Valvoline premium conventional 10w40 with an OEM Suzuki filter - she's about due a change though.

 

Mobil 1 full synthetic, 5W20 & 5W30 with a WIX filter....

Purchased vehicle with a rattle, no noise since moving to the Synthetic...

Compare filters.. http://www.fleetfilter.com/comparison-wix-filter.html ....Philip

 

Mobil 1 Synt 5w30 or 10w30 with a Bosch filter.
I get a bit better mpg althought i need to change valve cover and oil pan gaskets, it's starting to leak!

 

I have heard people say that once they started using synthetic oil, leaks have developed. Anyone have any input on that?

 

Yes - in my opinion it's a log of hogwash that's been repeated too frequently.

I've switched back & forth between conventional Shell Helix, Helix Plus (synthetic blend) & Helix Ultra (full synthetic) with absolutely ZERO problems.

Let me ask this question - so that you can look at yours from a "different" perspective - the valve cover gasket on my 2.0 litre GV is starting to leak, is it because I just changed the brand of oil I'm using?

I stopped using the Shell Helix line when SOL (Simpson Group) bought the distribution rights to Shell in the Caribbean and stopped importing the grade I wanted and switched to the Valvoline I'm currently using - do you think the "weep/seep" from the gasket is caused by the change in brand or simply co-incidental? If it matters the engine has 85,000+ miles on it.

I've bought a gasket, at some point I'l change it, but for now it's easier to just spritz the front of the engine with degreaser and hose it down every couple of months - it's not enough of a leak that I need to add oil between changes.

 

Good point. I also agree that its a load of bull. If that was the case, the synthetic market wouldn't be so large.

 

Ford Motorcraft semi synth in all my cars. Been using it for a few years now with good results

 

Here's a couple of places that will hepl you out....

- Bob is the Oil Guy

All About Motor Oil

 

Thanks for the links!

 

castrol syntec, on all my cars since it came out.

 

I'm not going to tell you not to use Castrol, but I will tell you why I stopped...

If you do your own oil changes, watch carefully as you pour the new oil into the engine, you're looking to see the color change as you near the bottom of the container, from that clear amber honey color - I've seen dark residues come out of more than one Castrol bottle on which I personally broke the seal.

 

That would be the addatives settling.... Philip

 

Tell me Phil ...

Q1 - Are the other manufacturers using additives?
Q2 - Are the other manufacturers having problems with their additives falling out of suspension?

Can I answer those questions ?

A1 - Yes - all manufacturers have an additive package
A2 - Not that I've noticed

Looks an awful lot like sludge to me - now - if you feel it's the additives settling out, and you're willing to use it, that's cool with me, as long as you don't put it in MY engine - that's actually the reason I'm not telling people that they shouldn't use it.

I don't like what I see, so I don't use it.

 

I didnt imply it was a good situation, just suggesting a reason .... Philip

 

I was running Mobil 1 in my Lincoln for a while. I saw the viscosity tests that put Mobil 1 and Royal Purple against each other, and the Royal Purple seemed like a higher quality oil, it the fact that it adhered to the bearing surfaces a lot better then the Mobil 1 did. Just curious....