Visually distinguish synthetic vs. conventional oil?
#1
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: California
Posts: 692
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Visually distinguish synthetic vs. conventional oil?
Hey guys,
This may be a silly question, but is there any quick and easy way to visually distinguish between synthetic and conventional dino oil?
I'm opening up my used car for the first time this weekend and was hoping I could get a clue of what the previous owner (or their mechanics) were putting in my new baby
If not, I might put in synthetic blend for the next 3000 miles and then switch to full synthetic.
This may be a silly question, but is there any quick and easy way to visually distinguish between synthetic and conventional dino oil?
I'm opening up my used car for the first time this weekend and was hoping I could get a clue of what the previous owner (or their mechanics) were putting in my new baby
If not, I might put in synthetic blend for the next 3000 miles and then switch to full synthetic.
#2
Re: Visually distinguish synthetic vs. conventional oil?
Originally posted by Intellexual
Hey guys,
This may be a silly question, but is there any quick and easy way to visually distinguish between synthetic and conventional dino oil?
I'm opening up my used car for the first time this weekend and was hoping I could get a clue of what the previous owner (or their mechanics) were putting in my new baby
Hey guys,
This may be a silly question, but is there any quick and easy way to visually distinguish between synthetic and conventional dino oil?
I'm opening up my used car for the first time this weekend and was hoping I could get a clue of what the previous owner (or their mechanics) were putting in my new baby
I would just assume that the previous owner put cheap junk in there... I'd run Mobil 1 in it if I were you... if you notice smoking or oil loss go back to dino oil...
#3
Lexus Test Driver
Unlikely
Intel - It'll be hard to tell w/o doing an oil analysis but if ya just want to know if the car was using conventional oil before, take the oil cap off & run your finger around the inside of the valve cover. If U find a buildup of sludge then it's unlikely that he was using a synthetic. It's not foolproof because the previous owner could have used an engine flush before selling it but it might getcha headed in the right direction.
#4
Heh MG,
that's a good to know info about running your finger on the inside of the valve cover, when I look for a juugee to drive instead of my GS, I'll do that finger test.
that's a good to know info about running your finger on the inside of the valve cover, when I look for a juugee to drive instead of my GS, I'll do that finger test.
Trending Topics
#8
Pole Position
not really. I know with the synthetic I run the engine oil starts to turn a slight browish at about 8K miles.
Outside of that, no. Only an oil test will show a dino vs synthetic. Most dino oils are only like 7.0 to 7.5 TBN and the Ph and Zn are usually below 1000ppm..(with ZERO miles on oil). Basically the ZDDP will suck.
Outside of that, no. Only an oil test will show a dino vs synthetic. Most dino oils are only like 7.0 to 7.5 TBN and the Ph and Zn are usually below 1000ppm..(with ZERO miles on oil). Basically the ZDDP will suck.
Last edited by mburnickas; 10-11-04 at 02:09 PM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Intellexual
Maintenance
16
11-03-05 12:22 PM