John,
Read your chat with interest. Some things old are better than some things
new, and some things new are better than some things old.
But you mention Waxoyl - what do you know about it? I understand it is
paraffin wax dissolved in mineral spirits and I was going to experiment
with bees wax dissolved in something, not sure what. This because a
coating of wax seems like a good protection from rust. So you comments
would be of interest!
At 08:55 PM 11/24/01 -0700, John McEwen wrote:
>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
Regards
Barrie
Barrie Robinson - barrier@bconnex.net
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