Further to the use of synthetics vs conventional oils, the drain interval
on synthetics is vastly extended because they don't form the nasty
byproducts during their interaction with the products of combustion because
synthetics don't have a petroleum base. The drain interval is extended for
normal service to between 25 and 30,000 km. For this reason alone, I fail
to see the merits of conventional oils - other than that old LBC standby,
price. Why muck up the engine with a load of good old crude oil compounds
when you can have something derived from a very neutral base. This stuff
won't make acid when it's mixed with water the way conventional oils will.
Semi-synthetics don't make much more sense than conventional oils because
of their petroleum content.
I like synthetics. They've been used in jet aircraft since the '40s
(different type but still synthetic) and they are recommended for an
increasing number of modern automobiles. If your engine is not leaking or
burning copious quantities of oil this is the stuff. The cold startup
benefits plus the high temperature and heavy load benfits more than
outweigh any notions of cost - given the longer drain interval.
For those of you who drive cars in winter, remember that the single
greatest period of engine wear occurs on cold startup. Synthetics are
there nearly immediately when other oils are so stiff they won't even pour
out of a can.
Synthetics are now available in a great variety of viscosities including 15
- 50 which sounds ideal for most LBCs.
Most people that are unsure about synthetics still tend to use non-silicone
brake fluid and insist on having their body work done with lead. Move on
into the 20th Century so that you can catch up to the 21st before it's too
late.
Have you noticed how often on British car lists the discussion revolves
around those "damn modern" methods. Think about all of the people who
still believe that bondo is a curse, nitrocellulose lacquer is still the
best paint available, Waxoyl will solve rust problems, and silicone brake
fluid is the devil's invention.
'nuff said
John
>Fred,
>Can't you go longer between oil changes with a synthetic? I've heard you can
>go 10,000 miles between changes - which offsets the extra cost of the oil.
>(Assuming synthetic costs approx. 3 times as much, you would about break
>even.) I've been running 1/2 synthetic Valvoline in my Saab and I'm up to
>265,000 miles with no engine problems yet. Typically changing the oil
>between 3,000 and 10,000 miles max. For the LBC I was thinking about it more
>from a storage standpoint. I mean, since I don't drive the MGB that often,
>maybe I should run 100% synthetic in that engine. I'm cheap too, but I'm all
>for trying to minimize problems before they start.
>
>don
>
>In a message dated 11/24/01 8:29:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>fredtal@industryinet.com writes:
>
>> Here is mine...if you change oil often, and you should, then why spend the
>> extra money? My old Chevy truck ran 200,000 miles on Castrol 20W-50 with
>> the only engine part replaced being an oil pump. I'm cheap so there.
>>
>> Fred Talmadge
>> 1961 Elva Courier
>> S1 & S2 Lotus Elan
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