Synthetic Oil Harmful?

[scot850]

Thanks oragex for the heads up. I buy the 5 liter jugs of Edge 5W-40 at Costco here for around $32 regular price. Again the amount of mileage I do in that car it is fine and is the recommended oil for it. Running 5W-30 or 10W-30 the other recommended options I found the car used more oil, returning to the 5W-40 returned consumption to normal and minimal consumption.

I'll look at the other oils for the new 'project' once the V70 base has been sold in the next few weeks (hopefully!). The 03 4Runner V8 Limited is next up for some work as I needed a SUV for easier entry and exiting as no Volvo had decent seats the XC90's had horrible seats and XC60 too small for our needs.

Neil.

[abscate]

Pennzoil full synthetic on sale for 5 quarts/$12 net - see thread...

[wizechatmgr]

Thanks for thinking about me guys. Us poor Canadians have to take everything we can while NAFTA is still working. Once Mr. Trump cancels that our borders will close and everything will be even more ripped off up here!

I have done about 11,000km in the 'R' in about 5 1/2 years (about 1200-1400 miles a year) but generally change it once a year with Castrol Edge synthetic 5W-40 and Volvo filter (I read June's interesting thread on the so-called synthetics we get sold here), but with the temp variations we can get (-40C to +30C) it makes sense to run the synthetic oil for the cold starts. Having said that, my 'R' only did about 1000km last year as I was fed up with the suspension issues, so I did not change the oil. Will get around to doing that now the road out of our neighborhood has finally had the 8" packed ice ruts plowed down.

For what it cost v's an engine, it still makes sense to change once/year even on low mileage cars in case of fuel drain down even if it is dino oil you use.

Neil.

As someone that handled freight for 48 states - I can say this... The border from Canada will never change mostly because it is cheaper for us to import the goods from you great folks than it is to make them here - folks such as Trump utilize those goods. I know we have a lot of brake parts coming from Canada. The Canada side of the border is also a lot more strict. I had never had a trailer coming into the US side impounded at the border for additional inspection. On the Canadian side it was an average of one full trailer a week. I'd say we had at least 50 trailers coming from you for every one we sent you. Usually it was equipment to be reworked.

[loosenut]

I have seen synthetic oil in the past on high mileage cars where it gets past the rings and smoked out of the tail pipe.
Note that they were worn old motors.
On A VOLVO motor......you are in good shape i would say they make the best especially our super duper v70's and the like. Although if you notice any smoking......
So it is not a myth really. i have seen it happen.

[Rattnalle]

I have seen synthetic oil in the past on high mileage cars where it gets past the rings and smoked out of the tail pipe.
Note that they were worn old motors.
On A Volvo motor......you are in good shape i would say they make the best especially our super duper V70's and the like. Although if you notice any smoking......
So it is not a myth really. i have seen it happen.

If you rely on old burnt oil to keep the engine from leaking it's just a question of time
Stronger cleaning oil shortens that time though.

[abscate]

Health care tax on gross receipts is 15% vs 8% in Canada. Thats pre-profit, so it makes Canadian manufacturing tremendously competitive. Don't worry about NAFTA, the big orange doesn't even realize the first step to a negotiation is getting parties to the table, and when they aren't obligated, you have to convince them. TPP isn't going so well for the US right now, for instance.

I like when you things from Canada the box says "thank you for your business: when you open it.

[MrAl]

Hello again,

In a related note, what do you guys think the best brand name is for oil?
That is, the brand name of the best oil out there, synth or not, or perhaps one brand name for synth and another brand name for non synth.

[Rattnalle]

Personally I make sure I get the right spec and kind but then choose the cheapest brand I can find that fulfills those requirements.

[abscate]

Oil brands, weights, and change intervals are just cannon fodder for internet dystopia.

It’s easier to debate which religion is the true faith.

Quaker State is obviously the correct answer for both.

[bmdubya1198]

My cousin used to use Quick Mistake in his Durango and thought it was great oil... then again, he also thinks Harbor Freight makes the best tools... Anyway, he switched to Mobil 1 high mileage and proceeded to blame it for blowing up his engine at 203k miles. Meanwhile, he had been running the engine hard at half temperature (bad coolant temp sensor or something... we haven't quite figured out what was wrong yet) for a good year before it finally let go. I don't think the oil had anything to do with it.
I typically use Mobil 1, but there is no real answer on the best oil. As for store brands, M1 is my favorite, but there are many (possibly) better brands out there available online like Amsoil, Motul, Total, Bizol, Redline...
Oil debates are like political debates... dangerous territory!