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SyntheticBlinkerFluid
SyntheticBlinkerFluid UltimaDork
1/21/16 1:56 p.m.

So the Focus is the first car I've owned that is worthy enough for synthetic. I have finally hit the mileage to change it since CarMax changed it and I imagine they cheaped out with regular oil.

Is there anything special I need to do before I switch to synthetic? Or can I just change it?

RossD
RossD UltimaDork
1/21/16 1:58 p.m.

I'm surprised since you've been using Synthetic Blinker Fluid for all these years and you're only now switching to it for your engine oil!?!?

pointofdeparture
pointofdeparture GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
1/21/16 2:00 p.m.

Go ahead and change it, I've done it dozens of times that way. Just make sure you're using a properly rated synthetic oil for your car (in both viscosity and certification, ACEA B3 being one example). Your owner's manual will tell you what you need.

jere
jere HalfDork
1/21/16 2:13 p.m.

Is the focus turbocharged, if not I suggest doing a blend/mix instead. Engine life is increased money is saved, oil burn off is decreased... At least that is my understanding.

I have made the mistake of switching on 2 cars and got to enjoy a slow oil drip then to swapping out front and rear main seals within a few months. Maybe it was just the seals time but i have heard this idea before

rslifkin
rslifkin Reader
1/21/16 2:18 p.m.

If something leaks from putting in synth, the leak was already there and plugged up with dirt. The different oil can clean it out and make it obvious.

If the engine isn't turbo-ed and doesn't see overly high oil temps (synth handles higher temps better), usually synth vs conventional won't really matter as far as protecting the engine adequately. But synth will often be able to go longer between changes.

ultraclyde
ultraclyde UltraDork
1/21/16 2:31 p.m.

No special effort required. Switch it over, feel better about yourself afterward. People will burn each other's houses down debating the benefit or lack thereof, but it's not that expensive anymore, and it makes me feel better about myself so I use it.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid
SyntheticBlinkerFluid UltimaDork
1/21/16 2:36 p.m.

My Focus is the NA 2.0L. It only has 45k on the odo. The price point isn't much different at Wally World. The Regular vs Synthetic is like five dollars (depending on brand). I'd like the longer oil change intervals.

NGTD
NGTD UltraDork
1/21/16 2:38 p.m.

I run nothing but synthetic in everything except the lawnmower. No special prep is required.

I save the money that is spent on the synthetic oil, by doing it myself.

Javelin
Javelin GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/21/16 2:48 p.m.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: My Focus is the NA 2.0L. It only has 45k on the odo. The price point isn't much different at Wally World. The Regular vs Synthetic is like five dollars (depending on brand). I'd like the longer oil change intervals.

That's because API rated synthetic oils only have to be 28% synthetic, versus ACEA rated oils which have to be 100% synthetic. Do yourself a favor and spend a day reading Bob is the Oil Guy. Personally, I run real 100% synthetic at 5K OCI's.

rslifkin
rslifkin Reader
1/21/16 2:58 p.m.
Javelin wrote:
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: My Focus is the NA 2.0L. It only has 45k on the odo. The price point isn't much different at Wally World. The Regular vs Synthetic is like five dollars (depending on brand). I'd like the longer oil change intervals.
That's because API rated synthetic oils only have to be 28% synthetic, versus ACEA rated oils which have to be 100% synthetic. Do yourself a favor and spend a day reading Bob is the Oil Guy. Personally, I run real 100% synthetic at 5K OCI's.

What? Are you referring to the bandwagon of people who insist that Group III oils aren't synthetic? And at 5k OCI, you're probably wasting most synthetics, especially some of the fancy Group IV / V stuff.

Javelin
Javelin GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/21/16 3:09 p.m.

In reply to rslifkin:

I'm a Sales Rep. My normal day has about 30 restarts in it. I'm not wasting anything.

dropstep
dropstep HalfDork
1/21/16 3:15 p.m.

