Actually the dinosaurs didn't have anything to do with the petroleum oil we use. You hear all sorts of claims about the use of synthetic or not, just like you do with different brands of autos.

If you change your oil every 3000 miles or so and filter, your engine should last a very long time. I think the synthetic is a more pure oil supposedly and won't break down as quickly, but in the every day stop and go world we live in, just changing your oil religously is your best bet, synthetic or not. I have used both in street cars and race cars and all brands of oils. I have never had an oil type failure. I have used the additives with no problems either.

The problem is not changing the oil and filter regularly. Sludge builds up with either type and clogs the oil galleries and filter, and then disaster sets in. If you ride in freezing cold weather, use a lower viscosity and just the opposite for warm and hot weather.

You could get more technical, but the oils these days are all very good. Just keep it changed.

Russ

All right, thanks for the information thus far.

Now in regards to remaining with it or not, which is my better bet? The chassis has ~300k on it, but the motor and the tranny were swapped out at about ~240k. I'd like to see about moving back to conventional.

Russ, you'd mentioned something about using oil with petroleum in it. Could you elaborate on that please?

I just meant that oil from the ground is a petroleum product. The labs make the synthetic, but not sure what all they use and if any of it is part petroleum. I meant things like Slick 50 and Dura Blend and the other additives. The NASCAR guys use the thinnest viscosity they can esp in qualifying to reduce the drag that comes with thicker oils. We can do that too, but our engines have to last a bit longer and don't get changed quite as often.


Hope that clears it up for you a little.

Russ