Whats your weight? (synthetic oil)

[Sirius600]

Since I'm considering switching to synthetic oil, I think it's suiting to start a poll on oil weight. This is for synthetic users ONLY.

Please include your location and the average temperature where you drive.

[tastade]

I am using 15W50 Mobil 1 synthetic. I live in IA, and only drive the car in the spring/summer/fall, usually on days above freezing. Avg summer temperature is around 72 degrees (day/night average), highest high is around 100 . When temperatures are below about 20 F, it is hard starting and will idle terrible for about 10 seconds. I believe this is due to the thick oil. I do several autocrosses during the year, and some spirited driving. The thick oil works great for my driving habits. My fuel economy is worse with the thick oil, probably by about 2-4 mpg average. This current oil change I have about 6k miles and still have 3 bars left on my change indicator, I also have about 4k highway miles on this oil. My previous oil was 10w30 (fossil based).

[brucelee]

Originally Posted by tastade

I am using 15W50 Mobil 1 synthetic. I live in IA, and only drive the car in the spring/summer/fall, usually on days above freezing. Avg summer temperature is around 72 degrees (day/night average), highest high is around 100 . When temperatures are below about 20 F, it is hard starting and will idle terrible for about 10 seconds. I believe this is due to the thick oil. I do several autocrosses during the year, and some spirited driving. The thick oil works great for my driving habits. My fuel economy is worse with the thick oil, probably by about 2-4 mpg average. This current oil change I have about 6k miles and still have 3 bars left on my change indicator, I also have about 4k highway miles on this oil. My previous oil was 10w30 (fossil based).

I also use Redcap but I live in San Diego where it never gets below 50F. Perhaps for winter, you should switch to 5-30 or 10-30. Seems like this would help aleviate your issues upon starting.

Castrol makes a 5-50 Syntec which also might work.

Good luck

[socal318ti]

I live in San Diego and the previous owner of my car always used 10w-40 synthetic so I am continuing with it. By the way its Mobil 1 stuff.

[NEKO]

I always use Valvoline Syntech full Synthetic motor oil. For the winter I am using 10W 30.

[318ti]

Just Changed it today to 5w-30 Mobil 1. It had problems starting in -20c temps.

Peter
1999 318ti 81k

[AlaskaBlue]

I want to switch to synthetic, but the guys at the dealership it didn't matter, and a guy at the autoparts store said that it could cause problems (fuel pump to go out? I can't remember what it was now because I asked a few months ago) I have 140,000 miles do these guys know what they are talking about or is it just crap?

I Had to edit this in sorry I forgot. I live in Indiana summer around 80 degrees winter around 32 and dealer uses 20w50 oil

[S10mafia50]

Originally Posted by AlaskaBlue

I want to switch to synthetic, but the guys at the dealership it didn't matter, and a guy at the autoparts store said that it could cause problems (fuel pump to go out? I can't remember what it was now because I asked a few months ago) I have 140,000 miles do these guys know what they are talking about or is it just crap?

I Had to edit this in sorry I forgot. I live in Indiana summer around 80 degrees winter around 32 and dealer uses 20w50 oil

For the record, alaskablue went synthetic, then I converted him to conventional valvoline max life(the car likes it much better)

As for myself, I just went from 5w30 motorcraft syn to Mobile-1 10w30 5000mile oil....(No idea if it is conventional or syn.) I bought a case, air filter, 2 oil filters for less than having the oil changed...haha

Andrew

[AlaskaBlue]

Originally Posted by S10mafia50

For the record, alaskablue went synthetic, then I converted him to conventional valvoline max life(the car likes it much better)

As for myself, I just went from 5w30 motorcraft syn to Mobile-1 10w30 5000mile oil....(No idea if it is conventional or syn.) I bought a case, air filter, 2 oil filters for less than having the oil changed...haha

Andrew

I went to redline, but the car used that up as fast a gas. Then I switched to valvoline maxlife. The car burns a lot less oil and my wallet is much happier. I am using 10w40 weight.

[mohaughn]

Strange.. My Ti doesn't use any oil... I'm running Mobil 1 0w40... Do you have a leak somewhere that would explain your car using the oil like that? I didn't think that was an issue on the m42/44. I know the S14 uses oil, but that engine is kind of extreme by comparison.

[AlaskaBlue]

Originally Posted by mohaughn

Strange.. My Ti doesn't use any oil... I'm running Mobil 1 0w40... Do you have a leak somewhere that would explain your car using the oil like that? I didn't think that was an issue on the m42/44. I know the S14 uses oil, but that engine is kind of extreme by comparison.

The simple answer is that I leak somewhere and it burns oil it is a 170,000 mile engine. I am not sure of the exact amount now because I seem to top off every four or five days. I check it nearly everyday or everyday that I drive at least. I never let it get a quart low due to the conditions in which the car is driven.

[hotdog19d]

I was using mobil1 15w50 , then switched to 5w30 for this winter.

[hsvbama318ti]

I use redline 20w-50. Superb oil!

[clex2]

There one furmula you forgot......Mobil 1 0w-40, which I use all year round.

[Buttercup]

I use 15w50 Mobil One.