[Healeys] FW: Re: Does synthetic oil leak more?

Sun Jan 12 12:16:04 MST 2020

Hank,

I don't understand the correlation between 2 microns (2 thousandths of a 
millimeter, or roughly one tenth thousandth of an inch) and 2 
thousandths of an inch.  Clearance (0.002") should be 25 times the 
molecule size (0.00008")?

Cheers,

Bob Haskell
Austin Healey 3000 BN7/BT7 registrar

On 1/12/20 1:23 PM, gradea1 at charter.net wrote:
> Food for thought
> 
> -----------------------------------------
> 
> From: gradea1 at charter.net
> To: "warthodson at aol.com"
> Cc:
> Sent: Sunday January 12 2020 10:18:59AM
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] Does synthetic oil leak more?
> 
> Found this info by looking for the molecule size of synthetic oil.  Most 
> conventional oil is about 2 microns and that is why we set our bearing 
> clearance at .002 to allow the oil to pass. Early machining does not 
> match what we have today with the close tolerances we can now 
> achieve...so the finer synthetic runs out.  If I run Redline in my 
> Healey trans it ends up on the floor. Regular 30W stays in, and only 
> leaves a quarter size puddle. Used lots of good sealant but that wont 
> keep the new oils in if they are good soldiers:
> 
> "The main difference between synthetic motor oil and conventional motor 
> oil is found in their molecular structure. In a mineral oil, the 
> molecules come from organic, natural materials, and as we know, nature 
> isn't always consistent. There can sometimes be a few oddball molecules 
> in mineral oils. Synthetic oils 
> <https://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/trends-innovations/synthetic-oil-technology.htm>, 
> on the other hand, were created by scientists in a lab. The molecules 
> are uniform, and they line up like good soldiers inside of your engine."
> 
> See illustration attached- Hank
> 
> -----------------------------------------
> 
> From: "warthodson--- via Healeys"
> To: ronfineesq at earthlink.net, vintage_roadster_restoration at hotmail.com, 
> manifold at telus.net, 050.rpl at gmail.com, healeys at autox.team.net
> Cc:
> Sent: Sunday January 12 2020 9:44:13AM
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] Does synthetic oil leak more?
> 
> All I am saying is I find a lot of this hard to believe. For example: 
> Synthetic oil has much better cleaning properties, flows much better 
> than conventional oil, and hence also lubricates much better than 
> conventional oil. "Much better" sounds good but is not very scientific. 
> How much better, scientifically speaking? Just changing oil regularly 
> does what you are taking about & none of it has to do with leaking 
> unless you are counting on "sludge & gunk" to plug the leaking holes. 
> Good Luck! Careful rebuilding including paying close attention to 
> applying sealants where applicable, like bolt/screw threads when they 
> are in contact with the oil will make a big difference. Re-tightening 
> all the bolts after a break-in period will also assist.
> Gary Hodson
> 
> 
> 
> *From: *Harold Manifold
> *Sent: *January 11, 2020 10:53 AM
> *To: *warthodson at aol.com; 050.rpl at gmail.com; healeys at autox.team.net
> *Subject: *Re: [Healeys] Does synthetic oil leak more?
> Hello,
> All of your observations are a factor. Here are some comments from an 
> article about synthetic oil leaks:
> Synthetic oil WILL NOT cause leaks. It may however make already worn-out 
> gaskets/seals more evident, by leaking past them, and/or cleaning any 
> sludge and other gunk that was sealing the existing leak. This is 
> because Synthetic oil has much better cleaning properties, flows much 
> better than conventional oil, and hence also lubricates much better than 
> conventional oil (This is a good thing).
> I use a GL-4 synthetic gear oil in my transmission and it leaks. Believe 
> it not not one of the leak mechanisms is from the interior along the 
> bolts and drips from the bolt head on the exterior. I am changing the 
> gaskets on my transmission and trying bonded sealing neoprene washers on 
> the fasteners.
> I may be pursuing the impossible dream of a leak free Healey.... Harold
> image
> *From:*warthodson at aol.com [mailto:warthodson at aol.com]
> *Sent:* Saturday, January 11, 2020 7:24 AM
> *To:* manifold at telus.net; 050.rpl at gmail.com; healeys at autox.team.net
> *Subject:* Does synthetic oil leak more?
> I am not a leak expert, but I find this hard to understand. For there to 
> be a leak there has to be a hole. Is it because the synthetic oil 
> molecules are smaller than the non-synthetic oil molecules? Given that 
> the "holes" come in different sizes this seems illogical. Is it because 
> the synthetic oil is more slippery? How is that measured? How much more 
> slippery is it?
> Gary Hodson
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Harold Manifold <manifold at telus.net>
> To: 'R. Lindsay' <050.rpl at gmail.com>; 'Healey List' <healeys at autox.team.net>
> Sent: Fri, Jan 10, 2020 7:55 pm
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] Rear Axle Oil
> 
> The biggest difference you will notice with synthetic gear oils is they leak
> more than non-synthetic.
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