Changing back from Synthetic ---> Conventional Oil

[DC]

I've been using moble synthetic for the past year or two. I've been thinking about changing back to conventional oil because I change my oil every 3k anyways. Plus conventional is only a fraction of the cost.

Also, my car is pretty jerky when its cold, not that its abnormal, just that I dont remember it being THAT jerky previously. When it warms up, its nice and smooth again. I'm not sure if this oil related or not, maybe you guys have some related experience. I know its not good to change oil types, but I think this will be final.

[Pribilof]

My car's jerky when it's cold too, although I thought this was normal. I wouldn't change back to conventional though. I use Mobile 1 and change oil every 8k miles or so. The oil I take out after 8k looks newer than the conventional oil I take out of my mom's 4-Runner every 4k miles.

[dawgg]

8k seems like a lot for a GTS. I change every 3-4k with Mobile 1 and i notice the oil level has dropped slightly, probably due to the fact that i rev the sh*t out of my car. So i would think 8k is to long unless u add a bit between oil change intervals.

[mickey513]

I never believed in the synthetic oil gimmick. I always change my own oil every 3k-3.5k miles with regular conventional oil (Castrol or Penzoil only) and a Toyota filter. I can get the Toyota filter from my local Toyota dealer for $3.29. But back to the question, the solution I seen people do when switching back to conventional oil from synthetic is to use a "motor flush". You can buy it from a local part store for like $3 and pour it in your engine. Run it for like 5mins, drain out, and then do the regular oil change.

[DeadOn]

Mine is jerky - unsmooth acceleration during the first few minutes then it is smooth as glass.

[DC]

I've always wondered about that motor flush stuff. Is it safe for the engine? Would there be any side effect from using something like that? Like maybe with the rings or seals or whatever in the engine?

[Pribilof]

Originally posted by dawgg
8k seems like a lot for a GTS. I change every 3-4k with Mobile 1 and i notice the oil level has dropped slightly, probably due to the fact that i rev the sh*t out of my car. So i would think 8k is to long unless u add a bit between oil change intervals.

Porsche recommends 15k between changes, you just have to watch the level. I only have to add a little between changes and I redline mine all the damn time too. A ton of my miles are from driving cross country though, I don't know how that affects things.

[nxracer]

Stop and read this

"my car is pretty jerky when its cold"

Well DUH! the motor is cold and so is it's oil. Changing back to conventional oil WILL NOT stop the engine or it's oil from being cold. It is a proven fact that when cold synthetic oil flows better. Your car, your engine do as you wish.

BTW: If you do change back a motor flush is NOT needed

I'm sure you all know better than me anyway

For many automotive FAQ's click the link below
http://www.seansa4page.com/resource/autotech.html

[BoyRacer]

actually synthetic is supposed to help with the cold starts. thats not the oil. the oil is awsesome imo. but, i heard this somewhere i dunno the truth to it, but once you go to synthetic, your not supposed to go back. i am not sure of the truth to this though. someone want to shed more light????

[z6joker9]

i've always heard that too

[nxracer]

Changing back is no problem.
Mixing synthetic and conventional oil is ok too. Just try to never mix synthetic's (different brands that is)

See the real reason synthetic oils are better is what happens in the bearings. A conventional say 5w30 will become a 5w oil when squeezed through the bearing races (can't handle the pressure). A 5w30 synthetic will remain whatever viscosity it was when it entered the bearings, so a 30w remains 30.

Once agian, your car, your engine and your money. Buy some pretty blue lights

[SlasherX]

i woudlnt recommend switching back to regular after running synthetic..somethign about the breaking in of the piston rings is different once you switch..but then again, i got that tid bit of info from a redneck so who knows..al i know for sure is high mileage engines do not like synthetic if they havent run it before.

[apexingttsupra]

Mickey 513 and some of the other comments:
Mickey synthetic is no gimmick and you are completely in the dark about dino oils v. synthetic which by the way is a petroleum byproduct. Dino oils have parrafins as in wax. Hey you want wax build up inside of your engine? Going cheap to use dino oil instead of synthetic is just plain stupid. Synthetic oils are vastly superior to conventional oils in ability to maintain viscosity, protecting against film shearing, flash point, and many other vital points to keeping your engine from unecessary wear and tear. Go do a google search for the Mobil 1 Million Mile test. Man you guys need to do some reading.
BH

[tearemup]

My car is a little jerky too. It used to barely move when I first pressed the gas too, but it chilled a lot after I switched from 10w30 dino to 5w30 synthetic. Not sure if it felt better b/c of the grade or the type of oil.

[GTS-Racer]

Jerky is normal during start up cause teh engine is idle'n higher and that extra rpm cause the jerkiness cause you dont get a slow smooth rpm start

[PorkchopSpecblue GT-S]

The car takes longer to warm up with synthetic oil. No doubt about that. Probably twicw as long. There is soooo much less friction. Less friction equals less wear and tear.

[DC]

PorkchopSpecblue GT-S, thats the explaination I was looking for. Makes sense. My car does take a while to warm up.

[t2000gts]

you don't need to flush or anything when changing oil. it's the same reason why you can mix (although they all say on their oil bottles not to mix with other people's oil :p) different oils together.

i have used synthetic 70% of the time, but had 2 or 3 changes with conventional because either Toyota or a family member did it while i wasn't around.

i'm switching to royal purple in a few hundred miles :D