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Jon
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2003
01:37:01

Subject: synthetic oils
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I'm about to buy a 98 dakota 5.2 with about 74,000 miles. I have always used synthetics in my past vehicles, but I've known the owners of them personally and I knew they used synthetics since they were new so I knew I was fine. But this truck is from a dealer and I don't know what kind of oil has been run in it. Let's say for instance that it was conventional or semi-synthetic. Would I be okay to switch to pure synthetic and if so, what precautions must I take? Is there any way to tell what kind of oil has been used?



Matt
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2003
01:52:12

RE: synthetic oils
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As far as I know there is no way to tell, but you shouldn't have a problem switching to synthetic. I bought my Tahoe w/ 60,000 on it and switched to synthetic on my first oil change. The only problem I had was that I had a small leak on the pan, possibly the thinner synthetic was able to seap into the gasket there, but it only lasted for a day, and then it quit leaking.



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2/04/2003
06:51:19

Synthetic Switch At High Mileage
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Jon,

You presented me with two questions:
1) "Would I be okay to switch to pure synthetic( in a 98 dakota 5.2 with about 74,000 miles)?"

Synthetic lubricants do have an inherent detergency that cleans and removes conventional motor oil deposits left over in an engine. However, motor oils are designed to help swell seals slightly to prevent leakage. The only time you would observe seal leakage is if the seals are already damaged or showing signs of leakage around them. As long as the vehicle has been well maintained, and in good mechanical condition, it can be switched to a synthetic lubricant at any mileage.

As long as your seals and gaskets are in good health.
You can switch to Synthetic Oils at any time.
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2) Is there any way to tell what kind of oil has been used?

There is no way to tell with an oil analysis. My best advice is to ask for maintenance records. It really does not matter which oil was used in the past, just that regular maintenance was performed.



Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products



dweishaar
GenIII
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2/04/2003
09:34:46

RE: synthetic oils
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A little trick I do when converting from dino to synths is to find a synthetic that is mixable with dino oil (castrol syntec does it) to make home-made half synths, and run that twice to clean all of the crap from the system before you use the good stuff. kinda like an enima for your engine. cause like the amsoil sponsor said, synths cleanout your system, but in my opinion it'd be better to use an oil that will absorb and use the oil instead of coating it and depositing it somewhere else in the system...sorry about the ramble, hope this made sense.

One Eyed Fox
The Baja Dak
Have you rebuilt your dak..........lately?

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2/04/2003
11:12:47

RE: synthetic oils
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Is there a recommended procedure for changing to Synthetic Motor Oils?

There are no special requirements, however in older vehicles or those with high mileage, it may be advisable to use Engine Flush first. This will ensure that the engine is clean and free of any accumulated contaminants which might have an effect on the service life of Synthetic Motor Oils.
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If you are considering Amsoil Synthetic Motor Oil you might want to also consider Amsoil Engine Flush. AMSOIL Engine Flush (AEF) improves engine performance by cleaning and removing deposits. It is compatible with all seal materials and will not harm mechanical components.
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Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products



Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2003
14:15:13

RE: synthetic oils
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I thought Castrol Syntec was already a mixture!

Well?



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2/05/2003
16:38:54

RE: synthetic oils
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Texas Todd,

Your Comment: "I thought Castrol Syntec was already a mixture!"

I do not fully understand your question, but I will attempt to answer:

All motor oils (dino and synthetic) contain detergency additives, and always have. Maybe this is what you refer to by the use of the word "mixture". Synthetics have better additives packages and do clean an engine better than standard oils.

Years ago, standard oils left a lot more residue in engines than they do currently, and maybe the synthetics we had back then cleaned too well. Back then people thought that it was a problem, and that perhaps deposits that were cleaned away might be circulating throughout the engine (and clogging filters) due to the cleaning effect. That is no longer the case.

