synthetic oil?

[sadasar]

I have owned my 02 elantra for a bout a year now, it has about 75,000 miles on her but i have been really good with all the general tune up and fix up and all that rigga marole but my question is. is there any problem with switching over to synthetic engine oil, even if its just semi synthetic. she has run on 10w 30 all her life to the best of my knowledge and i have kept constant with the injector cleaners and stuff of that nature. I have just heard horror stories of people switching over to synthetic and their engines being to dirty and it clogging stuff up. so before i did anything i wanting to ask some people who know what would be best.

[SuperGLS]

I can't help on this one but I'm sure someone will be able to. I know there are a handful of guys running synthetic.

[BobMs_wht2k2]

All 3 higher mileage engines I've switched to Synthetic (2 were Hyundais) that first oil change after the switch was pretty bad. Mobil 1 acts like a flush agent and cleans up all the old dino varnish and crap buildup. So I would recommend a shorter OCI after you fiirst change. THen extend them out from there.

THe Elantra went to syth at 65k, the Accent at 140k, and my 93 GMC went syth at 150k.

[NovaResource]

All my new cars got synthetic at 5,000 miles and changed every 5,000 miles.
All my used cars got synthetic at the first oil change. Mobil1 is what I use but any major barnd will be fine (Lucas, Royal Purple, Amsoil, etc).

[2001VE]

As long as its not using a lot of oil already , I wouldn't hesitate.
Although the its' not really significant, it does help a little with gas milage as well.
I have had good luck with Castrol Syntec from Costco.

[KeWLKaT]

I find that you might get some leaks. I got a leak from the valve cover gasket upon switching (like it was said, cleans up and also is a bit less viscous in the same oil weights).

[Cypher]

Mobil1 synthetic here at 130k miles.

[Tommy]

I find that you might get some leaks. I got a leak from the valve cover gasket upon switching (like it was said, cleans up and also is a bit less viscous in the same oil weights).


Ive heard that many times.

Dont get semi-synthetic either. Total marketing BS. Its like 10% synth, and some other additives.

[tuningunlimited]

so i have 40k and i have used synthetic oil from my first oil change! i love it i swear by it. I know a guy that has a drag car and ran a 1/4th mile drag race with 0 oil pressure and did not blow his engine only cause of the synthetic oil!

[2003GT]

My neighbor told me you cant switch back and forth for some reason. I dont know why though. BOB

[Cypher]

You can, its just not recommended.

[Qyn]

My neighbor told me you cant switch back and forth for some reason. I dont know why though. BOB

Switching between synthetic and semi-synth is kinda like using the same cup for beer and water without washing it. Water just doesn't taste quite right.

[Tommy]

You can, its just not recommended.

please tell me why it would make ANY difference at all....

They sell semi-synthetic oil. All you're doing by mixing the two is the same thing.

Unless you're leaving like a quart in the pan, and driving like 10k more miles on 1/4 used oil...

[BColeman]

I find that you might get some leaks. I got a leak from the valve cover gasket upon switching (like it was said, cleans up and also is a bit less viscous in the same oil weights).

I've been using Valvoline Durablend for 5 years, in all 3 of my XDs. Yesterday, I find I'm leaking from the back of the valve cover, which has only been removed once, about a year and a half ago.

Could it be the DB, could it be the change in weights from 5W30 for the winter to 10W30 for the summer? Any ideas?

[Cypher]

What I meant was, generally thats what people will tell you. It won't harm anything, but I just don't see the sense in swapping around all different types of oils. Pick something and stick with it.

[Robert1955]

As its already been said if you switch to a synthetic I would use a blend and run a short OCI for the first time, no more than 2,000 miles or so. then change the oil and filter and use the OCI that you feel comfortable using. I used 7,500 miles using Syntec in my "normal" driving conditions. She was running strong at 147,000 miles when I traded up to my Sonata.

[Tommy]

I've been using Valvoline Durablend for 5 years, in all 3 of my XDs. Yesterday, I find I'm leaking from the back of the valve cover, which has only been removed once, about a year and a half ago.

Could it be the DB, could it be the change in weights from 5W30 for the winter to 10W30 for the summer? Any ideas?

could be that its just leaking. Oil weight wont cause that.

do you know for sure how long its been leaking?

[BColeman]

It wasn't leaking when I changed the oil about 1 and a half months ago. And I used an extremely large funnel, etc. No spillage.

I do notice that it kinda looks like it's coming from the cam sensor area too, so at this point, I'm not sure exactly if it's the valve cover leaking or the cam sensor, or if it's even possible for the cam sensor to leak oil out of it's hole.

[KeWLKaT]

It's possible since the cam sensor has a little o-ring as a seal. Just change the gasket at worse, I bought mine from this guy:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Hyundai-Elantra-Tiburon-1-8L-2-0L-Valve-Cover-Gasket_W0QQitemZ280218361831QQihZ018QQcategoryZ336 65QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Says beta1 but it works, same thing. Unless it's different for the CVVT head.

[sadasar]

As its already been said if you switch to a synthetic I would use a blend and run a short OCI for the first time, no more than 2,000 miles or so. then change the oil and filter and use the OCI that you feel comfortable using. I used 7,500 miles using Syntec in my "normal" driving conditions. She was running strong at 147,000 miles when I traded up to my Sonata.

wow i didn't know asking a simple would get some arguing going haha just kidding. but thanks guys this really has helped i will do the short oci and then stick with it and i wasn't suggesting going to semi and then full just asking if that is a better course of action.

[Robert1955]

I suggested using a blend at first to save some money, it would only ammount to a few dollars but it all adds up, since you should do a short oil change the first time to remove any deposits, aka sludge, due to the strong cleaning action a synthetic will have. That way when you put the full synthetic in you can gain the full bennefits of the longer life that Synthetics have if your driving habbits support a longer interval.