H.P or economy using synthetic oil?

[lpearson]

Anyone done an analysis on fuel economy before using dyno oil and then using synthetic?



How about Horsepower, before and after???





Regards,

Lowell

 

[y-knot]

I have switched several vehicles to synthetic oil, usually they were new, and I switched after an initial break-in period (3 to 5000 miles). The benefits of synthetic is both HP and economy. You are reducing the amount of friction the engine has to work aginst, so it operates easier and free'er.

The best mileage increase I ever got was on a mazda RX-7, I picked-up 4 mpg with only the oil. The typical amount of mileage increase is 1-2 mpg. I use AMSOIL in everything that spins in oil, or burns fuel. From the air compressors,, welders, lawn mowers, and the atv's really like the stuff, especially the two-strokes. On the dodge I did pick-up about 1 mpg, but when I switched the trany to synthetic ATF, I lost 30 degrees in temp. (heat).

 

[fest3er]

I switched my '98 12V to Amsoil 15W40 diesel/marine at 62K miles, and didn't notice much, if any, change in fuel economy.

At 92K miles, I switched the rest of the drivetrain to Amsoil (ATF in the trans, series 2K in the diffs), and immediately noticed about 1. 5 MPG increase in mileage.

If you switch the entire drivetrain to synth, you should expect about 2%-4% increase in fuel economy.

N

 

[pwr2tow]

I have used synthetics in everything I have owned since about 1992, two stroke, four stroke, gas and diesel engines, synthetics in drive tran, power steering, everything except the auto transmission. I have everything synthetic in this truck right now except the transmission.



I can truthfully tell you there was absolutely zero, no change in mileage in any of the vehicles, at least an increase you could measure without expensive equipment.



Hp I can not comment on because I have never done before and after measurements, but I would suspect it would be along the same line as the mileage claim.



In my opinion synthetics are a waste of money, I only use them because they flow better in extreme cold temperatures.



Ron

 

[Rman]

i switched to amsoil and didn't notice any change. I'm using the 5-30 right now, but plan on switching to 15-40 next time.

 

[TboneMan]

I switch to Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme (5W-40) at my last oil change. I have seen no change in MPG or HP. I'm looking for a bit more protection on cold starts.

 

[mcoleman]

I switched a car that I race and my wife drives daily to synthectic and saw no changes in performance or mileage but I have tore down lots of engines that were running synthetic and I know the benefits of them being spotless inside. Dyno tests on the race only synthetic engine oil has shown increases of 3 hp. But you would never see that in a timeslip.

 

[RustyJC]

When PAO-type synthetics first became available for large industrial engines, a major oil vendor (who must remain nameless) came to our company wanting to document fuel savings due strictly to switching over to a synthetic engine lube oil. We ran extensive studies on engines in our R&D lab - these engines are heavily instrumented and run against water brake dynamometers. At full load/full speed, fuel savings were less than 1%.



These results were not unexpected because, at full load/full speed conditions, parasitic losses due to internal friction are a very small part of the engine's total output. At idle or light load conditions, parasitic losses play a much more significant role.



Moral of this story - I wouldn't expect to see significant fuel savings on those trucks that are towing heavy on the highway. Conversely, trucks that run unloaded around town might see some improvement.



Rusty

 

[krs]

"In my opinion synthetics are a waste of money, I only use them because they flow better in extreme cold temperatures"



Sooo, the improved flow is a waste of money but you do it anyway?



I'm running Amsoil with 12,000 mile drains and a 6,000 mile filter change. With a quality dino oil that costs half as much as Amsoil I'd drain at 3000 miles with a filter change. For twice the money I get four times the service.



Synthetics definitely are saving me money but that's not the only reason I use them. I don't like changing oil or always having to remember when it's time to change it again. Sampling has told me that I'm safe with this and I could probably double the change interval and still get good samples.

 

[pwr2tow]

Originally posted by KRS

"In my opinion synthetics are a waste of money, I only use them because they flow better in extreme cold temperatures"



Sooo, the improved flow is a waste of money but you do it anyway?



I'm running Amsoil with 12,000 mile drains and a 6,000 mile filter change. With a quality dino oil that costs half as much as Amsoil I'd drain at 3000 miles with a filter change. For twice the money I get four times the service.



Synthetics definitely are saving me money but that's not the only reason I use them. I don't like changing oil or always having to remember when it's time to change it again. Sampling has told me that I'm safe with this and I could probably double the change interval and still get good samples.

KRS,

We could play the pro's and con's game all day long, heaven knows that dead horse has been beat enough.



You use what you want, I will use what I have to.



Ron



Ron

 

[lpearson]

Thanks for the honest answers!!

I didn't want to start anything. I did a search and didn't come up with anything on my question. You all confirmed my suspicions that power and economy were about the same as dino oils. ----



But, lubricity and extended oil changes seem to be the main reason for switching.



Thanks again for all the good replies.



Regards,

Lowell

 

[WadePatton]

Thermal stability was one of my reasons for changing to synthetic. IOW-I don't feel as compelled to "cool down" the engine now as when I was running Rotella. I still do, but not as long as before. I also am planning a bypass filter system to eliminate oil changes and engine wear.



I can't comment on the mileage/power aspect as I installed DD3 injectors on the same tank of fuel as the synthetic oil. I have synthetic in my differential as well. I have turned several tanks in the 19's --well actually only one below 19. x since the change. It was 17. 7 and had something to do with tire burning and smokeshows.

 

[mhenon]

Synthetic change-over

I broke my engine in using Delo 400 15w/40. I have no real complaints about the Delo except in cold weather. You could almost feel that thick goo trying to make its way through the engine. Once the thing warmed up it was fine. I really feel there is a long waiting period for the oil to circulate when its cold.

At 30,000 miles I switched to Mobil Delvac 1 5w/40. So far this year it has got down to the mid teens and the truck starts and runs like it's warm. You can hear the difference.

I really went to synthetic for extended drains and the fact that I'm towing right at max GVW. Didn't want to be draining oil every 3,500 miles. My oil has 6,000 miles on it and looks almost new. I'll change filters at 6,000 and probably dump the oil every year.

There are plenty of folks going longer then that so I feel comfortable with that regime. The state of the art today, with both engine manufacturing and oil technology, seem to make the 3000 mile oil/filter change a thing of the past. JMO

 

[Hohn]

Synthetics will never save me money. If they did, I would look for another type of oil. Having the best oil in there will rarely save you money, unless it prevents a spun bearing or something. But how would you ever know?



My engine tells me that it was VERy happy with the Redline 15w-40. Yes, it's high in Moly, but that's a good thing, and Cummins has confirmed that the high moly levels are safe.



When i changed from Redline to the Premium Blue Extreme, i noticed lower peak boost, lower average boost, lower mpg (by about . 5) and more engine clatter.



The irony is that the engine seemed happier on really cold starts with the RL 15-40 over the PBextreme 5-40.



Yes, the Redline is $30 a gallon:--) :--) . Yes, I WILL be switching back to Redline. Not everything that's appropriate makes financial sense. i am married to his truck, so it gets the best of everything.



Justin

 

[1sand0s]

I decided I will just run corn oil in my truck.

Who needs all this fancy synthetic stuff?

I am buying stock in Wesson.



Think about the advantages. WHne you needed to add, you could just go to your local 7-11.

 

[Mtngoat]

It sounds like my engine runs a little different with synthetic, but it could be me hearing things. If milage and power was increased, I can't feel it by the seat of my pants.



Robin