Now all the synthetic oil makers (except maybe Amsoil) say to just make the switch regardless of the mileage on your engine. Amsoil would prefer that you use their 15 minute engine flush when switching high mileage vehicles.
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For the record, Castrol Syntec is made from Group III hydrocracked base oils. That means that it's made from highly refined petroleum (dino), not a TRUE synthetic. However, it does have the LEGAL right to call itself full synthetic, and it is good oil. (Note to Flamers...I stated Castrol is a good oil).

TRUE 100% Synthetic Oil "base stock" is fabricated from chemicals and is called either Group IV (polyaphaolephin...PAO) and/or Group V (other base oils including esters). These make better (TRUE) Synthetic Motor Oil but cost more.

The problem with most Group III oils is that they are priced the same as TRUE synthetics and don't perform as well.

If the price is/was proportional with the quality of the oil, and the consumer understands just what this oil will do and won't do, Group III synthetics are an OK deal.
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Further Note: The esters in Amsoil will clean out any remaining deposits over the course of 5,000 +/- miles.
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Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products



fudgetke
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2003
19:30:16

RE: synthetic oils
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Where does Mobil1 fit in? Group 3, 4, or 5



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2/06/2003
10:08:21

RE: synthetic oils
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fudgetke,

It has been rumored that Mobil 1 SuperSyn (SS) was going the route so many other mass market synthetics have, and converting to a Group III .

However, this is not the case. It is still a PAO & ester blend (Group IV & V) with an improved barrier package over the "marginal" Tri-Synthetic (TS).

(Note again to Flamers: One positive comment (SS)
... and one negative comment (TS) ... regarding Mobil1)
Mobil SS is a good oil.
--------------------
One of the MAIN reasons that I am a DodgeDakotas.com Advertiser:

*** Dakota Owners Drive Their Trucks HARD !!! ***

... If you drive "all highway" and cruise along at light throttle, most synthetic oils (and "some" dino too) will show similar results. But push it hard, and shear it back so it's relying on the barrier protection, and the differences will be obvious.

*** IF YOU DRIVE HARD ... YOU NEED THE BEST PROTECTION ***
--------------------



Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products



gcsupraman
Dodge Dakota
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2/07/2003
19:38:47

RE: synthetic oils
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AMS oil,

It just so happens that I just ordered an AMS oil filter and AMS oil sythetic oil for my 02 dakota.

What are the recommended oil change intervals with AMS oil? I have two friends that change their AMS oil every 25k miles. His car has over 200k miles on it now. 25k seems a little high but he swears by the oil and promises me that it will be fine.

Greg



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2/09/2003
20:36:37

RE: synthetic oils
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gcsupraman,

I am going to shock everyone here, and I know it's hard to believe, but as an Amsoil Dealer there are a few things that I would like to clarify.

Amsoil has Extended Drain (25,000 mile) Synthetic Motor Oil.

The stated 25,000 mile / 1 year oil change ... that is on the back of the bottle of Amsoil ... is not an absolute! One must realize that is for non-severe service and that the indicated drain interval also has a time period of 1 year MAXIMUM as well.

Also, where AMSOIL recommends up to 2 or 3 times longer, it means up to 2 or 3 times the equipment manufacturer’s recommendation. For turbocharged engines use a mileage 3 times what the owners manual says, period.

AMSOIL service interval recommendations are whichever comes first – months, miles or "hours". Hours = during long periods of idle service, Stop & Go, heavy traffic, etc.

Also, AMSOIL SDF Oil Filters must be changed at least every 6 months regardless of miles driven.

*** Notice: Modifications to engine will change service intervals.

Notice: More frequent service may be required under severe service operating conditions, and regular oil analysis recommended for establishing
extended drain interval.
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Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products



Slocoma
Dodge Dakota
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2/12/2003
09:17:20

RE: synthetic oils
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Your best bet is to run the oil for about 6,000 miles or 6 months and have an oil analysis done. Then you can see if the old is still good or not and then run for like another 3,000 to 6,000 miles and have another analysis done. Keep going until the levels drop off. Then you will know your drain interval. Each car is different based on driver, conditions, etc. Amsoil's drain intervals are maximums.



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