Grey00lustre

iTrader: (15)

i currently have 45k on my 00 se and was thinking about switching to mobil 1 systheic..i heard from some that when they switch they use 3 quarts systheic and 2 quarts regular....then on the next change they use all systheic...is this all i have to do to switch? and if i switch and use all 5 quarts systheic is that going to be ok?

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

If the car's been maintained regularly just switch and you'll be fine.

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

don't mix. Just start using synthetic. No extra steps required

SkoorbMax

There won't be harm in mixing at first if you want, but mobil's site says that you don't need to bother, and I think common knowledge these days says just throw the synthetic in. My 97 I switched from conventional to synthetic when I bought it by simply going straight from pennzoil or whatever it had to full syn. No leaks since doing that 6k miles ago.

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

Are you saying you had leaks before you switched to synthetic?

Virus

iTrader: (1)

If you want to play it safe, get some Amsoil Engine Flush. It's cheap and simple to do. If you don't, you may want to do normal change intervals on the synthetic 2 to 3 times to let it clean up the deposits left by dino oil. I've used the engine flush on cars that have been well maintained with change intervals of 3k and the flush removed quite a bit of sludge.

SkoorbMax

No, I had none before either, but some people in the past have said that switching to a syn can produce oil leaks. This was more of a problem in the past, and many mechanics argue that with newer cars it's just not a concern.

{-_-}

iTrader: (2)

i'm surprised to hear that... what cars were they and what mileage were they at to come out with that much sludge from a flush?

TwinCam

As others have pointed out no need for a flush prior to changing to a synthetic .

It is difficult to recommend a first drain interval since your driving habits are not posted but because of the mineral residual oil I'd say run the syn to 75% of the planned OCI first time .

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

It's just another myth. Synthetic oil will not make your car leak oil.

PLUMMAXSE

iTrader: (2)

One thing instead of the engine flush is to replace your oil filter more frequently, since the sludge will be trapped in the filter.
Open your oil filler cap and look in the valve cover. If you see any black carbon deposits floating around, use the engine flush.

Virus

iTrader: (1)

The only car I remember vividly was a 1994 Honda Civic. The guy worked for Culligan and traveled from Winchester, VA to Vienna, VA everday as well as to customers houses. He was using Quaker State and changing every 3k. At about 60k or so he switched to Castrol Syntec with 5k intervals. The Castrol came out like syrup. I then ran the Amsoil flush and he switched to M1 with 8k intervals. When I ran the flush, I was amazed at the sludge that came out. Fortunately he never experienced any leaks. He put 300K on his car in just 4 years!