piston rings to leak and in some very rare cases, piston slap or crank vibration.


...kinda seems i'm stuck with synthetic oil for life now !! this is one thing i never expected !!

[CaliforniaKnight]

My car runs approx 2000km per month..average speeds would be 120 -160kph?I know synthetic oil is good for my car, but what intervals shall I change the engine oil, 5000 or 7500km?

[Ram]

Well some words of motherhood precipitate from reading the foregoing and the references.

1) Don't rev your engine all the way to the redline if you want it to last long, even if it's an expensive German or Italian engine. It's more than sensible to stay around half the redline rpm (Why? Look at the torque and bhp curves. The curves will tell you why!)

2) Having driven over three-decades without ever using synthetic oils (that's longer than the age of some kid-gurus) and never has any of my engines gone leaky, my recommendation is:
While the slick-talking marketers continue to try to peddle their slick synthetics to you, Stick to mineral oils, but change the oil and filter without fail every 5,000 km or five months whichever happens earlier for petrol engines, and every 4,000 km or four months for diesel engines!

Ram

[viper]

Originally Posted by ram

Well some words of motherhood precipitate from reading the foregoing and the references.

1) Don't rev your engine all the way to the redline if you want it to last long, even if it's an expensive German or Italian engine. It's more than sensible to stay around half the redline rpm (Why? Look at the torque and bhp curves. The curves will tell you why!)

2) Having driven over three-decades without ever using synthetic oils (that's longer than the age of some kid-gurus) and never has any of my engines gone leaky, my recommendation is:
While the slick-talking marketers continue to try to peddle their slick synthetics to you, Stick to mineral oils, but change the oil and filter without fail every 5,000 km or five months whichever happens earlier for petrol engines, and every 4,000 km or four months for diesel engines!

Ram

Hey,

I think you could have said it in a more subtle manner. To start with I dont think synthetic oils or modern engines were made/available/sold in India 3 decades ago. I hope your thinking changes as you grow older since I am sure you have heard of the terminology technology and advances in science. Nobody is forcing anyone to put synthetic oil but your example is completely out of place and uncalled for. I too am driving from 2 decades but that does not make either of us better drivers than some "kids". Age does not make you a better driver or make one superior or better than others.

Viper