16 Can and should I use synthetic motor oils?
Description
This article is from the VW Performance FAQ, by with numerous contributions by Jan Vandenbrande others.
16 Can and should I use synthetic motor oils?
A:First have a look at the archive on this. In short,
synthetic motor oils are superior in all respect to
mineral based oils. However, with regular oils being very
good already, the chances of you experiencing engine
failure because of oil viscosity breakdown or other
factors have become extremely rare under normal driving
conditions. Usually, the rest of the cars wears out
first.
However, under higher stress conditions, synthetic oils
will provide you with better protection. Because of
their better flow properties, synthetics are also better
at start up, better in colder climates, and consequently
provide a bit more power (measurable, possibly not
noticable).
If you use a transverse engined car at a track for speed
events (as opposed to a parking lot autocross), you may
actually be in a corner long enough to slosh oil clean
away from the pickup, with possible bad results (please
don't ask how I know: [Editor: I did ask Bob April, and
he managed to push a rod through his engine block. The
failure was traced to inadequate lubrication due to hard
acceleration. He was using Castrol 20W50 in his race
prepped Scirocco]). The real solution is to get a
baffled oil pan, but synthetic oils will do better than
dino oils in this situation.
One of the major concerns with synthetic oils is
compatibility with seals. The newer cars definitely have
seals which are compatible, with older cars this is less
certain. In addition, with older cars using conventional
oils, false seals will have formed (i.e., gunk) thereby
also drying out those seals. Synthetics often have
superior detergent qualities and will often wash away
those false seals causing leaks through the dried up
seals...Sometimes the old seals will recover (because
they are exposed to oil again), but sometimes they won't
hard. So, it's hard to blame synthetics for causing
leaks, it's really the conventional oil that caused the
harm.
The general recommendation with oil change intervals is
to remain with the car's recommendations. With current
VWs this is every 7500 miles or 12 000 km.
The extra cost of synthetic oils is negligable when
compared to other vehicle operating costs including fuel,
insurance, maintenance, and depreciation. Mobil claims
that the superior engine protection, and reduced strain
on batteries and starters, synthetic oils will easily
pay for itself over the life of the car.
Some additional interesting sites to visit are:
<A HREF="vw/FAQs/faq.oil">faq.oil</A> All you wanted to
know about oil/synthetics
<A HREF="http://www.mobil.com/"> Mobil Oil Corp:</A>
Synthetic Oil, FAQs, interesting.
<A
HREF="http://www.xmission.com/~gastown/amsoil/index.html"
> Amsoil:</A> Synthetic Oil Products
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