RE: IML: How about Synthetic oils? (Ken Lang's question)

["Frederick Joslin" <fljoslin@xxxxxxxx>]

I would like to add my comments to this discussion.

Most of us probably realize that motor oil consists of an oil base and some additives package which are more or less completely independent of each other.

For real synthetic oils the oil base is made (synthesized) to have very specific physical and chemical properties. Within reason the synthetic oil molecules are the same and have been designed for their intended application. For example, this may be a 20 carbon ester.

Dino oil is formed by the distillation of crude oil which consists of a myriad of compounds which differ in size or length and in chemical type. Aliphatic, aromatic, sulphur ..... When you get the distillation fraction from Dino oil to use as the oil base it will also consist of a great many compounds, some of which you may not want in an oil base.

Typically synthetic oils have better lubrication properties, are less susciptible to viscosity change with temperature and are less susceptible to thermal degredation.

As for the break in question, I believe that you should not use synthetic oil during the initial engine break in because you want a certain amount of wear to occur and the synthetic oil does not allow this to happen.

I recently lost all but 1.5 quarts of oil from the 440 in my 1969 LeBaron. Right as I realized the loss I noticed that the engine had heated up considerably.

I was using Mobil 1 20/50 weight and as far as I can tell no damage was done to the engine. This might not have been the case if I had Dino oil.        

----- Original Message -----
From: "DR CHALLENGER"
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: IML: How about Synthetic oils? (Ken Lang's question)
Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2006 13:49:05 +0000


what about adding an additive?


> From: "Dick Benjamin"
>> I'll try to answer this - if it goes through, maybe things are working
> again.
>
> Yes, unless the synthetic oil is recommended for use in Diesels, I doubt
> very much that it contains enough ZDDP for use in car which is seldom
> driven. The reason for that is that in order to qualify for an SL or SM
> rating (look on your oil container), the Zinc Anti-wear additive has been
> eliminate to avoid poisoning the catalytic converter in modern cars. In
> other words, if it is sold for use in modern cars, it isn't the right stuff
> for a collector car that is parked for weeks at a time. When Mobil One
> first came out, this wasn't so serious a problem, but the SL and SM rated
> oils have really dropped the amount of ZDDP to just about zero - the SK
> article gives precise numbers, which I don't have at the tips of my fingers
> at the moment.
>
> Dick Benjamin
>




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Fred Joslin