Going Synthetic

[nametakennow]

Yup yup! I know this is gonna sound really kiddy (and probably spoiled), but at this point I don't care. I talked to my dad today, and he said I can start doing my own oil (yay!) and switch to synthetic, since the price will be about the same as the lube with me doing it myself. (Yes, my parents are cool enough to pay for basic maintenance, I love them to death! I break it I buy it, I mod it I buy it though, which is more than fair)

SO! Since it's summer I'm thinking Mobil 1 10w-40, then 5w-30 in the winter. Thoughts, suggestions?

[Altiman94]

are you serious? You had to ask ur dad if u could change your own oil?

[nametakennow]

Haha, yeah, I did. He used to when he was younger but doesn't anymore for the hassle, I guess. I have to ask him before I do anything to it pretty much because if I **** it up and it's in the shop... well... he won't be a happy camper.

And yes, I did see that huge oil thread a little while ago, but honestly I didn't understand all of it, oil isn't something I've done all that much research on beyond dino vs synthetic, and even there my knowledge is limited.

[Altiman94]

I just use 5w-30 mobil 1 all year around. Ive never had a single problem

[nametakennow]

It's also colder in Iowa than it is down here. I really don't think there'd be any problem with running 5w-30 all year round here either, but would it be any better for the engine to use 10w-40 in the hot Atlanta summers?

Random question: is there any difference in gas from company to company? That is, that normally I fill up with 89 octane from a Village Store that I believe has Chevron, but a couple days ago I happened to be closer to a Philipps 66, so I got gas there. The car actually seemed to growl a little more and rev a little smoother, but maybe I was just half asleep before I had to jump back to avoid getting gas all over myself when the nozzle leaked...

[[Zero-S]]

Of course their is man. Gas quality varies from station to station, not just company.

[nametakennow]

Well I knew there was some difference, and sometimes there's just a bad batch at the same station, it just seemed odd to me that I'd feel anything, but that could be for any number of reasons (such as being half asleep ealier).

[240Knightrider]

I have always gotten gas at hess but I had to get gas at a BP or a sunoco, cant remember which one but it pumped the gas so much faster than the hess pumps. To some that might not make a difference but when you late like me all the time 2 mins means a lot.

[nametakennow]

Yeah, the Phillips station bugged the crap out of me because it was SO SLOW... luckily I only needed about 8 3/4 gals, so it didn't take too long...

I have such a tiny tank! I believe it is 12.9 gal, maybe 13.4... one of those two, it's so tiny! Lightweight is good though .

[hamsterball]

Do you want a cookie?

[nametakennow]

Nah, I'm pretty full, got a turbo though?

[nissanrcer240]

Nah, I'm pretty full, got a turbo though?

Yeah....but you cant have it

[nametakennow]

Back to the point, anyone with any thoughts on the oil?

And nissanrcer: I have an SR20 stock .

SHUT UP! SHUT UP! No T, I know SHUT THE HELL UP! ::cries in a corner::

[navysnail]

10w-40 is good for summer, if i were you i would change it before winter though.

ive got 10w-40 in my engine now, no problems

[nametakennow]

It'll be time to change it by the time it gets cold down here anyway if I do it this week (I don't put many miles on my car, but the ones there are hard earned). Had it 11 months and only put about 6k on the odo, whoa!

[Jesda]

Mobil 1 5w-40, for every day of the year, and a Mobil 1 filter. All changed every 2700-2900 miles.

Do a bilstein or envirolution engine flush (NO GUNK PRODUCTS PLEASE) before switching to synthetic.

-Jesda

[240Knightrider]

I run 10w-30 cause it works best for cold and hot here. Soon there will be Mobile 1, i just didnt want to run that in my old 240 cause of it burnin oil.

[UncleBen]

Since your motor is still pretty much new, you wont need this yet I dont think, but if you want a good motor flush to help get rid of gunk buildup on the camlobes, etc etc, buy mobil1 synthetic ATF (yes, automatic transmission fluid) and add about 1/2 a quart to your existing oil (do all of this right before you chnage your oil). Let it idle for 45 minutes, then proceed with normal oil changing rituals.

This helps get rid of gunk. Gunk sucks.

[nametakennow]

Jesda mentioned flushing it. Which method would be better?

I love my near new engine... mmm... got it with 37,217 on the clock and it's about 43,200 now, YAY! Hopefully it'll be on synth the rest of it's life (plan on using it as a daily for a really long time). Oh, and with a few more mods it'll probably start running 93 oct rather than 89, but that's a little ways off (year or so).

[UncleBen]

I dunno about jesda's, never heard of either of his methods (bilstein or envirolution)

[UncleBen]

My method came from palmerwmd by the way, who is an oil guru. He is on an oil forum I think on the internet!!!!! He has to know what he is talking about.

[nametakennow]

I'll try to get in touch with him (or maybe he'll see this thread) and ask how he'd flush the system.

edit: email sent

[szh]

You may find that Mobil 1 0W-40 (not as easily available, though) will give you a simpler year-round formulation. Fred (palmerwmd) likes it too.

Z

[nametakennow]

Auto parts stores around here generally suck, so I doubt I will be so lucky. If they have 0w-40 I'll stock up !

[Checkered-Member]

I use Mobil 1 Synthetic in both my cars, loving it, and because here is cali it's summer all year around I use the heaviest weight 15W-50 change it every 5,000-6,000 miles

also think about using a premium oil filter, in the alti I use pure-one

[nametakennow]

"Special Buy! From June 6th through July 3, 2004, go to AutoZone and get 5 quarts of Mobil 1 SuperSyn Motor Oil and any Mobil 1 Oil Filter for $29.99."

YAY! Now if only my boss would call me back to get my check straightened out, I could have a totally awesome day of ordering my exhaust AND going to get new oil... yee!

edit: Wait... Going through Mobil's website I'm confused as to whether SuperSyn is fully synthetic? AHHHHH... I hate not knowing diddly about oil...

Kinda odd, my grandfather used to work for Texaco and has something like 13 patents for oil formulas...

[The Mic]

superSyn is anti wear technology. it is fully synthetic. I use Mobil 1 Super Syn 15W-50 synthetic oil for performance vehicles

[nametakennow]

Then we're set, thanks guys! I'll post if I feel any difference (ought it feel smoother?).

[Jesda]

The Bilstein and Envirolution methods use special machines (with adapters for your car) that plug in. They run a heated solvent through the motor and suck all the crap out. $100-$120 at your local Nissan or Infiniti dealer. 37k is new, but not new enough to be free of all sludge. And because synthetic oils have fewer detergents (because they dont need them), you'll want to remove the sludge before you switch.

The ATF trick often works too, but spending extra on a full flush is reassuring.

-Jesda

[PalmerWMD]

Naturally aspirated engines in summer best use Mobil1 0w-40 ( they dont make a 10w-40).In winter in GA you can use same oil.Not real easy to find but Autozone usually caries it.

Fred..