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I have a 04 SXT I bought a couple years ago. Had 79000 miles on it then. Now have about 94000 miles and getting very close to oil change time. It has not had any synth since I've owned it, and not that is known of before. I've been thinking about switching to a synth but am a little scared. I've read that all the old gunk from the non-synths , most of it in the bottom of the oil pan, can be loosened up and get into the engine possibly causing major problems. I'd like to get my baby on synth oil for smoother and easier engine running but am not sure it is a good idea with 94000 miles on it. Any input is GREATLY appreciated.

I'm not sure if my car had any synthetic before my ownership, and it had around 74k. Runs only synthetic now

Adionik wrote:I'm not sure if my car had any synthetic before my ownership, and it had around 74k. Runs only synthetic now

x2
i use it from 75k to 92k now. and have no problems.

Switching will do no more than changing to fresh conventional oil. (negative impact)


All synthetic sold today is 100% compatible. If you are really worried, mix a quart or two in with this change and then go 100% the next.

One thing you will/may notice is more leaks. Synthetic has smaller molecules thus it's advatage over conventional oil, but it's disadvantage as sealing goes.

occasional demons wrote:One thing you will/may notice is more leaks. Synthetic has smaller molecules thus it's advatage over conventional oil, but it's disadvantage as sealing goes.

Truth right there! I had a very leaky 2.5L in my old Daytona from switching to synthetic at 165k miles. Not good. At under 100k miles on your engine, I think you'll be just fine switching to synthetic.

drop the oil pan and clean it up

glasswars wrote:drop the oil pan and clean it up

My thoughts exactly. That's what they call piece of mind.

OB wrote:

glasswars wrote:drop the oil pan and clean it up

My thoughts exactly. That's what they call piece of mind.

x3

SOKADAO954 wrote:

OB wrote:

glasswars wrote:drop the oil pan and clean it up

My thoughts exactly. That's what they call piece of mind.

x3

can we get a x4?

It will only be a problem if the seals were already shot. It won't cause the problem.

If you are nervous about it, don't do it. It will bug you all the time whether or not you made the right choice. Modern (SM rated) conventional is far superior to any of its predecessors. I'd say its probably better than the synthetic oil of 10-15 years ago.

The SM rating by definition is nearly a Group 3 synthetic oil. Which is what the large majority of "over the counter" synthetic oils are now, Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platnum, Quaker State Q, Valvoline Synpower, etc, etc.

A standard street (non turbo) engine that runs conventional oil exclusively for its entire life will last just as long as an identical engine that has run synthetic. The trick is to change it at normal intervals, 3000-5000 miles depending on driving conditions.

The benefits of synthetic oil are shown when you have a high performance engine, including turbocharged/supercharged engines, and extended drain intervals, ie 5000-10000 miles depending on driving conditions.

Clear as mud?

I was told that if you are going to go synthetic, do it, and don't go back. Don't keep switching from conventional to synthetic and then back.

...Also something about it could be prone to leaking if you have too many miles on it as the seals get used to the conventional oil and synthetic has smaller molecules as stated above. My friend drives a '92 Saturn SL1 and he bought the car with around 100,000 miles on it and runs synthetic in it and has no problems.

Changing your oil at regular intervals is cheap insurance.

Nothing wrong with bouncing back and forth between synthetic and conventional.

There are many people who use conventional in the summer and synthetic in the winter. The two are entirely compatible with each other.

It's not that the seals are used to conventional oil, its that they are old.

So many myths, so little time.

I should have been more specific:

I was told by the shop manager at a place that changes oil (which will not be named) all of this when i first started driving.

So thanks

And he doesn't know shit. So sad.

So some guy told you something when you first started driving and you took it to heart?

In the 93K miles I've driven in my neon, depending on how poor I was at the time, I've switched back and forth between synthetic and regular oil. I don't have any leaks, and the car still runs fine.

