Community Forums

kyroger · 08-30-2012, 08:16 AM

I just purchased a 1996 Bounder with a 454 Chevrolet chassis.

I use synthetic oil in my other daily drive vehicles.

The Bounder has 92,000 miles on it.

Do you guys think its to late to start synthetic oil in the Bounder?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.
Roger

Lostdog · 08-30-2012, 09:23 AM

I wouldn't. The sludge and gum build up that is in that engine is going to come loose and circulate thru the motor doing damage and excessive wear. If you insist on using synthetic I would put it in, drive no more than a hundred miles, change the oil and filter and repeat two or three times until you think all that crude is gone. Not worth it to me.

Just an opinion!

Gadget63 · 08-30-2012, 10:02 AM

I wouldn't do it either. Just change your oil every 3000 miles and you should be fine.

ahicks · 08-30-2012, 10:04 AM

I would put it in without a minutes hesitation. I would then change it at the dino oil recommended oil change interval. The second change, I would likely extend, depending on my annual usage.

WOMD · 08-30-2012, 10:39 AM

either would be fine, but do not switch back and forth.

The reason leaks appear after people switch to synthetic is that it cleans the engine much more effectively than dyno juice.

Midniteoyl · 08-30-2012, 10:39 AM

Changing to synth wont hurt a thing.. As ahicks says, do the first oil and filter change at the 3000 mile mark then you can extend.

Muddypaws · 08-30-2012, 11:04 AM

Most manufacturers recommend that if you're going to change from dino to synthetic that you let the engine get broken in first. 92K is probably broken in.

I think what I would do is go ahead and change it and then check the oil color every week. When it gets good & black it's time to change again. Assuming that it's been filled with good quality dino oil there's probably not much sludge build up to begin with.

We have two Honda's with Mobil 1 and it stays relativly clean looking for about 8K miles.

But really, how many miles a year are you going to put on the Bounder? Is it going to make that much difference? The chassis will rust out from under it before the engine even begins to show much internal wear.

I use good quality dino in both of my diesels and rest easy.

ahicks · 08-30-2012, 11:38 AM

Use dino in my DP too. I don't plan on ever extending the oil change interval with that. If I can't extend the interval, to me the advantage of synth. is lost? Hard to make it pay knowing that if I change the dino oil at manf's suggested intervals it'll last forever - without the price of synth. oil

Most everything else I use synth., including the diesel gen set and a tractor. I run into the changing oil annually requirement prior to timing it out with hours on the hour meter. FWIW, -Al

dls461 · 08-30-2012, 03:13 PM

I don't see the advantage with Syn unless you are going to put more miles on that most of us do. I change mine once every year and still have miles left according to the maintance schedule.

szy · 08-30-2012, 03:43 PM

Never saw so much misinformation in my life ...

You can use syn oil for break in of an engine it is just oil , despite the cost

You can use it now if you want -- it isn't a solvent and will not knock loose sludge and carbon or melt seals .

You can switch back and forth - won't hurt a thing in fact I do when the weather turns cold as that is a syn oil advantage cold weather flow one of the few advantages of syn oil , other than extended oil change interval but why would I want to run an oil full of contaminants longer better to change it out more often ?

Now should you use it , If it were mine I'd use a good quality regular oil 5w40 and change it out every 5000 miles .

That engine is a bullet proof design and quite stout made for regular oil -- you can use syn oil but it is a wasted expenditure of cash IMO

Nothing to be gained by using a syn oil in this case

Midniteoyl · 08-30-2012, 03:50 PM

5w40 is synth oil.. did you mean 15w-40?

I agree on the no need to switch, but the main reason for the OP to switch to synth is that is what he is already running and buying..

Steve N Sal · 08-30-2012, 04:07 PM

Our 94 Bounder had 92K on it when we purchased it and the original owners just used conventional oil. I switched to synthetic and it ran perfect. We traded it in at 116K and it was running like a top. Ours was a Ford F53 with the 460.

rlrsar · 08-30-2012, 10:44 PM

I use Amsoil synthetic in all my vehicles and have great results.
I change the oil at 25,000 miles and filters at 5,000 miles.
Toyota with 296,000 miles no oil useage between changes
Dodge diesel with 158,000 miles no oil useage between changes
Diesel M/H with 39,000 miles no oil useage between changes
New ford with 20,000 miles Almost ready for 1st oil change

Mr_D · 08-30-2012, 10:59 PM

What does the engine manufacturer say about synthetic oil?
On ours Cummins says it's OK as long as it meets the manufacturers specs BUT you can't use it to extend the oil change intervals. Besides diesels will last 300,000-500,000 miles on regular dino oil so no reason for me to use it.
I just looked at the Amsoil site, I don't see anywhere that says their oil actually passed the API specs. Just that it can be used in engines requiring those classes. That's a big difference.