Synthetic to dino ?

[wild4stangs]

Greetings folks, I posted this on DTR a couple of weeks ago, so I thought I would run it by you folks as well...



On my last oil change I went to Amsoil synthetic and filters (dealer installed), and my rig is nearing 70ka. I have recently received free oil changes for 2 years from the dealer (settlement for some damage done to my truck ) Oo. but the oil changes do not include synthetic oil, just the standard din oil/filters.



Just looking for opinions, is this a wise move to go back to dino oil after running for about 6k miles on Amsoil synthetic ?

 

[amsoilman]

Greetings folks, I posted this on DTR a couple of weeks ago, so I thought I would run it by you folks as well...



On my last oil change I went to Amsoil synthetic and filters (dealer installed), and my rig is nearing 70ka. I have recently received free oil changes for 2 years from the dealer (settlement for some damage done to my truck ) Oo. but the oil changes do not include synthetic oil, just the standard din oil/filters.



Just looking for opinions, is this a wise move to go back to dino oil after running for about 6k miles on Amsoil synthetic ?

Mechanicly I don't think it would hurt anything. But why would you want to go back to the Dino stuff anyway? Just because the changes are free? Take your own oil into them, and have them change it for you. I have several customers that do this all the time. You will get much better performance from the Amsoil synthetic, as well as less wear internally!





Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Diesel Power]

Ill second that

 

[Diesel Nut]

I'll third that!



Look at the bright side, you don't have to dispose of the old oil and filter.

 

[BillGotthelf]

Well I'm not an Amsoil dealer but I agree with them.

 

[JMingledorff]

I'd always been told once you go synthetic its not a good idea to go back to dino. I have no idea if thats correct, just what I've been told. But I always use synthetic anyway so I'm with everyone else, stay with synthetic.

 

[JRG]

I too have been kicking this question. I have always run syn. in my gas eng. But 5 qts is a lot less than 3 gals! BUT, 5,000 mi vs 15,000 makes it comp. Lots of guys have TONS of miles with dino, but I do think syn is better.



If you are buying your own oil and have to schedule an app. @ the dealer, your not realising all of your compensation for your damage.



example: one oil change a year (15,000) with providing your own oil = most places would prob charge $20-25. $50 bucks.



If they do the whole job at about $50 each time you double your return. Just my . 02



JRG

 

[wild4stangs]

Hey guys, I am also a big fan of synthetic, and my other gassers are all synthetic. But as far as performance, I have seen no performance enhancement by switching to Syntrhetic . The dealer has no problem if I bring them the oil, but of course they want me to buy the oil from them.



I was hoping that I would see some mileage increase, since I drive 80% highway unloaded @ 65mph :{



On the other hand, there is the feel good factor of running synthetic, and knowing that the lubrication qualities are superior to dino oil . I also have an Amsoil bypass oil filter kit sitting in my garage, just waitin to be installed. Well, sounds like I think I just convinced myself to stay with Amsoil...



With the oil bypass filter in place, I should be able to extend my oil changes a bit as well...



Wild

 

[Buffalo]

A lot probably depends on what kind of dino oil the dealer would be using.



Chevron Delo-400 (CI-4+) is considered to be an excellent oil with a very robust additive package including a nice dose of moly & boron.



Some people that study oils are saying that the "gap in quality" between dino & synthetics is closing, by quite a bit. In fact, I've read that many of the employees (if not all) at Blackstone Labs. (an oil analysis lab. ) don't use synthetics & consider them "a waste of money". Basically, I think they are saying that you can get long life out of your engine with the use of quality dino oils. They are not junk.



There are a fair number of Cummins engines with over a million miles on them that have only used quality dino oils & filters.



Personally, I do not agree that the use of synthetics is a "waste of money". In certain conditions, such as extremely cold starts, I think the synthetics would be an improvement over dino oils. Also, a lot of long-haul driving would benefit from the convenience of extended oil drain intervals when used with bypass filtration & used oil analysis.

Then, there's the "cool factor". You just want the "best" for your engine, no matter how expensive it is & don't care if it's cost effective, or not. It's just what you want.



You may want to go over to "bob is the oil guy.com"(BITOG), & post your questions. They have some pretty sharp people, over there. Some with professional experience with lubrication. Check the medium-duty engine oil, bypass filtration & virgin & used oil analysis forums. They're quite interesting.



If you go to BITOG, check out the Schaeffer's oil products. Especially their 7000(semi-synthetic) & 9000(fully-synthetic). I had never heard of this company until reading about them on BITOG but, their products seem to be of extraordinarily high quality. The used oil analysis reports, on their products, show them to be excellent. Their prices are considered to be reasonable, also. However, shipping can add to the cost. I don't recall ever reading any negative comments about their products other than convenient availability.



Good Luck with your decision.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[TowPro]

How about this. Take your own oil, but have them throw the oil they were going to give you for free in the back of the truck (if its in quarts and not bulk, I guess you could put bulk into gallon jugs). Then use it in the lawn mower

 

[Berchem]

Oo. The last oil change my truck had on amsoil was 60,000mi ago. oil sample said that it was still ok to run, but felt that i had got my monies worth. changed filters every 10,000 whether they needed it or not.

 

[Grizzly]

I got free oil changes for 7 years when I purchased my 05 Dodge. I don't have enough miles to switch to synthetic yet, but when the time comes, (20K miles) I can just pay the difference in price. Wild4, ask your dealer if they will do the same for you.

 

[wild4stangs]

Hey Grizz, I asked them about that exact issue. They gave me some crap about not being able to get it in the computer properly ... I took their word for it. That would have been perfect...

 

[klenger]

I'd just go with the dealer oil chances with dino for the next two years and then switch back to syn. In the long run, it won't make any difference to the engine and you'll have saved some money.

 

[Diesel Power]

you will save more money by using amsoil over any dino oil!!!! using oil analisis you could save even more. 50-100k on oil changes sure is nice. but to each his own :-laf

 

[Grizzly]

you will save more money by using amsoil over any dino oil!!!! using oil analisis you could save even more. 50-100k on oil changes sure is nice. but to each his own :-laf

You just want to sell more amsoil, give the kid a break!!!

 

[Diesel Power]

amsoil or not! facts are facts!!!

 

[Doubleclutch]

I'm with klinger and the griz- free oil that doesn't deteriorate your engine... Besides, who on this board "wore out" a Cummins? I've got synthetic in mine, but I'm starting to realize that it's mostly from the warm & fuzzy factor.

Greg

 

[100 Proof]

What is a realistic number of miles you can get out of a synthetic and what hoops do you have to jump through to get there?



100 Proof

 

[RMalone]

It won't hurt ANYTHING to go back to dino oil. I have seen Amsoil literature that says no harm in mixing Amsoil with dino at the same time!!



How in hell can it be cheaper for him to run amsoil for the next two years???

The dealer is covering oil changes "no charge", seems to me bringing his own Amsoil for a change, even once, will cost him more than "no charge".



I agree synthetic is better than dino, Amsoil is first-rate, however good dino isn't junk. When you are paying for oil-changes the extended drain interval on synth helps even up the added cost. In addition, the ability to use 5-30 (amsoil) or 5-40 (mobile), both of which make very cold starts MUCH smoother is also a decided advantage for synth.



All my B. S. aside take the free dino oil changes. Assuming you have the time to take the truck in, demand that they change that oil every 3750mi as per the owners manual. It won't hurt the engine and WILL help your pocket book.