Red04SxtLuvr wrote:I have a 04 SXT I bought a couple years ago. Had 79000 miles on it then. Now have about 94000 miles and getting very close to oil change time. It has not had any synth since I've owned it, and not that is known of before. I've been thinking about switching to a synth but am a little scared. I've read that all the old gunk from the non-synths , most of it in the bottom of the oil pan, can be loosened up and get into the engine possibly causing major problems. I'd like to get my baby on synth oil for smoother and easier engine running but am not sure it is a good idea with 94000 miles on it. Any input is GREATLY appreciated.

I say to go with what you are comfortable with... not worth it if you are going to be worried about your ride.

Some reading for your over at Allpar:

http://www.allpar.com/eek/synthetic.html

I run Pennzoil YB 5w-30 conventional in mine with good results. How do I know? Oil Analysis.

Yep basically what I implied. If you have leaks they will leak worse.

Synthectic should never be used in hydraulic cylinders/systems (ie presses, etc. ) for the same reason. The oil will bypass the seals under high pressure. Not that this is a neon concern, just adding to the point.

switching to synthetic will do no good or harm to the vehicle. i personally running pennzoil platinum 10w-30 due to the hot weather. nothing different, but no leakage also. just do not exceed the manufact's recommended changing interval. however, mobil 1 high performance claim their oil can be changed in 15000 interval, not sure about that but as is said, follow the money and cheap insurance...

racer12306 wrote:And he doesn't know shit. So sad.

OWNED

I liked the way my SRT ran before I put synthetic oil in it. I might switch back next change

Adionik wrote:

racer12306 wrote:And he doesn't know shit. So sad.

OWNED

I liked the way my SRT ran before I put synthetic oil in it. I might switch back next change

Synthetic is cheap insurance/prevention against coking the oil in the turbo. Extreme heat is the one place it pwns conventional oil.

Yeah, IMO....

turbo = synthetic, mandatory.

The turbos just get too hot. I'd probably say change your oil every 1000 miles if you run conventional oil in your SRT.

Plus a car running different with different oils sounds hard to believe.

racer12306 wrote:
Plus a car running different with different oils sounds hard to believe.

My car runs like hell on cod liver oil.

Interesting, I'm gonna try that. Were might one be able to buy 5 qts of it?

Paul56 wrote:My car runs like hell to escape cod liver oil.

Fixed!

As others all ready mentioned......
If your car already has oil leaks, stick with conventional oil since the synthetic oil will leak more....
If your car has no leaks, then by all means switch to synthetic, but keep this in mind....
Even though you switch to a 15K synthetic oil does not mean you can go that long between oil changes right away.I switched to a 7,500/1year oil and I still changed my oil at 3k,then5k,and now 7500.Based on oil tests between each oil change, the synthetic oil takes some time flushing out the contaniments of conventional oil.So it's going to take me 3 oil changes to clean out the BS left over from using conventional oil.The advantage, better wear protection,longer oil change intervals,easier cold start ups, rev happy....
Switching back and forth between synthetic and conventional I would not really recomend since if you switched to synthetic, you switched to it for the benifits and switching back to conventional oil would just make the synthetic oil change a waste of money
This is just my 2 cents, but Racer12306 has had his experience with motor oils more than the average user here.If you really want more technical information he would be the guy to talk to.....


PS - I run:
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/xlf.aspx

awww shucks

Yes, look at us tooting Frank's horn. He is the man when it comes to anything oil-related! I mean the guy even collects old motor oil.

Back on topic, I say switch if you aren't currently having any leaking issues.

Oh My Gosh, What a great bunch of fellow Neon owners are on here. I appreciate all the feedback on my concerns and switching. The one thing that I WILL absolutely do when I switch to synth, whether semi or full synth, it drop and clean the oil pan. I do want to thank everyone for all the information and opinions, good bad, and indifferent. I will also me switching my 05 PT Cruiser Convertible 2.4L Turbo over to synth next oil change. It's got ALOT less miles on it so not as worried about switching it. Again I thank you all for the input and will update as I make changes to Neo. That's my baby's name. You guys are the best.