[Healeys] Synthetic Oils

[Bob Spidell]

Hi Fred,


You'll get lots of opinions (the List has been slow lately ;).  I've 
done some research and given it a lot of thought and have come to the 
following conclusion: if you drive a lot of highway miles--say, 2K+ a 
month (not likely with a Healey)--then synthetic would be cost effective 
and labor-reducing with extended oil changes (6K+ miles).  If not--i.e. 
you do more "city" driving and put less than 2K miles a month on your 
car--then use mineral oil and change more often (3K miles).  I do use 
synthetic oil in the gearbox and differential of my Healeys, however.  
My new Mustang calls for semi-synthetic (5W-20!)--which is a reasonable 
compromise and I can get it for $2/qt--and 7,500 mile oil changes (no 
way I'll go that long--I do mostly city driving with it).

Bottom line is mineral oil and synthetic both accumulate moisture and 
acidic compounds, especially from city driving (short trips).  Best to 
change a "city" car's oil every 3-4 months regardless of miles, although 
I go longer with my Healey because I do almost all highway miles in it.

BTW--whatever you think of WalMart--they have the best price on oil that 
I've found.


bs


Fred Wescoe wrote:
> I have wondered about the sensibility or value of changing to synthetic oils.
>
> When compared to normal oils, do the synthetic oils really allow less engine
> wear, remove more deposits allowing for the longer change intervals and are
> they really more fuel efficient?  Are they more beneficial to the engines.  Is
> one better than another?
>
> I have looked at various web sites and I find just the usual company hype of
> their own products and no hard evidence to support their claims.  I could not
> find anything comparing synthetics to one another or to conventional oils.
>
> Both of  my owners manuals, Volkswagen and Audi, say specifically that use of
> synthetic oils will not affect the new car warrantee so the synthetic oils are
> manufacturer approved.  Both of these cars are relatively new cars with less
> than 16,000 miles on each.
>
> I don't believe changing the Healey to synthetic oil is sensible but is it
> beneficial to change my other newer and lower mileage cars to synthetic?  Are
> there recommended or specific filters for the synthetic oils?
>
> What is the collective experiences and wisdom of the list?
>
> Fred
> 63 BJ7
>
>
>   


-- 
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Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell at comcast.net
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