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Synthetic Oil

Yahoo Message Number: 50452
I have a 2005 Inspire with 62,000 miles, I have been using synthetic oil. It is very expensive, and some have said it is a waste of money.
What do you think?

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50459
Depends on a lot of things, for me synthetic is a sure thing. Eventually plan on being 100% Amsoil. Changed using regular oil first to test systems, coach has been sitting for several years. When satisfied, will consider the regular oil a flush before going to Amsoil synthetic. As it stands now, only have switched the diff. and transmission. Noticed a big difference in the shifting of the Allison. Glad to have changed both as we got into 106 degrees coming through Salt Lake. Before our next long trip, plan on changing the hydraulic system and the engine to Amsoil. So far the engine has not used any oil, this I wanted to find out. The price of synthetic is very cheap compared to cost of investment in our units. Been my experience the synthetic is worth it for peace of mind in rig towing. Talking about cost, what does a hyd. pump or motor cost? Can buy lots of oil to extend the life of those units. I have used Amsoil for many years with great results.

Leonard
97' Magna
DD Series 40

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50471
I have used synthetic oil in every vehicle I have owned since 1980. Consider this...jet engines must use only synthetic oil because dino oil cannot withstand the heat that a jet engine generates. For us, less friction, much better cold weather starting and superior hot weather protection, etc, etc. Someone told me that their generator ran noticably quieter on synthetic oil. I use it in the differential and transmissions too. To me, it's worth the money. In the long run, you might be saving money?

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50474
Larry,

Do you have any preference for the synthetic oil, or are they all about the same?

Thank You taking the time to respond

Stan

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50477
For heavy duty truck engines that require API CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, CI-4, CH-4 or CG-4, there's Mobil 1Turbo Diesel Truck 5W-40.

That's the one I've been using for some time now. I consider it an investment. (I've used Mobil 1 in all my other vehicles for years with never a problem - just traded in a Subaru with 184K miles - the salesman bought it for himself - cool.)

As far as which one, I've seen arguments about whether certain 'synthetics' are really synthetic. I figure if it lists the word 'petroleum' in the contents or MSDS sheet, it isn't 'fully' synthetic.

Mike Cebula
'95 Magna 5266

Stan Canaris wrote:

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50478
Mike,

Thank You, I am having the work done Monday and I will do some research, but if it work for you it should be ok for me.

Stan

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50483
Stan

I really don't have a brand preference. I am using Rotella synthetic in the coach and generator engines. I use Amsoil in the differential, transynd (sp?) in the transmission and mobile 1 in my cars. I've wondered the about benefit of using synthetic in the power steering/fan motor hyd system?

Larry 03 Allure 30856

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50484
Hi,

We operate a fleet of vehicles. We use dead dinosaur oil. We have never had an oil related failure, period. We can see no justification for the over cost of synthetic oil. It does the same thing as dead dinosaur oil, but at a greater cost. We feel a good maintenance schedule is far better than synthetic oil. We use either Rotella (Shell) or PRM Delo (Chevron). If we had oil related failures or could find a benefit to using synthetic oil we would consider it, but so far we see no advantage vs cost benefit.

Has anyone here had a failure that can be attributed to oil?
The one exception is in the Allisons, we do use Transynd, mostly for the extended warranty, in some older Allsions we use regular ATF.
I am not trying to start a fight, but am interested in the justification for the over cost.
Turbine engines do use synthetic oil, mostly due to the temp drop of 2c per 1000 feet of altitude. at 35,000 feet it is 70c (126f) colder than the surface. The temps in the hot section are no more severe than the combustion chamber of a diesel engine.

Mikee

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50485

I love a good discussion!!
Marvin, #31459


From: "Mbaul@..." To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, August 6, 2009 7:39:44 AM Subject: Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Synthetic Oil
Hi,

We operate a fleet of vehicles. We use dead dinosaur oil. We have never had an oil related failure, period. We can see no justification for the over cost of synthetic oil. It does the same thing as dead dinosaur oil, but at a greater cost. We feel a good maintenance schedule is far better than synthetic oil. We use either Rotella (Shell) or PRM Delo (Chevron). If we had oil related failures or could find a benefit to using synthetic oil we would consider it, but so far we see no advantage vs cost benefit.

Has anyone here had a failure that can be attributed to oil?
The one exception is in the Allisons, we do use Transynd, mostly for the extended warranty, in some older Allsions we use regular ATF.
I am not trying to start a fight, but am interested in the justification for the over cost.
Turbine engines do use synthetic oil, mostly due to the temp drop of 2c per 1000 feet of altitude. at 35,000 feet it is 70c (126f) colder than the surface. The temps in the hot section are no more severe than the combustion chamber of a diesel engine.

Mikee

In a message dated 8/6/2009 12:37:42 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, alepuzz@gmail. com writes:

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Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50493
I agree. The only place it makes sense to use synthetic is is in the transmission (assuming you do regular maintenance!)
If truckers, who drive a lot more miles then we do don't use it, it makes no sense for an RVer. And generators? Makes even less sense! How many hours are you putting on your generator?

