Community Forums

DriVer · 07-03-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full-Timers

... there can be an advantage to a single-viscosity straight SAE 30.

Absolutely! The properties of the oil itself are more stable when its a single viscosity. Using a straight 30W in the summer months in the southern US for instance would be a good choice. For the reason of stability, I choose to use 10W-30 over the 5W.

codgerbill · 07-03-2011, 12:46 PM

Being as the mileage on the coach is almost all highway miles, would that have any bearing on how often to change the synthetic oil? With my Jeep I change the dino oil pretty much after 3000 miles and I have heard that with synthetic that 5000 miles would not be unusual between oil changes.

DriVer · 07-03-2011, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codgerbill

Being as the mileage on the coach is almost all highway miles, would that have any bearing on how often to change the synthetic oil? With my Jeep I change the dino oil pretty much after 3000 miles and I have heard that with synthetic that 5000 miles would not be unusual between oil changes.

codgerbill, I change my oil every 6 months whether it needs it or not. January 1st and July 1st. Guess what I have to do shortly?

I run synthetic erl ...

It's not oil!

targaboat · 07-03-2011, 03:04 PM

Synthetic oil is a big waste of money for recreational vehicles. The engines are not worked very hard and their run time is very low. And the oil is changed long before it is worn out or contaminated beyond the useful levels. People with real knowledge do not use it.

wildtoad · 07-03-2011, 03:25 PM

If you are going to change your oil every 3k miles then synthetic is a total waste of money. The need to change it every 3k miles is only still being suggested by the quicky oil changing places as that is their source of income. I think my HHR states 7,500 miles and in fact it has a computer which tells me when to change it. The last several cars I've had (different brands) have been in the 7k mile range.

Time is a bigger factor so the 6 month time factor for the MH looks good to me, especially if you're adding some from time to time..

Fred and Bonnie · 07-03-2011, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by targaboat

Synthetic oil is a big waste of money for recreational vehicles. The engines are not worked very hard and their run time is very low. And the oil is changed long before it is worn out or contaminated beyond the useful levels. People with real knowledge do not use it.

All I say is that when I climb 6,000-10,000ft peaks pushing over 4,000 RPM, I am glad for the extra protection.

fred

nalcon · 07-03-2011, 06:23 PM

If you want real knowledge visit this site and see what synthetic oil really is. Dino and synthetic oil have nothing in common. Dino is from crude oil fractionating process and synthetic is made in a lab. Hence the term synthetic. No impurities in synthetic. But read for yourself and make your own decision.

http://www.synthetic-oil-technology.info

Full-Timers · 07-03-2011, 08:01 PM

From what I understand, and I could be wrong, one advantage to synthetic oil it doesn’t ware out, it gets dirty and that’s why you have to change it. So I would rather run something that is going to be stable through out the 3000 miles rather than something that is degrading.

wa8yxm · 07-04-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by targaboat

Synthetic oil is a big waste of money for recreational vehicles. The engines are not worked very hard and their run time is very low. And the oil is changed long before it is worn out or contaminated beyond the useful levels. People with real knowledge do not use it.

Targa.. If he's driving hard enough to suck oil he's working it plenty.

I've taken this thing over the rockies, and over the smokies and all over the blue ridge mountains.. Towing a 4,000 pound towed behind it.. That Chevy 8.1 defently earns it's gasoline.

And every time I cross a mountain range... I add oil at the end of the trip.

I wonder if it's sucking it on the upside or.. (I'm thinking (due to higher vacuume on the inlet side) on the down side of the mountain.?

Anyone know for sure?

Mr JP · 07-04-2011, 07:51 PM

I have to agree with wildtoad i don`t feel you get your monies worth out of running synthetic oil in the engine when most rv owners change the oil either once a year or at least every 6 months since most of the time the mileage is around 3000 to 5000 miles a year. I do feel synthetic is a great benefit in the trans and rear end. As for the usage of oil in the 8.1 I think it is due to using the grade brake going down hills creating allot of vacuum (wa8yxm is right on track). Good Luck JP

Jackm · 07-04-2011, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Synthetic oil is a big waste of money for recreational vehicles. The engines are not worked very hard and their run time is very low. And the oil is changed long before it is worn out or contaminated beyond the useful levels. People with real knowledge do not use it.

That's a good one. Pulling 30,000 pound of vehicle is hard work for any gasser. Second of all, what exactly is "real knowledge"? A lot of people on the forum, including myself, might find that statement a bit presumptuous.

Jack

Ron & Dee · 07-05-2011, 04:23 AM

Does anyone else use Castrol Edge besides me

I know, I know, it's expensive but I only change once a year, sometimes twice

Where can I find this "real knowledge? "

Thanks,

Ron

Lued · 07-05-2011, 04:55 AM

I was using 10/30 Valvoline, 2 qt to 1500 mile , went to 10/30 Mobil 1 , now uses 1 QT to 1500 mile, change it once a year.

DriVer · 07-05-2011, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

I wonder if it's sucking it on the upside or.. (I'm thinking (due to higher vacuum on the inlet side) on the down side of the mountain?

wa8yxm, I can plot a flat line of elevation changes that I have run as routine operational profile over the past few months. My oil consumption remains the same from Myrtle Beach, SC to Tampa, FL and back, about 1 quart.

I have not found where terrain changes will consume more oil than my engine consumes running on flat land. My conclusion is that my oil consumption is directly related to engine hours of operation and not so much terrain changes.

I will continue to run full synthetic lubricating fluid because it certainly isn't oil. An engineered fluid for a specific task is a superior alternative to dinosaur based petroleum in regard to every physical property of the lubricant.

93,004 miles and counting ....