themechanic
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Here's the latest.
Are You Using Synthetic Oil?
- Thread starter Dibbons
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j-c-c-62
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Stumbled on a tech video today, and it mentions the seldom discussed topic I raised about Synthetic oils evaporating, 10:10.
I will try to find a link to it.
Basically, it refers to a new GM standard that requires less than 13% evaporation of a synthetic oil, under what exact conditions i do not know.
33 IMP
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I use synthetic in the new performance car that requires it.
I use diesel oil (conventional) in the diesels.
I've got a witches brew of oils I had in stock for the 440 powered solid flat tappet street/strip car. Some old high zinc racing oil, some diesel, some normal conventional, and broke the cam in with a zinc break-in additive. Cam is healthy, maybe cause it's a real purple shaft, purchased before purple cams went nuts!
I run whatever is in my garage in the chevies.
I use diesel oil (conventional) in the diesels.
I've got a witches brew of oils I had in stock for the 440 powered solid flat tappet street/strip car. Some old high zinc racing oil, some diesel, some normal conventional, and broke the cam in with a zinc break-in additive. Cam is healthy, maybe cause it's a real purple shaft, purchased before purple cams went nuts!
I run whatever is in my garage in the chevies.
j-c-c-62
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I agree with your first comment.
I think the concern is the opposite of your second claim.
My personal experience with both types, I have never in many decades noticed a container of any of regular oils leaving a sealed never opened container, but I have in the past decade seen dozens of synthetics "evaporate" (thru a sealed plastic container), that nobody on the corporate side will even acknowledge, and why this latest revelation I shared stood out so much to me.
I think the concern is the opposite of your second claim.
My personal experience with both types, I have never in many decades noticed a container of any of regular oils leaving a sealed never opened container, but I have in the past decade seen dozens of synthetics "evaporate" (thru a sealed plastic container), that nobody on the corporate side will even acknowledge, and why this latest revelation I shared stood out so much to me.
Belvedere408
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I use the regular Valvoline VR-1, but I do see they sell a synthetic VR-1 now also.
Unkle Krusty
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My two newer bikes get Rotela synthetic. The older bikes and the Tukvan get Rotella HD diesel oil. Probably 15 40.
Lily gets Lucas 2 stroke, and the plug does not foul. Lily has an oil injection pump.
Lily gets Lucas 2 stroke, and the plug does not foul. Lily has an oil injection pump.
I just can’t see using synthetic in an old car that gets driven 4-500 miles a season. Maybe if I was only going to change it every 5 years or more. I’ve recently decided to switch to VR-1 Dino oil based on recent reports. I also believe synthetic is more prone to leaks with older gasket systems.
I once switched an aluminum Muncie over to synthetic transmission fluid. Dang case looked like I had clear coated it after a few months. It wasn’t oily - just looked like the aluminum was permeated with silicon. I went back to GL4.
I once switched an aluminum Muncie over to synthetic transmission fluid. Dang case looked like I had clear coated it after a few months. It wasn’t oily - just looked like the aluminum was permeated with silicon. I went back to GL4.
According to that video, all modern oils rated API SP and SQ are safe for flat tappet cams. SP was introduced in 2020. Thanks for the video, that's good to know!
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