Cal Club Autocross Forums

Got a question. I know synthetic oil has significant long-term benefits for engine life, and that the oil change interval is significantly longer than conventional oil, but if I'm leasing my car (so as long as the engine lasts as long as the lease term, I don't care about how long it lasts after that) and the terms of my lease say I have to change my oil every 5K miles no matter what, are there other benefits to spending the extra cash on synthetic?

Nope, run the cheap dyno stuff since reliabilty down the road doesn't matter, ;)

should I move this out of the events forum?

Kurt Rahn wrote:what, are there other benefits to spending the extra cash on synthetic?

• Less wear on engine parts over the long-term
• peace of mind

Kurt Rahn wrote:Got a question. I know synthetic oil has significant long-term benefits for engine life, and that the oil change interval is significantly longer than conventional oil, but if I'm leasing my car (so as long as the engine lasts as long as the lease term, I don't care about how long it lasts after that) and the terms of my lease say I have to change my oil every 5K miles no matter what, are there other benefits to spending the extra cash on synthetic?

Less friction = cooler running, slight increase in power, fuel economy.

For your circumstance, any oil that meets the minimum SAE service requirement would be the cheaper choice.

Aaron Goldsmith wrote:should I move this out of the events forum?

Definitely OT

Giovanni Jaramillo wrote:

Aaron Goldsmith wrote:should I move this out of the events forum?

Definitely OT

I'll let Marshall, Mike or Will do it.. I don't feel like logging out and back in.

dyno

oil !?

A few year ago, Consumer Reports did a study on the effects of regular oil changes using New York City cabs. Two groups of cabs, one of which got routine oil changes at regular intervals, the other no oil changes, just top off as necessary. After 100,000 miles, the engines were torn down for inspection. Strangely, they reported no significant difference between the two groups. Don't know if anyone cares, I just found the report interesting.

Aaron Goldsmith wrote:

Giovanni Jaramillo wrote:

Aaron Goldsmith wrote:should I move this out of the events forum?

Definitely OT

I'll let Marshall, Mike or Will do it.. I don't feel like logging out and back in.

...ok

should I move this out of the events forum?

Whoops! Sorry guys...thought I was in Solo Talk. I guess my post was OT for that too, though.

eh, it could have gone solo talk too i guess.

maybe aaron and log out and log back in to move it.

I agree with Bob on this one.
Since you would only benefit from the possible increase in economy I can't see it paying off on a lease car.
One caveat is that a lot of lessees purchase their cars. If that is a consideration, the slight improvement in longevity might tip the balance in favor of synthetic.
FYI
The majority of wear occurs during cold engine start up. This is exacerbated by not letting oil press come up before driving.
I advise people to start the car, put on the seat belt, then take off parking brake. This generally gets oil press up before putting any load on the engine.

As far as George's report. New York Taxis are often used as an example of high stress engine operation. This is some what of a misnomer. They are generally running most of the time and seldom experience true cold start. I think it was Quaker State who used them in a commercial when they were trying to recover from their deserved reputation as a low quality oil. The worst case scenario that most engines ever experience is very short trip driving in cold weather. Not only are the cold starts stressful, the engine doesn't warm up sufficiently to "dry" out the oil from normal condensation and blow by.

Some NY cabs are virtually always running. As soon as they are brought in, another driver/relative/business partner takes it out. Doesn't a NY Taxi "Shield" (license?) cost something like $100K ! They have to be constantly working to make a profit.

I had a friend who leased a new car every two years/30K miles and never, ever even opened the hood. He just put fuel in the car and air in the tires when a tire started howling. Three Tauruses (Tarusi?) and two Impalas later and he's never had a problem.

To expand a bit on what JP's saying, oil does more than lubricate; it also deals with the acidic byproducts of combustion. It is those byproducts that reduce the oil's ability to lubricate. Short trips without warming the engine up to full operating temp won't evaporate the combustion byproducts or condensed moisture.

On start-up, the bearings have some oil, but no pressure; more important, the cylinder walls have almost no oil if the car has sat for very long. Again, when oil pressure comes up, the cylinders get lubricated.

All modern oils do a better job at clinging to parts and the detergent packages are much improved.

Yeah what Bob said

Mako Koiwai wrote:Some NY cabs are virtually always running. As soon as they are brought in, another driver/relative/business partner takes it out. Doesn't a NY Taxi "Shield" (license?) cost something like $100K ! They have to be constantly working to make a profit.

Last time I was in NY the cabby told me $250K for a year per car which is why they have to run them 24 hours a day.

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:To expand a bit on what JP's saying, oil does more than lubricate; it also deals with the acidic byproducts of combustion. It is those byproducts that reduce the oil's ability to lubricate. Short trips without warming the engine up to full operating temp won't evaporate the combustion byproducts or condensed moisture.

On start-up, the bearings have some oil, but no pressure; more important, the cylinder walls have almost no oil if the car has sat for very long. Again, when oil pressure comes up, the cylinders get lubricated.

All modern oils do a better job at clinging to parts and the detergent packages are much improved.

I agree (OMG) with Bob B on something.



BTW I am doing OC @ about 4k miles on the C5Z. DIC oil life is about 25% to 30% left when I do it.

M1 10w-30, but I may switch to the Redline 10W-40 because of the EPA ZDDP chit.

And then the last message board without an oil thread went away.....

KJ Christopher wrote:And then the last message board without an oil thread went away.....

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1341&start=0&st=0&s ... &hilit=oil" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=305&start=0&st=0&sk ... &hilit=oil" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Christine Berry wrote:

KJ Christopher wrote:And then the last message board without an oil thread went away.....

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1341&start=0&st=0&s ... &hilit=oil" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=305&start=0&st=0&sk ... &hilit=oil" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe KJ meant the last message board without a synth vs. dino oil thread.

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:

Christine Berry wrote:

KJ Christopher wrote:And then the last message board without an oil thread went away.....

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1341&start=0&st=0&s ... &hilit=oil" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=305&start=0&st=0&sk ... &hilit=oil" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe KJ meant the last message board without a synth vs. dino oil thread.

Maybe what he meant, but definatly not what he said...

Christine Berry wrote: Maybe what he meant, but definatly not what he said...

:unimpressed:
It was inferred....

Bob Plante wrote:M1 10w-30, but I may switch to the Redline 10W-40 because of the EPA ZDDP chit.

If you're interested Bob, try my oil: Gio's Independent AMSOIL Dealership

Giovanni Jaramillo wrote:

Bob Plante wrote:M1 10w-30, but I may switch to the Redline 10W-40 because of the EPA ZDDP chit.

If you're interested Bob, try my oil: Gio's Independent AMSOIL Dealership

Nice, now we are doing plugs for our favorite... I use a nice little company in Huntington Beach that offers both off the shelf, and custom blended motor oils and gear lubes. http://gopurepower.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They also offer a reusable oil filter.

I got turned on to these guys by the factory Mazda racers, if it is good enough for them - and they have the resources to test lots of different stuff - I knew I would be happy with it.