Wifes saturn runs nothing but synthetic in the ten years we have owned it. 7500 mile intervals and no timing chain rattle. Im a beleiver in synthetics in modern cars.

Bobzilla
Bobzilla UltimaDork
1/21/16 3:21 p.m.

Oil analysis is a beautiful thing. First, to the OP.... change it, check it regularly. It's not uncommon for hte first change or two on an older engine to burn a little bit depending on it's history. The extra detergents etc tend to clean things a little and then burn it off. Not a big deal....

Since OA is now what I do daily, I started testing mine to see if I was wasting it or not. I've been running Wal-Mart "Full Synthetic" for years in all of our vehicles. I adhered to the 5k OCI's on the cars, and letting the truck's OLM tell me with it. At 5k, the oil was in extremely good shape. So, after last winter, I changed it before the MAth Tour at the Corvette Museum, then ran it the entire year (12 events total, plus daily driving). Tested it at 3k, 6k and then at 9500. Still no wear. No contamination to speak of (a bit of fuel dilution, but that was expected). Could have stretched it a little farther to about 12k and still been fine. I wussed out and changed it.

So, if a $17 jug of "synthetic" oil can last 10k miles with the abuse I put it through, I know that the "top tier" fluids will last much longer. Hell, I see it daily.

Duke
Duke MegaDork
1/21/16 3:30 p.m.

I've never witnessed the alleged "synthetic oil makes cars leak" syndrome in any of my cars, which range in age from 2012 and 45,000 miles to 1996 and 145,000 miles. I run it in everything.

Kenny_McCormic
Kenny_McCormic UltimaDork
1/21/16 3:36 p.m.

The synthetic causes leaks thing hasn't been a problem in decades, something about the seals shrinking with the early synthetic oils, though even then they'd bounce back after a while of you kept pouring synthetic in it.

java230
java230 HalfDork
1/21/16 3:52 p.m.
Bobzilla wrote: Oil analysis is a beautiful thing. First, to the OP.... change it, check it regularly. It's not uncommon for hte first change or two on an older engine to burn a little bit depending on it's history. The extra detergents etc tend to clean things a little and then burn it off. Not a big deal.... Since OA is now what I do daily, I started testing mine to see if I was wasting it or not. I've been running Wal-Mart "Full Synthetic" for years in all of our vehicles. I adhered to the 5k OCI's on the cars, and letting the truck's OLM tell me with it. At 5k, the oil was in extremely good shape. So, after last winter, I changed it before the MAth Tour at the Corvette Museum, then ran it the entire year (12 events total, plus daily driving). Tested it at 3k, 6k and then at 9500. Still no wear. No contamination to speak of (a bit of fuel dilution, but that was expected). Could have stretched it a little farther to about 12k and still been fine. I wussed out and changed it. So, if a $17 jug of "synthetic" oil can last 10k miles with the abuse I put it through, I know that the "top tier" fluids will last much longer. Hell, I see it daily.

Did you change filters at all during that time? I get a little nervous as mine is very dark after 7500, but that's when the light comes on in my truck.

Son_Of_Toyman
Son_Of_Toyman New Reader
1/21/16 3:55 p.m.

In reply to Duke:

I had a problem on my 99 Sentra that had about 95,000 on it. My ex brother inlaw had done the switch to synthetic on his Taurus with the same mileage with no problem but when I did it, it was bad. Like holy crap bad put a pan under it. This was in 06 so the car was not that old and had NEVER leaked a drop. I would definitely run it on a new car but after that I have been scared to give it another shot on any of my old cars.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid
SyntheticBlinkerFluid UltimaDork
1/21/16 4:22 p.m.

In reply to Bobzilla:

So you're saying that there is nothing wrong with the Walmart brand Synthetic? I've run their standard oil in my cars for ages and never had an issue.

I grabbed a jug of Pennzoil Full Synthetic, so I'm gonna start with that.