Just change your oil when you should!

Al Colby

2000 Intrigue 10979

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50494
Stan,

Look at the size of the oil cooler for the hyd. fan p/s system. On mine it covers about 1/2 of the radiator. That tells me, there is a lot of heat generated in the system. Synthetic oil reduces the heat generated. How, by better lubrication, less metal to metal contact, etc. To me, any way on can remove heat with in a system will extend the life of the system. To me it is cheap preventive maintenance. That is very important to me, to others probably not so important and they will be happy with any oil.

Leonard
97' Magna
DD 40

My Introduction to Synthetic Oil's

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50524
As they say, experience is the best teacher, I will share events I had had with synthetic lube's and let you decide. If you are not interested in this topic, please use the 'D' button.
It was the late 70's, I was a employed at the local Cat dealer. Main job was overhauling of fuel injection systems. Rebuilt every thing to do with Cat diesels. Had an over the road trucker come in complaining of no power. Found a bad fuel pump, replaced it. Boss wanted me to go with the driver on a road test to make sure we had fixed it. He was loaded with 80,000, it did not take long for him to have it up to 70.
Real eye opener to me, how well those Cat engines pulled. The driver says, "Look at the diff. temp. gauges." Then he tells me he had installed some strange synthetic called Amsoil and how much it had lowered the diff. temperatures. I was very impressed. Came home very excited, finally found out about the company and the products.
I had been around enough to see what happens to a diff. gear set when it overheated. Not a nice sight, unless one really likes blue metal and a lot of strange looking little pieces. To find a product that could make a hard working truck diff's run so cool was so very, very impressive.

In the next chapter, I will share how we proved Amsoil two cycle oil in our motorcycles. Have a story to tell of what happens when one forgets to refill a cycle gear box and run it at freeway speeds. In the last month had the lube fail in a CV joint and will share what happened when synthetic lube is used. It's a real lube failure event.
One can read spec's and set around the coffee cup and cuss and pro- cuss synthetic or not, but real hands on events is what has proved it to me. It has been over 30 years of use in many applications.
By the way truckers do use synthetic, very large fleets use it. I will talk of Amsoil because that is what I have 30 plus years of experience with.

Until next time.

Leonard

97' Magna
DD 40 series

Re: My Introduction to Synthetic Oil's

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50529
Leonard,

I am having work done next week on our Inspire. We have just finished a 11,000 mile trip, for a grand total of 62,000 miles on our 2005. Where else should I use synthetic oil.
Next week I am having everyhere there is oil changed. I get in my motor home and I know how to start it, beyond that I do not know where everywhere is that I could use Synthetic Oil. If you have time, let me know, because I am not sure the mechanics know. Oh, how about the generator?

Once again Thank You for any ideas you may have

Stan Canaris

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50538
Don,

Thank You, I asked the question because we just rerturned from a 11,000 mile trip. I used synthetic oil, and only had to add about 3.5 quartz. I thought that was pretty good but maybe it would not have mattered if I had used reg. oil. If anyone out there can comment if the oil usage for 11,000 miles is good or bad I would appreciate.

Stan

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50539
Depends on one's view. Synthetic will decrease fuel usage, decrease engine oil temp, prolong engine life. Depends on which unit, but some are very tight enclosed and work hard, seems they need all the extra help they can get. Depends on which brand synthetic oil, some recommend twice the oil change time. Some where in the back of my mind I have read were no company can turn down warranty based on what oil is used. But stay tuned to the next couple of chapters on hands on experience. It gets interesting. By the way, I ran my gas gen. on Amsoil. They make an oil just for hard working little engines. Ran twice the change time. So much of this is mind set and there are still those in the industry who simple do not understand good synthetic's.

Leonard
97' Magna
DD 40

Re: My Introduction to Synthetic Oil's

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50549
Leonard,

That was interesting. I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

Jerry

07 Allure 31485

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50552
Leonard,

Just for the record I didn't say that Onan had any warrantee issues with using synthetic oil. What they said was they would not agree to increasing the oil change cycle if you use it. One of the cost justifications for using it is decreasing the number of times one has to change the oil among other things.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50561
Don,

My mis-read. Interesting. One could assume lots of different things, like they are taking the easy way out by not testing and becoming informed. Or realizing not all synthetic are made the same. Or, who knows. Then, one would go by the recommendations of the oil maker. Then I have one application I run Amsoil and change at the recommended service hours, because I consider it a very hard working engine and the oil is a lot cheaper then engine problems, and Amsoil gives an extra edge of protection and peace of mind for me.

Leonard
97' Magna
 

Re: Synthetic Oil

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 50591
Don, I spoke with a big Onan dealer. They said you can increase intervals somewhat with synthetic (after second oil change)and they do it all the time regardless of the official line from Onan. We cannot increase that much since these little engines only hold 3 quarts of oil.
I am trying it using 5/40 Rotella synthetic. The bottom line is an oil analysis. I will report back.

Rich 2002 Magna.