This is topic Synthetic Oils? in forum SSOA: "Back Porch" at www.chirpthird.com.


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Posted by alfredf00_1673 (Member # 142) on :
 
This is in the November issue of CHEVY High Performance.

In an answer to an oil comsumption issue with the LS1 (Page 130)

The LS1 oil-consumption problem can be compounded by using synthetic engine oils. GM recommends sticking with petroleum based oils in the LS1s. This was tough to do when the Vettes came with synthetic from the factory.

WHAT THE !@#$%

Go Figure. And here I thought I was doing a good thing!!



 

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Posted by JeffY (Member # 120) on :
 
F-cars also came with synthetic. Is Chevy High Performance a GM issued magazine or a GM licensed magazine? Who wrote the article or made the statement?
 

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Posted by alfredf00_1673 (Member # 142) on :
 
It is in the Performance Q&A section edited by Kevin McCelland

Believe the magazine is a division of PRIMEDIA

web address is www.chevyhighperformance.com Looks like it is under construction.
 

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Posted by 02SS1LE (Member # 2085) on :
 
Oh man, are you serious ?????

I just changed over to Mobil 1 10W30 synthetic last week.

So far, my only oil consumption has been about one pint after about 6,000 miles. That has been with standard 10W30, though.

My '02 SS currently has just over 15,000 miles.
 

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Posted by JeffY (Member # 120) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by alfredf00_1673:
It is in the Performance Q&A section edited by Kevin McCelland

Believe the magazine is a division of PRIMEDIA

web address is www.chevyhighperformance.com Looks like it is under construction.

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quote:

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Originally posted by CamaroSS2002LE:
I've been using Mobil 1 in mine since the day it arrived. So far not a drop used between oil changes.

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Same here!
 

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Posted by FirstLast (Member # 2010) on :
 
Wish the SLP history wasn't all thrown out with the water cause this was extensively discussed.

The oil loss was confined to some years - maybe 2000 / 2001 if any body can help here. Some corrections were made to reduce problem. Outside the leaking engines, don't see what relevance the article would have.

Most synthetic companies recommend their product for new engines after break-in. There is general opinion that changing higher mileage cars to synethic is counter productive and can be worse than better.

Have run synthetics for 20 years on some vehicles. Never caused engine problems, and usually very clean on tear down from what the magazines report (never neeeded to tear one of mine down). More concerned about synethetics in transmissions - GM word is don't and that is solid advice.
 

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Posted by SSHEETS (Member # 1989) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JeffY:

quote:

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Originally posted by alfredf00_1673:
It is in the Performance Q&A section edited by Kevin McCelland

Believe the magazine is a division of PRIMEDIA

web address is www.chevyhighperformance.com Looks like it is under construction.

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Unless a GM rep says it or its in a GM service bulletin, don't believe it. Synthetic oil has been in vettes since '86. Do you really think they would use it if they had a problem?

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You heard the man
Works for me. If I drive at high rpms for long periods I'll use a little oil, but heck, they sell it by the quart and it's easy to put in.
 

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Posted by killabee (Member # 860) on :
 
I've heard the complete opposite so
what are you going to believe.
Either way I think that synthetic does
a better job of protection so even if this
was true I'd sacrifice a little oil for engine
durability. I don't have much useage, about
1/2 qt at most every 3000. As far as high mileage
swithing, I don't know how you interprete that
don't I put Mobil in mine when I bought it with
46K and it now has 56K without any motor issues.

The only thing I know of the GM has said is that
it is caused by high RPM+light throttle applications i.e. driving in city traffic in 1st
or 2nd gear.

Isn't a 10w-30 synthetic also recommended for
piston slap/valve chatter.
 

