Why use a synthetic and other additives?
 

I am curious is a synthetic oil safer and better to use and why. Also I am curious if you have an engine that has been using traditional engine oil and wanting to change to a synthetic how will it affect the engine and are there any problems associated with changing oils. Besides the length of change intervals of the synthetic are there any other advantages that out weigh a traditional oil? I am learning a lot of stuff about diesels and additives and lubricants now since I bought my Cummins. I am wanting to have it around for a very long time and want to make sure I am taking the best care I can by using the best products that TRULY work as they claim. There are so many different products on the market and up to recently I havent heard about most of them. I would appreciate any other info on additives besides the engine oils as well, such as diesel fuel additives and filteration products.

it used to be a wives tale that u couldn't change engine oil types. that's a wives tale plain and simple. the only issue concerning synthetic oil is waiting for i believe 25k miles when new to allow the engine to break in before using synthetic. the major advantages of synthetic are easier cold start, longer oil change intervals, and less break down due to extreme temperatures. if u really want to blow ur mind look into by-pass filters and all that is associated with them some ppl are getting over 50k on their synthetic oil with a bypass oil filter system and oil analysis. i'm not currently running synthetic myself but have been doing a ton of reading and research. i will be going to synthetic in the future and probably taking a hard look at a bypass filter system too.

there's a couple amsoil dealers on here (duluth diesel and heath). pm them if they don't put their .02 in on this post.

Amsoil recommends you use their engine flush when switching but other than that it's pretty easy to change over. You can run the synthetic just like you do any other oil and get extened intervals b/w changes and better protection. If you deceide to go with a bypass system then the intervals get even longer, the main thing is to keep doing analysis on the oil to see how it's doing.

You can also benefit from running synthetics throughout the truck, transmissions, transfer case, and the axles. These also give you a longer change interval and increased protection.

most vehicles i have owned i use mobil 1 i have had great luck with it.

my cummins i use rotella

There are a ton of advantages to a synthetic oil. Chimpo mentioned a few. Better hot and cold performance, better cold starting, longer oil life, better engine protection, better thermal stability (how hot do our EGTs get?), etc.

Mobil 1 isn't a 100% pure synthetic. It is a tier 3 synthetic, utilizing about 8 to 12 percent synthetic base stocks. AMSOIL is a tier 4 PAO oil with 100% pure synthetic base stocks. You get what you pay for. Not saying that Mobil 1 is really bad, but there are better oils out there.

-Chuck

you should ask goober. he is the Amsoil expert that pops in at Cumminsforum.com all the time. He loves his Amsoil he just cant spell it LOL

Dido. Won't beat a dead horse:)

i did a search on synthetic oils. seems like amsoil was #1 and Mobil behind.
i have had really good luck with Mobil 1 so i'm still going to keep going with it.

What'd you expect him to say? Mobil 1 is a superior oil to the product he stakes his lively hood on? C'mon now!

My dad loves Penzoil to death...........I personally won't touch the stuff. Point being I guess is there are alotta good oils out there wether it's Amsoil, Royal Purple, Mobil 1, Rotella, Valvoline, etc. Somebody's always had a bad experience with others and good look with others. Stick to what ya like and have good results with.

Thanx everyone for the help and info. I can see I do need to keep reading up on all this too.