When Can I Start Using Synthetic Oil

[pzoo]

I just got my Vibe a couple weeks ago and I plan to do my own oil changes. My question is should I or anyone else for that matter wait to certain amount of mileage before it's safe to use full synthetic motor oil. I have heard that it is good to use regular oil the first couple of changes to allow the engine to break in properly. For example, does immediate use of synthetic adversely affect the piston rings seating correctly and so forth. I am planning on changing the oil with regular dino at 1000 miles and then every 3000 miles thereafter with Mobil 1 or equivalent - would this be ok. TIA...James

[MadBill]

You'll get a lot of responses that say: "Yes, always break the engine in first. The synthetic is 'too slippery' to do the job properly."In fact, since the car comes with perfectly good oil from the factory, you might as well "use it up". HOWEVER consider high performance vehicles such as Corvette and Porsche, which as Mobil brags, are factory-filled with Mobil 1 synthetic. GM and Porsche don't put 5,000 miles on their engines before they sell you the car, not do they send along a gallon of oil with instructions not to use it until x-thousand miles. So....

[Flip-Side]

I agree. Synthetic can be used from the start. It minimizes wear, not eliminates it. Engines nowadays are said to need a lot less "break-in" than in the past, and techniques are used at the factory to make it so.You might as well let the original oil stay for the break-in because there is no real gain in changing the oil yet, other than wasting cash.

[d_m_kolb]

You can use sythetic the day you bring the car home. The very first day my wife and I bought our 2001 Kia Spectra (Not a very good car) I changed the trany fluid and oil out to Amsoil oil. Never had a problem. Since then it's only had one oil change because I'm doing the extended 25,000 mile oil change interval.GM's Corvette has been factory-filled with synthetic engine oil since 1992; the Dodge Viper since 1997! VW TDI diesels are serviced with synthetic engine oil as part of their warranty program.All Porsches come factory filled with synthetic.Briggs and Stratton recommends synthetic 5W- or 10W-30 for all temperature use . B&S cautions that air cooled engines run hotter than automotive engines and using non-synthetic multi-viscosity oils above 40°F (4°C) will result in higher than normal oil consumption.Synthetics are used in every military, and commercial jet, all of the Space Shuttles, and every satellite in space, because of their ability to withstand the extreme heat, extreme cold and high pressures encountered in those hostile environments. WHY does every Jet Fighter Engine in The World use SYNTHETIC LUbricants Exclusively? Because it's the best.How about the Air Force publication Driver in April 1978 and reprint in August 1979 of which showed a synthetic-lubricated Chevy 454 block after 70,000-miles - The factory cylinder honing marks were still present, and virtaully sludge free oil gallery.In the September 1999 issue of Corvette Fever they gained several free horsepower by just switching to this avanced (35,000-mile / 12-month EXTENDED DRAIN) 0w-30 Synthetic Oil technology technology... alot of racers use it - they poor out their sponsors oil product out and put this in their sponsors container... this technology has been deliveing up to as much as a 40% increase in passenger veicle fuel economy since 1995.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=2354Also up to 60% of all engine wear is done by contaminants in the 5-20 micron range. Amsoil oil filters are designed with the extended mile oil change in mind and trap particles this size for even longer engine life. Just using a great oil isn't enough. You must use a oil filter designed for high mileage and small particle filtration.

[Chris]

Good points about synth. I believe it has to do with the break in process.For a rebuilt engine (like my bike) I was cautioned against using synth for a couple thou miles because it would not let the rings seat properly and would 'glaze' the cylanders. I realize cars are 'broken in' from the factory however they still recommend that you drive easy for the first thousand miles or so. For me, I believe that using "dino" oil for the first change or two certainly will not hurt the car (my '73 volvo had over 250km on it on cheapo dino oil) and, because I have 0 knowledge about how the factory runs the engine in, I'm 'covering my bases' by allowing a little more wear at the beginning. After a couple thou miles, however, synth will be in both the bike and the car... synth is a better oil... no matter what the brand.Just my thoughts

[d_m_kolb]

I do agree for the first 500 miles it's probably best to use the cheap stuff. The reason I say this is because a new engine will inevitably have some metal shavings that in the first few hundred miles will make there way into the oil as the engine breaks in. After 500 miles it would be save to put the good stuff in because then you wont have to worry about the oil getting contaminated.

[d_m_kolb]

Yes Amsoil has oil filters for the Vibe and Matrix. Every Vibe and Matrix model usesPart# SDF10 This is a 6 month or 12,500 mile oil filter. It's extremely effective at filtering very small micron particals out of the oil.Go to this link and then to the website I have posted for further info.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=2354If there is anything you'd or anyone else would like me to personally find out let me know and I'll get a answer for you.This is some testing that shows how much better Amsoil Super Duty filters filter much better than any other.http://www.twocom.com/high_performance_ ... ty_filters

[d_m_kolb]

I personally think you'll notice a difference right away. You will in your wallet if you do the extended oil drains. The 0w 30 is recomended for 35,000 mile oil changes or one year and then changing the filter every 6 months or 12,500 miles.The rest of the oil is recomended for 25,000 mile oil changes. This saves you a ton of money over coventional oil plus all the benifits of Amsoil.