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Posted by Z28-SORR (Member # 1565) on :
 
I could not fine the article, but the reasons for the high oil consumption of the LS1 has been well documented.
That being inadequate piston ring tension.
I have not seen nor do I believe that GM would make such a statement, for several reasons.
1) Changing the weight of the oil would have more effect than the type.
2) One advantage of syn. oil is that it burns much cleaner that dino. So it would make no sense to change if you already have an oil consumption problem.
3) GM has a contract with Mobil. It get really good oil at a reduced rate and Mobil gets it's stickers all over the engine bay. It wouldn't make for very good relations for GM to be telling people not to use Mobil.
4) Finially, although there are differences in the two types of oil there are still both just oil, there is nothing magic here. So I don't think that changing will help the problem enough to pacify a disgruntled customer.
 

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Posted by SSHEETS (Member # 1989) on :
 
#4 is a good one.

I work with some engineers for NTS (National Tribolgy Services)

If you look at the web site, the guy on the 2nd picture on the top of the main page is a good fiend of mine.

Two quick comments. All modern brand name automotive motor oil is good stuff. It is the most sophisticated lubrication on the market. The detergents, the multiviscosity components and the dino or synthetics.

The big diff between dino and syn is; synthetic is more resistant to breakdown. Most of us change our oil every 3,000 mile or so... so we are wasting money on the high priced synthetics, but it's my money and I knowingly do it. Hey, I spend more on Zaino than I do on Mobil 1

BTW, the multi viscosity is performed by little polymers added to the oil that grow with heat. This predictably takes up more oil passage space thus resisting the flow of oil through the orifice.
 

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Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
 
Been using Mobil 1 since as long as I can
remember.

This debate has been around for a while. I once
asked what the base is for synthetic oil? I
know conventional oil is a petroleum base, but
synthetic implies that it is man made. Is it?

Dunno.

As for consumption - since ALL oil will burn
or consume at some point, and, synthetic has
a higher burn point than conventional, then it
would follow that if the oil is being burned
rather than just leaking out, then synthetic
should last longer in an "oil burning" LS1.

BTW mine is a '98. Put Mobil 1 in the first
week I got it, and no oil loss at all. Same
with my wife's 02 Jeep and my 99 Suburban.

My thoughts.
 

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Posted by SSHEETS (Member # 1989) on :
 
I run Mobil 1 in my 03 Suburban too.

Funny how the new oil minder works differant on the 03 Burb compared to the 02 Camaro. My Suburban gives me a display of how much oil life I have left in a percent value. I beleive the oil change interval is up in the 7,000 mile range.
 

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Posted by Z28-SORR (Member # 1565) on :
 
Hawkeye,
In very simple terms dino oil is refined. You start with crude and heat it to separate out the molecules that you do and don't want. Unfortunately it's to expensive to get all the bad stuff out of the oil using this process.
With syn. you manufacture the oil by combining molecules to make the just oil. So you end up with a more controlled or better product.
 

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Posted by SSHEETS (Member # 1989) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Z28-SORR:
Hawkeye,
In very simple terms dino oil is refined. You start with crude and heat it to separate out the molecules that you do and don't want. Unfortunately it's to expensive to get all the bad stuff out of the oil using this process.
With syn. you manufacture the oil by combining molecules to make the just oil. So you end up with a more controlled or better product.

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Like single malt scotch vs. cheap whiskey
 

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Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Z28-SORR:
Hawkeye,
In very simple terms dino oil is refined. You start with crude and heat it to separate out the molecules that you do and don't want. Unfortunately it's to expensive to get all the bad stuff out of the oil using this process.
With syn. you manufacture the oil by combining molecules to make the just oil. So you end up with a more controlled or better product.

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quote:

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Originally posted by alfredf00_1673:
This is in the November issue of CHEVY High Performance.

In an answer to an oil comsumption issue with the LS1 (Page 130)

The LS1 oil-consumption problem can be compounded by using synthetic engine oils. GM recommends sticking with petroleum based oils in the LS1s. This was tough to do when the Vettes came with synthetic from the factory.

WHAT THE !@#$%

Go Figure. And here I thought I was doing a good thing!!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Raven:
Mobile 1 all the way!!

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Is that the oil made in Mobile, Alabama??


 

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