Is the proof in the oil?

[6872xtc]

I've heard some people swear by some synthetic oils, but does any body know if you get the protection some claim? I lost the cam on my 454 last year and was told by a Royal Purple rep that if I'd had there oil in it, they would have covered it. Could it be a sales angle or has anyone noticed differences going to synthetics? I'm really curious how to take care of my engines, but always believed use anything but Pennzoil and change it regularly.

[Longhorn Man]

Royal purple is the only gassoline oil that still has high Zink levels, and that is what protects the cam in a non roller engine.

[6872xtc]

Thanks Longhorn Man, I did know that, but I was curious if anybody had noticed a difference in their engines behavior like oil or water temps or any reason to like synthetics better. I tried Mobil synthetic in an S-Blazer once, did what the rep said and went 6K on the oil but it seemed to me that there was not a reduction in the amount of metal on the magnetic drain plug. As far as my brain can think, in a Vortec engine the magnetic shavings would be coming off of the valve train, so what else could be going on inside with what I would consider obvious wear when it shows up on the magnet? Thanks for your input.

[Slammed70]

Only synthetic I have experience with is Mobil 1.....I switched it into my Camaro after the break in and about 15K. I noticed it ran about 10 degrees cooler, a noticable increase in power(not significant, but noticable) when I hit the go fast pedal. I changed it about every 5K, the oil was so clean too. And at the 120K mark when I had to replace a head gasket, I could still see the crosshatches in the cylinders. And there wasnt thar carbon ring built up around the top of the cylinder.

I ran 15-50 Mobil-1 year round.

One drawback though....I also switched it in my S-10 at around 130K. I noticed that it did start to leak a bit. Only drawback.

Lol, I know that was nowhere close to answering your question. I just thought I would share my synthetic oil experiences.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

...And why aren't you supposed to use Pennzoil?

[70C10Toejam]

I switched to Amsoil a few years back...12 months/25,000 miles interval guaranteed.

[da-burb]

I swear by synthetics in my 2001 suburban. It used a quart of oil every 2000 miles at 95,000 miles on the ticker. I changed over to Mobil 1 and now it doesn't use any oil in 6000 miles. On petrolium oil it also had a small leak from the rear main seal. On syn it went away completely.
I can't say I notice any power increase or temp decrease because of the change. But I can say I am very happy with the change over. I put another 60,000 miles on this 5.3 and it still runs like the day I got it.

[6872xtc]

Thanks for the input guys, that's the feedback I was looking for. Bus Ted, I've torn into 2-3 engines that had been on Pennzoil and they had the most junk inside that I had ever seen. Not that I knew the exact history of them, but just that they had Pennzoil for oil of preference. I pulled the 350 apart out of my Dad's original, one owner 72 cheyenne and very little sludge, minimal wear with 246,000 miles. He used the truck,didn't baby it but did'nt abuse it much and changed the Havoline 10-40 every 2000 miles. I realize that maybe the oil had less to do with it than maintainence and a good engine.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

It is crazy how people can have so many different experiences with the same oil. I use nothing BUT pennzoil, change every 3000, and I get excellent service from all of my engines. Once when I started to use havoline in a fleet of busses I maintained, they all started using oil

[Overkill67]

Royal Purple is the one for me. Used it in my 2003 Monte Carlo when we first got it, ran cooler, and got better milage than when I stopped and went to Castrol. Once I did that it used a quart a month and no idea where it went other than just burn off (no leaks no smoke). Went back to royal purple (after I conviced the wife it was worth the extra $$) and no more disapearing oil.

[brak]

I've always used Pennzoil and have never had any issues... I've only had one engine go down and that was because i waited too long to replace the waterpump.

[Orange]

I have used synthetics only in my truck since the break in period. When I changed cams is when it was impressive.

I used Amsoil for about the year prior, and then hung the old cam up from the garage ceiling. 4 or so years later it still had an oily film coating it, good. Amsoil claims to never leave you with a hard start (oil draining into the pan and then starting out with metal to metal until everything gets flowing). I can say that they are probably right.

I'm hooked.

DLB

[hootlube]

I change oil. When I started, I went to a class where they told us why Penz got a bad reputation.
The EPA made oil manufacturers remove all detergents in the SE series (late 70s early 80s). ALL motors sludged up, and Pennzoil was the biggest seller at the time. So, the bad rap. Now we are into the SM series, I think all oils are good... if you change them at reasonable intervals.