Synthetic oil

clemsonfor · Oct 26, 2009

I posted this question in the Yanmar forum since i have a Yanmar, but im reposting it here. This is the original question and the answers i received so far.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know, this could/should be posted in the oil forum, but i wanted to hear from fellow yanmar owners about their thoughs experiences. I am thinking about synthetic oil in my ym2000 next change. My question is not what brand but what weight? There is synthetic 15w40 and the things like 0w40... etc. I live in sc so super cold is not an issue i just want the most protection on cold startups (say 24-35 deg. F is the coldest i would start in) but that being said in january we still can have a day that hits 70 deg. F so i want to make sure the oil can cover wide temp swings.

I also understand that the first number is the viscosity or ability to flow cold and the second is the viscosity or ability to flow when warm. If this is correct 0w40 would be my best oin on a 30 deg. day and a 100 deg. day as it would sill be 40 weight when warm but would be super good flow on startup? right?

Let me hear some thoughts.

-nate

10-21-2009, 02:59 PM #2 (permalink)
careyo63
Silver Member

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not to far from you with pretty much the same climate.In my 2000 I use Castrol 15w 40 Diesel and change it every 50 hrs or the end of the summer when it sits and doesn't get used as much. I also change my oil filter every oil change.Believe it or not known some who don't.That reminds me it's about that time again and go see what all I have and if I need to give Hoye a call.

Carey

10-22-2009, 12:56 AM #3 (permalink)
California
Veteran Member

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by careyo63
... I also change my oil filter every oil change. Believe it or not known some who don't.

...People who follow the Operator Manual! It says change the oil at 100 hour intervals and replace the oil filter at each second oil change.

(But I change them with every oil change anyway.)

It also says to drop the pan and clean the oil pump intake strainer at 600 hour intervals. I wonder how many do that?
__________________

10-22-2009, 09:29 AM #4 (permalink)
clemsonfor
Bronze Member
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i had seen the synthetic rotella at TSC of $29/ gal. Is that what you use? It is still 14w40 so would it flow better cold than dino 15w40? It dosent make much sense as they are identical viscosity?

Soundguy · Oct 26, 2009

I'm not certain I'd put synthetic into an engine that wasn't rebuilt in recent years with newer seal and gasket materials. amsoil themselves tell you not to.

I don't think 'factory rebuild' by vietnam yanmars count either..

soundguy

RalphVa · Oct 26, 2009

No problem using synthetic in any engine. On some, the oil consumption could get expensive, but I've switched an old Gravely, old Benz and fairly old Toyota Tacoma. The Gravely was using some oil but stopped after the 3rd change to synthetic (using Mobil 1's 15w50 on it). All the others, I initially went with 5w30 (but 5w40 in the Benz). When 0w30 came out, I switched all of them to it, including my JD 4010 diesel. Even the old Benz uses no more than it did on dino oil, about a pint or so every 2k miles. I just change them all once/yr, usually approx. 60 hours on the 4010 and 6-7k miles on the cars and pickup.

Ralph

bpattie · Oct 26, 2009

just my opinion, but I would go synthetic in most any engine. it has superior wear protection, less contaminates and doesn't break down.

clemsonfor · Oct 27, 2009

Sound guy, i though the newer synthetics had resolved the problem with whatever is in dino oils that swells gaskets and seals so that there is no problem switching an old engine to syn or taking a syn. engine back to dino. I recall reading something about this a while back.

Soundguy · Oct 27, 2009

I specifically wrote amsoil this very question a couple years ago.. not sure of the -exact- date.. but was a couple years ago.

the answer I got was that they did not reccomend switching to a synthetic oil in an engine that did not have modern seal or gaskets.

they didn't specify what 'modern' was.. but when i mentiond 50's era machines.. they implied that they were not modern.

If you ask me.. it sounded like a CYA answer.. but.. with that said.. you've got no recourse if you DO use it and something flies apart...

I'm not convinced that my old machines that ran on oil technology from 80 years ago... that still run good now... need oil that costs more than mid-high quality car paint.. especially since one of the main benefits is extended changes.. and that's not what you are looking for on a machine that collects acids and moisture and soot... I want those OUT of my engine.. not in there longer.

IMHO.. good quality clean oil, change at or before specified intervals should be fine.. heck.. it HAS been fine for .. well heck.. 70 80 ys... ????

soundguy

brandoro · Oct 27, 2009

I read an interesting article a few years back that mentioned that one 'problem' with using synthetic oils in older engines was its ability to clean all the inner parts of the engine, thereby removing what they called 'false seals' and causing oil leakage. Not so much that the synthetic oil was causing any harm to the old seals just that the carbon and sludge buildup in these old engines was helping the seals do their job and the synthetic oils were removing that. I can't quote the article, too long ago but, an interesting slant on the old seal issue.
Personally, if I owned an older high mileage or high hour machine and it was running good I would just stay with what had got it that far. For any newer low to moderate mileage/hour machine I think synthetics are much superior. Guess I am still under the influence of the old wives tale but I like to have 100 hours on the tractor and 10-15 thousand miles on an engine before changing it to synthetic. Has worked very well for me over the years, decades even.

clemsonfor · Oct 27, 2009

SG i agree with all you said, i dont want all the blow by and acids sitting at eating at the engine cause i only change my oil every 250 hrs or some rediculous time. I would still stick to the same oil change intervals. i was more interested in the less wear factor of synthetics where people say there was almost no wear.

I think b/c of the price and like you said tractors have been running on regular oil which wasent half as good as the oil today (dino oil).

I think i will just stick to regular oil and frequent changes esp after seeing the $29/gal rotell Syn. Price. I think i will just be using the regualar rotella 15w40.

The other thing i wanted out of a syn was the quicker lubing at say 30-50 deg F. cold starts. I am in sc so those are cool/cold days.

Soundguy · Oct 27, 2009

if I had a new tractor and lived in colder areas.. I think I might use synthetics and change at regular intervals just for better cold weather lube and all.. but in florida i can usually mow in my shorts during the winter....

soundguy

IslandTractor · Oct 27, 2009

Soundguy said:
if I had a new tractor and lived in colder areas.. I think I might use synthetics and change at regular intervals just for better cold weather lube and all.. but in florida i can usually mow in my shorts during the winter....

soundguy

Can you post a photo?