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Crasher · 05-04-2015, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Is there an issue going from synthetic to just regular oil ? From all I have read there isn't but I just want to hear what you, the experts, have to say.

Most of you have basically confirmed what I felt about when to change the oil. Nice to know that I get it right once in a while.

We are not the experts. Some of us through 40-50 years of experience have learned a few things and can only relate what we have found to work. I have switched from synthetic to dino oil in several vehicles over the years in gas and diesel engines and saw no difference in performance or usage.

MonkeyClaw · 05-04-2015, 10:17 PM

Your best bet to keep corrosion down is to change the oil prior to storage. As others said, it will get rid of the contaminants that have built up through use. That said, oils have additives that neutralize the acids and contaminants in the oil so even if you change it earlier, there shouldn't be any harm. Many people change the oil as part of 'spring maintenance' and don't touch it again until the following spring (and some will wait even longer). Modern engines are better built than the ones 30+ years ago and have much tighter tolerances. This means less break-in time and less blow by with the accompanied oil contamination.

Synthetic vs. dino shouldn't matter unless you are pushing your engine hard. Synthetic can handle higher temps without breakdown but your engine shouldn't be getting anywhere near hot enough to worry about this.

Mr_D · 05-04-2015, 10:35 PM

Engine/vehicle manufacturers, when they say anything, want the oil changed BEFORE you store it. That way it gets rid of the acids that form in the oil during use. We usually use ours all winter although this last year we didn't. So I did oil analysis and the results came back to run it another 5,000 miles and retest. Then a week before we traded the rig off I did a oil and filter change.

vsheetz · 05-04-2015, 10:43 PM

Once a month weekenders plus a couple three week long trips a year. Change oil once a year in my birthday month. Mobile One full synthetic with mobile One filter.

For your usage I would change each year before storage.

Rocky68D · 05-05-2015, 03:36 PM

We drive only about a 1,000-1,500 miles a year so before we put her to bed late in the fall for winter, I change the oil and filter. Same regiman for our Corvette. Oil analysis is about as close to perfect as it can be for both. I use Mobil1 which I pick up when it's on sale at Costco.