forgive the spelling here we go again.i have a question.i was reading some oil company litature on syn.oil an noticed the oils that said 100% on the bottle cost 25to40%more than the syn.oils they sell that dont say 100% this leaves me to belive that there is truly a differense there are 4 diesel oils they make 5-30 5-40 15-40 and 10-30 the 5-30 is the only one that says 100%on the bottle an it is alot more money they the other 3. what do you guys think the reason for this could be?

 

From what I've read, the cheaper "synthetics" aren't actually synthetically manufactured; instead they are very highly processed crude oil. The more expensive synthetic is the real synthetic.

Although, I think that even the cheaper synthetics might have some man-made stuff blended in... But it isn't all artificial by any stretch.

Now, if you were to ask me what the benefit of one over the other is, then I'd have nothing to answer you with. I personally don't see why synthetics would even be worth it unless I was trying to run 30,000 miles change intervals, and I've even heard something through the grapevine about Cummins recommending to not use synthetics on newer engines...

 

i just wish the oil companys would tell it like it is an quit beating around the bush .i just dont no what to beleive any more .thats why forrums like this are so good you get all the opinions put them all together and the one you hear the most is usally right

 

I wouldn't really blame the oil companies; I'm sure there's some legislature that either allows them to label it synthetic or requires them to label it synthetic.
As long as it's allowed, one start-up company would call their highly-refined-dino-oil "synthetic", and since it would be 2 dollars a quart cheaper then their competitor's "true synthetic", they would sell more unfairly. So once it's legal for them to do it, I don't think it's fair to level blame at the oil companies for trying to rip anybody off. In business morality goes to the lowest denominator.


Of course, that said, I'm not convinced the full synthetic is really any better than the super-high-grade-crude that the other stuff is...

 

MUCH better thread.
Thank You.

Ed

 

This makes me proud.

To answer the question about oils being advertised as synthetic, (IMOHO, which may or may not be correct/right), and this may be what I read from WRM's original post, there only has to be a certain part of the oil that is synthetic to qualify and be advertised as a synthetic oil. I somewhat agree with this. We are all Cummins this and Cummins that, but our trucks are made by Dodge, and only 10-15% of the truck is Cummins. (oh, I KNOW that I am going to get flammed for that! Bring it!)

When I am trying to understand something, (which I am confused a lot, and understand little) I try to put myself on the other side of the fence. If I am an oil company, and I can sell an oil that is synthetic enough to legaly be called synthetic, and people will buy the crap out of it, why not? I am not breaking any laws, I am posting what it really is on the container. I'm giving a better quality (supposedly) oil to consumers, and making money, but not charging them the same price as a TRUE synthetic oil. Do I agree with it? The jury is still out on that one.

Remember, the large print givith, the fine print taketh away. (learned that the hard way, thank you very much...)

 

If brand B was to use cheaper ingredients (i.e. base stock) and put in fewer additives to make their synthetic oil then they can in turn sell it for less money then brand R or X. With brand X & R using higher quality ingredients and putting in more additives to make there oil better then brand B, they have to sell for more money as it cost more them more to make it then brand B that uses cheaper ingredients.

JMO

 

Using a pure synthetic you can run 25,000 miles between oil changes, and more with certain oil filter accessories or having the oil tested to see how far you can really go. (Change it sooner than that when you first switch, unless you did a real good flush job)
I've just started reading manuals on this stuff.