% of syn. in semisynthetic oil?

sony2000 · Post by **sony2000** » 01 Mar 2009, 13:28

Off the shelf semi syn. oil, is blended to a specific ratio. Does anyone know that ratio. I plan to start to convert the LPT C70 to a blend this coming summer. By picking up a gallon of each when they are on special, I'll always have oil for the Volvo running semi or the Volvo running fully synthetic.

sony2000 · Post by **sony2000** » 02 Mar 2009, 12:10

Maybe semi means half!

Post by **billofdurham** » 02 Mar 2009, 12:33

In the dictionary it does but I'm not too sure about oil. I have read all sorts of spec sheets and nobody seems to have published this info.

I have stopped for now as the oil slick is spreading towards my chair but I have one phone call to make tomorrow and may have an answer after that.

Bill.

Post by **billofdurham** » 06 Mar 2009, 15:34

I have to report a failure in my quest. My contact, who owns a small company producing motor oils, is not allowed by the big boys to divulge this type of information. It appears they are worried that "unscrupulous", their word not mine, people will buy synthetic oil when it is on offer and mix it with mineral oil.

However, he did give me one pointer about semi-synthetic oil. It is not just a mix, it has additives.

Bill.

sony2000 · Post by **sony2000** » 07 Mar 2009, 09:01

From a business point of view, it would be a good product to decrease overstock. Making semi-synthetic in a range of 40-60% of either, then the overstock can be brought down, and less understock would be used. Additives? Well they all get additives. I think I'll run the C70 on 1/3 synthetic., and both will be 10W-30. Thanks for your effort Bill.

StarmanDXE · Post by **StarmanDXE** » 11 Mar 2009, 06:54

Is it recommended to wean a car off of dino and onto synthetic oil?

I think I will be switching my car over and was just going to use synthetic for the next fill-up, but I have heard of this causing leaking problems because it cleans the gaskets so well...

Is weaning it onto synthetic a good way to prevent this or something?

sony2000 · Post by **sony2000** » 11 Mar 2009, 07:36

Weaning is a good idea. For me, this may be a long term combination, for easier winter starts, and less burn off. Fortified oil, sort of speak.

RogerNeedham · Post by **RogerNeedham** » 11 Mar 2009, 13:26

I am involved with automotives and have worked for these major oil companies. Firstly, before you all go fitting synthetics into your engines - check with the manufacturer if the engine is suitable for synthetic lubricants. It's a matter of horses for courses. Just because there is an advanced chemistry available does not mean its going to suit anything and everything. In some cases synthetics have been known to be detrimental to the performance, protection and longevity of engine components.

Ok semi synthetics. There are various formulations for the major brands. No blender will ever offer you the formulation so it is difficult to establish the ratios. However, it is thought that as long as it contains 20% of synthetic components then it may be classed as a semi. Indeed this 20% may be made up of additives and may not be included in the base oil which may still be mineral. So the term semi-synthetic may be a misnoma.

Fit the recommened oil grade and spec and change as often as you can afford to inside the service interval.

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts

Post by **billofdurham** » 11 Mar 2009, 16:47

RogerNeedham, welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

Thank you for the input. This bears out what I have been thinking for some time.

Bill.

sony2000 · Post by **sony2000** » 11 Mar 2009, 20:03

The marine enthusiasts have been putting synthetic oil in engines never built to use synthetic oils with fantastic results. As you know marine engines undergo many times the wear and tear that a passenger car engine under goes. But it is switched out for long periods of storage, wherein it drains from the vertical surfaces too well.