That's interesting... what makes synthetic the "secret to longevity"? Sure, it's better, but it is "better enough to make a difference"?
I've never run a wix filter, and never run synthetic unless the manual called for it, and I have 2 vehicles over 200K; coincidentally, it's my GMC truck that has 320k on it without ever having had synthetic or wix filters... just proper maintenance with the oil called for in the manual...
My point was that you DON'T have to spring for expensive synthetic oil and filter to get a car to last to the point that the body rusts away from the drive-train. Using regular oil and quality filter you will reach the point that everything else is falling apart long before the engine.I always let my vehicles do the talking. If i would just listen to them more often. The synthetics for me was a no brainer. I ran mobile one from new(actually after 15,000 to make sure the motor was broke in) to over 300,000 in my F-150, had to switch to walmart synthetic due to my financial situation. I have over 554,000 on it now. The biggest thing is the filter and to me the WIX brand is the best hands down. Had a 95 Saturn Dohc SC2 bought from hertz rent a car with 24,000 miles retired it this year with 452,000 miles. Yes the motor was tired but a sub-frame rust issue is what killed it. What 4 banger wouldn't be tired. Air filters are also a major contributor to dirt in a motor. I always change the oil religiously at 6,000 miles and air filters at 20,000. If you take care of the motor on these new vehicles the bodies will rust away before the engines quit. Just my humble opinion though ymmv
Is anyone driving a Dodge with one of those new 9-speed transmissions? I've heard from some owners that they're getting really good mileage with them. If they prove to be reliable over the long term . . . I'll get one, as long as GM/Chevrolet or maybe Ford start using them too. Heh.
A friend of mine is a retired mechanic and drag racer. He agrees with you. He says the same things that you do and stresses that there is no need for synthetic oil in most vehicles.My point was that you DON'T have to spring for expensive synthetic oil and filter to get a car to last to the point that the body rusts away from the drive-train. Using regular oil and quality filter you will reach the point that everything else is falling apart long before the engine.
I'm guessing by your mileage numbers you drive an insane number of miles per year. Highway miles? Highway miles are always easier on a car. Your car with 500k highway miles may have less "wear & tear" than a car with 200k miles that never left the city... I'm not saying that synthetic & wix are bad. They are both very good. But are you actually running in a way that demands synthetic oil and premium filter? Definitely not. As a matter of fact, the most easily argued benefit to synthetic oils is that they don't break down easily so you can get many more miles out of them, some run 15,000 mi intervals; yet you say you changed oil at 6k religiously... My point was you were wasting money on "extra" that you didn't actually need. That's just my humble opinion based upon a LONG track record of high-mileage vehicles...
A friend of mine is a retired mechanic and drag racer. He agrees with you. He says the same things that you do and stresses that there is no need for synthetic oil in most vehicles.
Yes lotta highway miles on both vehicles my truck 50% of the time either had a 24ft enclosed race car trailer or an 18ft open car trailer. I guess everyone has different views.I am just a poor old hillbilly car nut so I have to spend my money where it gets me the most bang for the buck and this is where I think(as my vehicles have shown me) my money is well spent. This is the wrong thread and I hate that I have thread jacked it. Good luck to everyone
No problems... I'm just as guilty of the thread-jacking... but I'm an unapologetic thread-jacker... haha
If you see that it's a good bang for your buck to buy synthetic and premium filters for your daily drivers that's all that matters. It's your money, you work to earn it, only YOU can make the decision on what is best for you, and if something does go wrong, it's you that has to pay for it... nothing wrong with that.
You keep using synthetic, I'll keep using standard oil, and we'll both live in harmony ok?
Except for the Ford vs. Chevy thing... Ford sucks... ~
GM 10 speeds ought to be on the market within the year, maybe 2016
No problems... I'm just as guilty of the thread-jacking... but I'm an unapologetic thread-jacker... haha
If you see that it's a good bang for your buck to buy synthetic and premium filters for your daily drivers that's all that matters. It's your money, you work to earn it, only YOU can make the decision on what is best for you, and if something does go wrong, it's you that has to pay for it... nothing wrong with that.
You keep using synthetic, I'll keep using standard oil, and we'll both live in harmony ok?
Except for the Ford vs. Chevy thing... Ford sucks... ~
Tacoma. I love it. Fantastic vehicle. Cannot believe I lived so long before I had a pick up!