Synthetic oil?
Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior
Synthetic oil?
I am just about to carry out an engine oil change. I bought Krafft Longlife-04 5w-30 100% synthetic oil whilst in Andorra recently. I am now experiencing cold feet as to wether or not it's a good idea to suddenly replace my old oil in a 15 year old engine with this product.
Any advice appreciated!
Any advice appreciated!
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- Supreme Being
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Re: Synthetic oil?
Well, it won't do any harm, but the engine is probably worn enough for it to be a waste of money. There is a fact sheet in the Member's Area that was written by a member who used to work for Shell. Basically, synthetic oil is superb in a new engine, but of limited value in an older one.
John
(Evidence that intelligent life exists in the universe, is that it hasn't tried to contact us)
(Evidence that intelligent life exists in the universe, is that it hasn't tried to contact us)
Re: Synthetic oil?
Only a waste if the engine is burning oil.
Synthetic should last MUCH longer between changes than plain stuff I'd happilly double the change interval if it's fully synthetic but then I don't do many short journeys.
Personally I think the 3000mile change is aimed at typical Japanese congested traffic conditions and have never even considered changing oil that soon.
Remember manufacturers set the oil change interval for the worse possible scenario not "normal" use.
If modern synthetic oil can last 18,000 miles in my Renault, I'm sure it could last half that in the Bongo.
Synthetic should last MUCH longer between changes than plain stuff I'd happilly double the change interval if it's fully synthetic but then I don't do many short journeys.
Personally I think the 3000mile change is aimed at typical Japanese congested traffic conditions and have never even considered changing oil that soon.
Remember manufacturers set the oil change interval for the worse possible scenario not "normal" use.
If modern synthetic oil can last 18,000 miles in my Renault, I'm sure it could last half that in the Bongo.
- mikeonb4c
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Re: Synthetic oil?
Excellent post there scanner. All makes a great deal of sense and begs the question whether it may be as cheap or cheaper on balance to use synthetic.scanner wrote:Only a waste if the engine is burning oil.
Synthetic should last MUCH longer between changes than plain stuff I'd happilly double the change interval if it's fully synthetic but then I don't do many short journeys.
Personally I think the 3000mile change is aimed at typical Japanese congested traffic conditions and have never even considered changing oil that soon.
Remember manufacturers set the oil change interval for the worse possible scenario not "normal" use.
If modern synthetic oil can last 18,000 miles in my Renault, I'm sure it could last half that in the Bongo.
Re: Synthetic oil?
Grateful for the help! I'll go ahead and use it. It was heavily discounted (as things are in Andorra!)
- mikexgough
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Re: Synthetic oil?
I agree totally so usually I change my Semi Synthetic about 6 month intervals.....as a habit more than anything..... and My Citroen does 20,000 on Synthetic between changes...scanner wrote: Personally I think the 3000mile change is aimed at typical Japanese congested traffic conditions and have never even considered changing oil that soon.
Remember manufacturers set the oil change interval for the worse possible scenario not "normal" use.
If modern synthetic oil can last 18,000 miles in my Renault, I'm sure it could last half that in the Bongo.

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Re: Synthetic oil?
We also change ours every 6 months or every 6000 miles.
Allans Garage retired. Try PGS (Plymouth Garage Services) or Mayflower Auto Services Plymouth
- mikeonb4c
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Re: Synthetic oil?
synthetic oil?Doone wrote:We also change ours every 6 months or every 6000 miles.
Re: Synthetic oil?
We use semi synthetic in our Freda.
Where does it recommend changing the oil every 3000 miles?Personally I think the 3000mile change
Allans Garage retired. Try PGS (Plymouth Garage Services) or Mayflower Auto Services Plymouth
- mikexgough
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Re: Synthetic oil?
well I let the semi synth run the 6 months, Mike...... which was 10,000 miles......mikeonb4c wrote:synthetic oil?Doone wrote:We also change ours every 6 months or every 6000 miles.

But as Bongo was an unknown to me I decided to do my usual OCD thing



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Re: Synthetic oil?
Isn't it in the handbook - 5000 kilometresDoone wrote:We use semi synthetic in our Freda.Where does it recommend changing the oil every 3000 miles?Personally I think the 3000mile change

John
(Evidence that intelligent life exists in the universe, is that it hasn't tried to contact us)
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- missfixit70
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Re: Synthetic oil?
Pretty sure it is John & in the factsheet?francophile1947 wrote:Isn't it in the handbook - 5000 kilometresDoone wrote:We use semi synthetic in our Freda.Where does it recommend changing the oil every 3000 miles?Personally I think the 3000mile change
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Re: Synthetic oil?
Our own Freda doesn't have hard use and is happy on semi synthetic changed every 6000 miles.
Allans Garage retired. Try PGS (Plymouth Garage Services) or Mayflower Auto Services Plymouth
- dandywarhol
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Re: Synthetic oil?
Hope you aren't talking about a F9Q Renault turbo diesel engine scanner - there's 47 pages of woe on that particular engine in Parker's forumscanner wrote:Only a waste if the engine is burning oil.
Synthetic should last MUCH longer between changes than plain stuff I'd happilly double the change interval if it's fully synthetic but then I don't do many short journeys.
Personally I think the 3000mile change is aimed at typical Japanese congested traffic conditions and have never even considered changing oil that soon.
Remember manufacturers set the oil change interval for the worse possible scenario not "normal" use.
If modern synthetic oil can last 18,000 miles in my Renault, I'm sure it could last half that in the Bongo.


I wouldn't think about doing any more than 10k miles on a t/diesel engine, with or without synth oil in it - cars are now advertised/sold on the least amount of downtime in the garage for servicing - so naturally the manufacture extend the oil change intervals - they're pretty confinent the warranty will be out before the engine pops!
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Re: Synthetic oil?
Probably - but I'm certainly going down that particular service schedule route.dandywarhol wrote:Hope you aren't talking about a F9Q Renault turbo diesel engine scanner - there's 47 pages of woe on that particular engine in Parker's forumscanner wrote:Only a waste if the engine is burning oil.
Synthetic should last MUCH longer between changes than plain stuff I'd happilly double the change interval if it's fully synthetic but then I don't do many short journeys.
Personally I think the 3000mile change is aimed at typical Japanese congested traffic conditions and have never even considered changing oil that soon.
Remember manufacturers set the oil change interval for the worse possible scenario not "normal" use.
If modern synthetic oil can last 18,000 miles in my Renault, I'm sure it could last half that in the Bongo.http://www.parkers.co.uk/advice/forum/t ... C_ID=18664 - mainly caused by extended oil change intervals
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I wouldn't think about doing any more than 10k miles on a t/diesel engine, with or without synth oil in it - cars are now advertised/sold on the least amount of downtime in the garage for servicing - so naturally the manufacture extend the oil change intervals - they're pretty confinent the warranty will be out before the engine pops!
It'll be done once a year whether it needs it or not - looks like it will be at about 8,000miles.
However if manufacturers say it can go that long and owners take their word for it and have it serviced by a main dealer according to the manufacturers recommendation and it costs the manufacturer money - so be it.