In article ,
nick smith wrote:
Synthetic oils only have an advantage in that they allow longer service
intervals with normal cars. Your post suggested they stopped wear in
abused engines at extremely low milages - so low the cars would still be
within warranty.

Please make up your mind.

Dave,

I can't believe you just wrote that unless,

a) someone is impersonating you....then it wouldn't have been you anyway,
b) you are bored and felt like starting a flame war
c) you have had several too many tonight....

None of those.

Synthetic oils are WAY better than conventional mineral oils, both in
lubricity and longevity for starters. They resist temperature extremes
better, both more fluid when cold and by getting thicker at elevated
temperatures by uncoiling their molecules.... they are more slippery to
the extent that in some wet clutch motorcycle engines ( and doubtless
countless other applications) they are excluded from being able to be
used as the clutch would slip.

We're discussing cars here. Normal cars of the Cavalier sort as our
resident idiot has decided to make his point with. So don't have wet
clutches.
FFS, adding Molyslip - years ago - to motorbike gearboxes made the
clutch slip - as it would to an auto box. But oil makers don't add it to
engine oil today - or ever. Wet clutches requirements just ain't the same
as other things.

If they were little better then I am sure the manufacturers would have
been rumbled and not be able to sell enough of the stuff to make it
viable, certainly not at the price they demand.

It is excellent at increasing oil change intervals. Near enough full stop.
Generally, engines have been exceeding the average economic life of the
*entire* car for some many years now - unless they suffer a failure
unrelated to the lubrication system. If you don't believe me, try and find
a local engine reconditioner who can re-bore and grind cranks, etc. At one
time every small town had one.

The bit about the suggestion that it "stopped wear in abused engines at
extremely low mileages" is debateable - if parts are so slack that they
are bashing themselves into oblivion then nothing will stop that, but
that's not my point or argument ...

It *was* mine. ;-)

Our resident clown (Adam, IMM, Dr Evil, John or whatever) was suggesting
that modern engines were failing regularly at very low mileages until he
'discovered' synthetic oil. He's talking the usual ****e.

--
*How can I miss you if you won't go away?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.