Synthetic Oil back to Regular Oil

[johnk]

I hear from everyone that once you use synthetic oil you can never go back to regular oil for the same engine. Is there any truth to this and what would be the reasoning? I'm sure someone here will have the facts...

 

[saparks10]

I hear from everyone that once you use synthetic oil you can never go back to regular oil for the same engine. Is there any truth to this and what would be the reasoning? I'm sure someone here will have the facts...

Never say never. There is no truth to that myth. I don't see any reasoning behind that theory. You can go back to conventional anytime you want. The question is why would someone want to? That's like going from first class to coach. I'm sure someone will disagree with this post, so bring on the debate. lol

 

[SnowRidge]

I hear from everyone that once you use synthetic oil you can never go back to regular oil for the same engine. Is there any truth to this and what would be the reasoning? I'm sure someone here will have the facts...

Fact: I think it's a myth.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Just this morning, I went back to Castrol GTX in my '07 Explorer from Valv. Syn Power. I had to drive to Idaho (from VA) for an elk hunt. Had about 4400miles on at the change to syn. Changed back to dino this morning at 10,330 miles. Figured the syn would do just fine for the extra miles that I would have to put on it before the change. BobG in VA

 

[DieselPower]

Fact: I think it's a myth.

Fact: I KNOW it's a myth.

There's no way for your engine to know what base oil you are using. Use whichever you like and feel free to switch back and forth when you like.

 

[john_bud]

Sounds like a marketing ploy used by people that sell synthetic oils. Then again, I'm not real trusting of marketing ....

jb

 

[saparks10]

Sounds like a marketing ploy used by people that sell synthetic oils. Then again, I'm not real trusting of marketing ....

jb

I see how you are skeptical of marketing, kind of hard not to be these days. But marketing aside, synthetics perform better and last longer. There are facts to support it. When you are marketing something you have to point out the strong points of whatever it is, such as longer drain intervals, high TBN etc.

 

[MikePA]

Sounds like a marketing ploy used by people that sell synthetic oils.

Which synthetic oil company used "You can't go back to dino oil." as a marketing ploy?

The only place I've ever heard this, as well as "You have to wait 50, 100, 500 hours to use synthetics", is right here on TBN.

 

[thatguy]

In the past wasnt there a possible problem with seals leaking if you switched? (sorta like the fuel injector leaking problem some ppl had when the low sulphur diesel was first introduced)

That is a question, not a statement..

Brian

 

[DieselPower]

That is mainly a concern with ester based oils. When you switch "to" a ester based synthetic oil they can cause leak problems with some seals. The majority of synthetic oils on the market are PAO's and they don't have the same problems with seals as ester's do. Now day's esters are mainly used in industrial lubricants like compressor lubricants. There would still not be a problem switching back to conventional oil.