Conventional Vs. Synthetic

[Mur386]

So after trying AMSoil in my zx7r, I joined as a dealer. I had acquired my Dad's old 2003 suburban, it had 197715 miles on it, mainly highway, when I switched it to AMSoil 5w30. Being a somewhat OCD person. I performed mileage checks before switching to AMSoil.
A highway only test showed mileage to be 17.2 mpg, city only was 12.4. Then I flushed engine with regular oil and AMSoil flush and a new factory filter. Installed the AMSoil 5w30 and AMSoil filter, next long trip mileage was 19.2 mpg pure highway, trip home was 19 mpg which included the city driving before the highway trip home. The following week while checking over my old/new vehicle I found a 1.5 inch section of the air filter sealing strip missing/torn off by some incompentent installer, replaced filter and using a q-tip with solvent I cleaned the MAF sensors three sensing elements. Which although they looked clean the Q-tip removed some dirt/comtamination. Cleaned the entire intake to the throttle body, there was small grit everwhere, wondering how long the ripped filter had been in place.
Next city mpg was 14.9mpg, and today 11/7/09 had the first long trip highway which included all city driving 154.2 miles and refilled at same station, same pump. With 7.7 gallons, did the math and it said 20.02 mpg.
On a vehicle that has never had a tuneup *thats coming next week* new plugs and wires! Wonder what will happen then? I can hardly wait for the results.
And with approx. 900 miles on the odometer since AMSoil change, the oil is slightly honey colored and oil level has not changed.
AMSoil bypass filter system is on the wish list.
some pictures are listed below.
Bill
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...October298.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...October321.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...October295.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...October296.jpg

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

Wish you would have contacted us to be a Dealer. We are always looking for good people.

When did you join and how ?

The Best isn't cheap
Cheap isn't The Best

Bob

[Mur386]

filed app at amsoils site, received mailing packet and called AMSoil about some questions that I had. the lady I spoke with was super nice and helpful.
Bill
ps late september, early october, would have to look at paper work to be sure

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

Originally Posted by Mur386

filed app at amsoils site, received mailing packet and called AMSoil about some questions that I had. the lady I spoke with was super nice and helpful.
Bill
ps late september, early october, would have to look at paper work to be sure

Too bad... if it was within 30 days I could have you transfered to me... Now you are hooked to a dealer who could probably care less... Has he contacted you yet ?

The Best isn't cheap
Cheap isn't The Best

Bob

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

Did you send the upgrade form in ? Otherwise you should just be a Preferred Customer

The Best isn't cheap
Cheap isn't The Best

Bob

[ramblin'boy]

Synthetics need a special oil filter and once you go synth you can't go back to conventional according to my oil guy

[Crazyninja]

My 2005 pontiac GTO (Holden with a corvette engine) uses mobile 1 full synth from day one.

[Mur386]

You can go back to regular oil after synthetics, its just oil, although the synthetics do offer better characteristics than regular oil. Will not ever put any regular oil back in my bike, the small changes that I saw after going synthetic made me happy.
Bill

[unforgivenreality]

i myself am a amsoil dealer as well. i only became one after we started using it in our diesel long haul trucks at wrk and i started to see oil samples coming back good with 290,000 on the oil. and i know contrary to amsoildealers statement that you cannot break a diesel engine in on synthetic oil if you do the rings will not seat properly and you will burn oil(witnessed this happen)

[airgreesemonkey]

personally im a fan of synthetics. but i would go with the engine builders recomendations on oil because im an aircraft mechanic, and ive seen first hand what happens when you do not properly break in an engine. its all about the piston rings, a few weeks ago i had to pull a cylinder off on engine because 100 hours before we had replaced it, because it was only one cylinder and we didnt run mineral oil or limit the aircraft to cross country flights only. as a result when it came in for a compression test it failed 28/80 psi and i could tell during my ground run that i had a cylinder not firing like it should and my EGT indication for that cylinder was 300 degrees below every other cylinder. i pulled the cylinder later that day and the compression rings were completely glazed over.

now thats kind of an extreme case but it just goes to show how important a proper break in is to the longevity of an engine

[Rocketman14]

I put 1500 miles on my ZX-14, which was 3 changes with Kawi Chem, then went to synthetic. It runs perfect and does not ever use oil.

