Chinky420 wrote:mobile 1 5w-30 is now what i'm using
with stp oil filter (boring but does the job)
Good call. Since this one is my daily driver, I use Valvoline Max-life and Synpower (2 qts of each) along with a good Bosch filter. I bought it with about 63K on it, and when I completed the first oil change I noticed that the car started easier, did not seem to run as loud, and had a bit better acceleration. Since it's just a 2.4L, I'm not expecting it to keep up with my weekend warrior's V8, but it does pretty well for itself.
Chinky420 wrote:1) don't go switching back and forth between synthetic and regular. it's ok to go from regular to synthetic, but going back and forth is bad for your gaskets (i think).
Not true anymore. Synthetics used to be much harder on seals and rings, but they have vastly improved.
Chinky420 wrote:2) there's a difference between synthetic blend (like mobile 1 'synthetic') and true synthetics (amsoil, eneos, redline)
Mobil 1 makes both blends and total synthetics. I'm not big on Amsoil, but that's just a personal opinion.
Chinky420 wrote:3) if you go full synthetic, stick with it. don't go backwards to a synthetic blend afterwards (so make sure you want to stick with a full synthetic before you do it the first time)
I spoke with an engineer at Mobil about this, and he said that it's okay to do so, but you need to understand that the benefits of synthetics are not lingering and conventional motor oil in high compression engines breaks down faster - in other words, it may end up costing you
more.
Chinky420 wrote:4) if you are going from regular oil to a synthetic/synthetic blend, make sure you monitor your engine and gaskets for leaks. sometimes the synthetic oil will dissolve some 'gunk' that has accumlated and will open up some leaks (that the gunk was previously clogging).
Oil does not dissolve "gunk" in the engine. If you have "gunk" in your engine, you have bigger problems - you're burning oil and screwing it up.
Chinky420 wrote:also, i've heard that royal purple tends to breakdown faster than other true synthetics. but i don't remember where/who i heard that from. so i guess treat this point as heresay until it can be confirmed.
Heresy, or hearsay? I'll go with bofum!

(I hadn't heard it at all)
Big Mack