Is Synthetic Oil Bad for a FI 1.3L Engine?

[Boba Debt]

I rebuilt my engine and I am having problems with the front main seal leaking.

I used synthetic oil, could that be the problem?

[Guest]

When I got my new crate B6 engine it had a big red sticker that said DO NOT USE SYNTHETIC OIL FOR 3000 MILES on it. I have also been told that on any rebuild to never use synthetic until the 2nd or 3rd oil change. This is supposed to give the rings,seals etc breaking in time.

[Boba Debt]

Great

[mechanicaldj]

yes synthetic can cause problems with oil leaks, i used syn once and my HLA's didn't like it much.

and as long as you change your oil on time or sooner, why have the extra expense? (every 3,000 miles)

it's not like 4 quarts of oil and a filter (and 15 mins of time) costs an arm and a leg!!!!!

[yvanlavoie20]

oil

i always use diesel oil in my car with no troubles...in my aspire if i put ordinary oil it take about 1 litre of oil in less than 1000 milles
with 10w30 esso xd3 it take .5 litre in 2500 milles.

the fastest aspire auto ( for now ) in the world

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http://www.fordfestiva.com/members/Yvan/yvan.htm

http://www.fordfestiva.com/multimediaandfun/gallery/yvan/yvan's_bp_turbo_swap.htm

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4590

[darkdan]

Syn after a rebuild or on a new engine is still up for debate.

I personally don't like syn right away and I'm an AMSOIL dealer.

But let's not immediately blame the oil since synthetics are not harmful to seals (99% of the time).

Maybe the seal wasn't installed properly.

On my aspire I'm currently going 12k miles between oil changes on AMSOIL's 5w30 ASL. I may extend it if I do a UOA on this drain. My last used oil analysis on 8k basically said I was stupid for dumping out that oil.

I replaced my front main seal shortly after I bought the car (102k miles). I didn't install it correctly (aka, screwdriver to push it in) and it didn't leak until 137k miles on the car. I replaced it recently, used synthetic immediately, and it isn't leaking.

Give me a break about the screwdriver thing. I had been working on that head gasket for like an hour a day for 2 weeks in the Iowa Jan temps and I just wanted the thing done.

[mechanicaldj]

i never said synthetic was harmful, it just likes to go past seals alot easier than conventional oil.

maybe try switching to a blend.

and as for going 12k on a oil change, the blow-by and contaminates and water has to go somewhere , and not all are trapped in your oil filter.

***just something to think about, when some of your lubrication is done by oil just splashing around***

[darkdan]

Going past seals is actually a myth based on a fact.

It will not go past new seals any more easily then a conventional oil of the same viscosity.

It won't leak through old seals that are in good condition.

The seals it will leak past are seals that have a leak, but it clogged with a false seal made of sludge and deposits.

The superior cleaning ability of synthetics will clean away the false seal and expose a leak that was already there.

[mechanicaldj]

and what about the 12k oil changes?

sounds like laziness to me

[darkdan]

PAO synthetics:

1.) Start with a higher TBN (amount of acid it can neutralize)
2.) The TBN drops slower
3.) Oxidize slower
4.) Are less effected by combustion byproduct

My UOA on an 8,000 mile drain basically said I was stupid for draining it out. The oil was perfectly suitable for more use.

I have a spreadsheet of modular motor (Ford 4.6L, 5.4L, 6.8L) UOA results. Feel free to look it over. Please right click and save as:

http://www.dantheoilman.com/modular.xls

As you can see, most of the longer drains are better. Actually, the majority of the best drains are from the extended oil changes. So synthetics on an appropriate extended oil change interval seem to be the way to go. Only in America has Iffy Lube beat the whole 3m/3k thing instead of heads. In Europe extended oil changes are the norm.

[gtd2000]

Yup many cars over here are at 12,000 miles.

There are some with 18,000 miles.

I had a buddy here with an Escort van that changed his after something like 58,000 with no ill effects and he just gave his Mitsubishi L200 4x4 it's first ever oil change after 30,000 miles and it's going fine.

The Escort van did 185,000 miles before he decided to sell it on - in perfect running order

There have been some motorcycle magazines over here that did tests on bike engines and they ran a Honda 50cc engine for 50,000 miles without changing the oil and it still ran perfectly.

Personally, I'd go for a 6 monthly oil change at most (irrespective of mileage) and a yearly change at the least (irrespective of mileage)

[Taylor_cook]

like it has been said, synthetic does not usually (if ever) create the leaks, it merely clears away deposits from old sludge and oil, exposing old leaks. real oil has tiny particles that thicken and enlarge over time, which why we have to change our oil. synthetics do not have these particles and any debris that forms is from dust and other particle... meaning it takes MUCH longer for sythetics to become detrimental. also no one should be a slave to the "3,000" mile change or do oil changes on a calender basis (as in once every 3 months) oil, whether synthetic or not should be changed when it is needed; all this means is you should check your oil often, and change it when it is needed, whether it is 2,000 miles or 5,000. if your engine is in good condition there is no reason why quality synthics should need replacing before 5 or 6 k

[mechanicaldj]

did i forget to mention that i live in the BIG CITY????