[unforgivenreality]

as i said though this was diesel aplication these engines go a million miles before needing overhaul (because of the metal compounds of the internal components) not like your average gas engine that you can feel lucky if you get 200,000 on them if even that sometimes

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

Sometimes. I have a hard time with some of the things I read.... This is not a Class 8 or Aircraft Forum. It is a Motorcycle Forum... Class 8 Diesels will require a run in period although it is only a few thousand miles.. Engines such as the Ford/International P/S or Dodge/Cummins and Duramax only require 1000 miles before switching...

Motorcycles can be changed at the first oil change which is usually recommended at 600 miles. As Matter of Fact, you could change your Motorcycle or Auto over with Zero miles but it is a waste of money as the oil will still need to be changed to flush machining and casting debris from the engine.

You CAN Change your M/C over to Synthetic at ANY Time... Period.. Anything else said is Pure Myth...

The Best isn't cheap
Cheap isn't The Best

Bob

[unforgivenreality]

since this is in its own part i thought it was more of a free chat as we where just telling acctual accounts of what we have seen and witnessed no one was knocking your oil or anyone elses oil no matter what bis said here we will all end up using what works for us based upon our own personal experiances no need for a sales pitch or argument but if we are not to put our 2 cents worth in with our own personal experiances then whats the point of having a descussion forum at all???????????

[airgreesemonkey]

Originally Posted by Amsoil Dealer Group

This is not a Class 8 or Aircraft Forum. It is a Motorcycle Forum...

thank you Mr. Obvious....

and i agree with unforgivenreality, lay off the sales pitch a little, we realize its your job

but because i enjoy a good constructive argument:

yes there are differences between motorcycles, diesel, and aircraft reciprocating engines but the components are pretty much the same. they all have pistons, cylinders, valves, cranks, and cams. fuel and air are combined, compressed and ignited to generate an impulse turning the crankshaft.

yes a break in period is meant to get rid of spare metal left over from the machining/casting process. but as i mentioned before the most important part is breaking in the piston rings. with my example of an improper break in it can result in high oil consumption, low compression, poor performance, and a short engine life. if an engine running at a cruise rpm of about 2500 and red lines at 2800 rpm can wear out a set of piston rings in 2 oil changes, how fast can a motor running at 5000 to 8000 at normal operating rpm to 12000-14000 redline rpm handle if not properly broken in? may i remind you that the components are almost exactly the same but have different bore and stroke

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

If you are an aircraft mechanic, you realize that although the components are similar, their composition is different and require different run ins due to the difference in materials and workmanship.

All rebuilt engines require a break-in period before switching to synthetics. Automotive, Light truck and Motorcycle engines, whether gasoline or diesel can be switched over to synthetic oil at the first scheduled maintenance interval.

The Best isn't cheap
Cheap isn't The Best

Mr. Obvious

[airgreesemonkey]

Originally Posted by airgreesemonkey

thank you Mr. Obvious....

yes molecular compounds are going to be different, but i just said it was necessary for a break in, i never said at what interval and i was giving an example of an improper break in and logic on how a motorcycle engine could end up with the same fate. bikes usually come with a sticker on the tach giving recommendations on operating parameters during the break in period and a warning about the effects of an improper break in.

other than that do you have anything else to add or are you going to agree with everything ive said and try to make it sound like your idea?

[bluedevil10r]

The cult of amsoil has now started their sales pitches once again! arrrrrgh Go away!!!!

[Crazy Cat]

All good brand oils are good, as long as they are compatible with your vehicle.
If you go with conventional oil, just change it more often, twice that is, than what you would with synthetic, no problem.
If conventional oil was that bad it would have disappeared long ago. Its cheep and good and the synthetic type: expensive and good.

[christino]

i personally like ams and motul for my car