Bobzilla
Bobzilla UltimaDork
1/21/16 4:30 p.m.
java230 wrote:
Bobzilla wrote: Oil analysis is a beautiful thing. First, to the OP.... change it, check it regularly. It's not uncommon for hte first change or two on an older engine to burn a little bit depending on it's history. The extra detergents etc tend to clean things a little and then burn it off. Not a big deal.... Since OA is now what I do daily, I started testing mine to see if I was wasting it or not. I've been running Wal-Mart "Full Synthetic" for years in all of our vehicles. I adhered to the 5k OCI's on the cars, and letting the truck's OLM tell me with it. At 5k, the oil was in extremely good shape. So, after last winter, I changed it before the MAth Tour at the Corvette Museum, then ran it the entire year (12 events total, plus daily driving). Tested it at 3k, 6k and then at 9500. Still no wear. No contamination to speak of (a bit of fuel dilution, but that was expected). Could have stretched it a little farther to about 12k and still been fine. I wussed out and changed it. So, if a $17 jug of "synthetic" oil can last 10k miles with the abuse I put it through, I know that the "top tier" fluids will last much longer. Hell, I see it daily.
Did you change filters at all during that time? I get a little nervous as mine is very dark after 7500, but that's when the light comes on in my truck.

No filter changes, no addition to the oil (car just doesn't burn it. At 9500+ miles it was within a half quart of the full mark).

OIl color is one of those things people put a lot of faith into when it really means nothing. We test all sorts of things for all types of oils and not a single one involves a lab tech looking at the oil and making any determination whatsoever. OIl getting dark means it's doing it's job, keep particles and contaminants away from critical moving partrs.

Bobzilla
Bobzilla UltimaDork
1/21/16 4:32 p.m.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to Bobzilla: So you're saying that there is nothing wrong with the Walmart brand Synthetic? I've run their standard oil in my cars for ages and never had an issue. I grabbed a jug of Pennzoil Full Synthetic, so I'm gonna start with that.

It's a perfectly acceptable oil. Honestly, there really isn't a bad oil out there as long as it meets the correct requirements. Almost all of the modern oils will exceed what the engine manifacturers are looking for and provide reliable service. But, if you're truly going to stretch out your OCI's, invest in OA to find that sweet spot for your needs. There's just too many variables for a blanket "this will work for everyone".

rslifkin
rslifkin Reader
1/21/16 4:47 p.m.

Agreed on the analysis thing. I should really do another on the Jeep at some point to see if I can stretch that 6k interval out to 7500 miles (well, after I fix the issue with it going through a gallon of oil between changes). 7500 miles is about as far as my lazy self will push that thing though, as that's the longest I can set the built-in oil change reminder for

SyntheticBlinkerFluid
SyntheticBlinkerFluid UltimaDork
1/21/16 5:48 p.m.

In reply to rslifkin:

My Focus can be set all the way to 10k.

wbjones
wbjones MegaDork
1/22/16 5:44 a.m.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Is there anything special I need to do before I switch to synthetic? Or can I just change it?

nope .... just drain and pour ... and off you go

wbjones
wbjones MegaDork
1/22/16 5:47 a.m.
jere wrote: Is the focus turbocharged, if not I suggest doing a blend/mix instead. Engine life is increased money is saved, oil burn off is decreased... At least that is my understanding. I have made the mistake of switching on 2 cars and got to enjoy a slow oil drip then to swapping out front and rear main seals within a few months. Maybe it was just the seals time but i have heard this idea before

yeah .. coincident (regardless of whether or not Gibbs believes in them ... LOL )

nothing about synthetic v. dino oil that would make the seals leak

though be sure to do as someone above pointed out ... make sure that the synthetic you choose meets all the requirements of the manufacturer

wbjones
wbjones MegaDork
1/22/16 5:49 a.m.
NGTD wrote: I run nothing but synthetic in everything except the lawnmower. No special prep is required. I save the money that is spent on the synthetic oil, by doing it myself.

LOL ... I've got left over Joe Gibbs racing oil that I've used in the lawnmower .. it seemed to like it

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