Synthetic Oil

[TreeClimber57]

How many use synthetic oil in any of their equipment (chippers, grinders, whatever). What is the experience been, benefits, cost savings, reduced down time, longer time between maintenance or oil changes, whatever. I am looking at possibly trying it out - have not done so yet - and was looking for opinions.

If yes to above what filters and oil has been best in your opinion.

Thanks.

 

[emr]

We did an oil change on our '95 Vermeer 1250 a few weeks back and used AMSOIL in it. I cant believe it, but that oil still looks as good today as the day we put it in. I would say that it definitely starts easier. The machine will smoke a bit after a weekend and the new oil didn't change that fact at all. So far, I am impressed and I will continue to use AMSOIL in our equipment. Oh yeah, we get all of our oil and filters from a local AMSOIL dealer. The cost is not much of a factor for us because we dont have enough equipment to have the cost really add up. We also get wholesale prices on the AMSOIL because our dealer thought we were going to be buying in larger quantity that the typical do it yourselfer.

P.S. We have been using AMSOIL in our pick up trucks for quite some time now and we really like the longer drain interval.

 

[jburlingham]

I use Royal purple in my Vehicles, splitter, and generator. I started to use it in the equipment because of the increased fuel mileage in the cars, and the fact that the oil during the change looks good enough to leave in place.
Results are simply wonderful, splitter and generator both run quieter and I believe cooler. The generator also runs about 10% longer on a tank.

 

[TreeClimber57]

I use Royal purple in my Vehicles, splitter, and generator. I started to use it in the equipment because of the increased fuel mileage in the cars, and the fact that the oil during the change looks good enough to leave in place.
Results are simply wonderful, splitter and generator both run quieter and I believe cooler. The generator also runs about 10% longer on a tank.

Do you change your oil and filters as frequently as when using regular oil?

 

[howel07264]

Oil? Let the debate begin

Asking about oil is like debating which is better chevy or ford. As for me i use either Mobile 1 synthetic 5w40 or Rotella synthetic 5w40,whichever i find on sale. Amsoil is a little pricy for my taste. The way Amsoil markets its products remind me of snake oil salesmen. I say sell your products for a reasonable price and you will have the walmarts,auto zone etc. clamoring to sell your wares.

 

[TreeClimber57]

Asking about oil is like debating which is better chevy or ford. As for me i use either Mobile 1 synthetic 5w40 or Rotella synthetic 5w40,whichever i find on sale.

True to some degree.

However, the original post was:

a) How many use synthetic oil in any of their equipment (chippers, grinders, whatever).
b) What is the experience been, benefits, cost savings, reduced down time, longer time between maintenance or oil changes, whatever.

c) If yes to above what filters and oil has been best in your opinion.

Only the last item would be personal opinion, but if answered in some detail may also provide some reasons why they chose that particular brand. Now may be best due to the vehicle they chose, the oil and fitler combination, the length of time between oil changes, whatever.. still an opinion and we all have one!! The first two items however should be a bit more easily stated in a logical and non-biased fashion.

 

[limelakephoto]

I have a spare engine for my 1984 toyota 4x4, this engine was run on synthetic for most of it's life. It has 750,000 km's on it. The timing chain in this particular engine is supposed to changed at 150,000 km's. The timing chain finally broke at 620,000 km's. The compression in it is still very high (141-147 psi). It looks like an engine with 100,000 km's inside.

My wifes car is a 1995 Sunfire and it has the infamous "Quad Four Engine". Again pushing 300,000 km's. Timing chain is supposed to be changed at about 180,000 km's. No timing chain rattle yet. It also has a tranny that is a P.O.S. The tranny still shifts good. It has had synthetic Fluid in it since about 70,000 km's. With normal ATF there is sludgy filings on the magnet in the pan at 40,000 km's. With synthetic no filings at 40,000. At 80,000 there was a very thin film. Fluid looked and smelled almost new.

I could go on and on, but to sum it up..... new engine 2000 $......new tranny 2500 $. Use synthetic in it ....... Lotsa money and time saved in the end !

 

[howel07264]

True to some degree.

However, the original post was:

a) How many use synthetic oil in any of their equipment (chippers, grinders, whatever).
b) What is the experience been, benefits, cost savings, reduced down time, longer time between maintenance or oil changes, whatever.

c) If yes to above what filters and oil has been best in your opinion.

Only the last item would be personal opinion, but if answered in some detail may also provide some reasons why they chose that particular brand. Now may be best due to the vehicle they chose, the oil and fitler combination, the length of time between oil changes, whatever.. still an opinion and we all have one!! The first two items however should be a bit more easily stated in a logical and non-biased fashion.

Geez man keep it simple. Your dealing with tree guys not brain surgeons. Here is what i use:
07 chevy duramax.....15w40 dello 400...non syn.....still under warranty
04 carlton 7015 stumpper,...:.Mobile 1 5w40 syn........Runs flat out, 2000 hours, no eng poblems,no oil consumption.
2000 lexus ..mobile1 5w30 syn....130k miles ,no problems
1996 infiniti..mobile 1 5w30 syn 150k miles no problems

 

[TreeClimber57]

Geez man keep it simple. Your dealing with tree guys not brain surgeons. Here is what i use:
07 chevy duramax.....15w40 dello 400...non syn.....still under warranty
04 carlton 7015 stumpper,...:.Mobile 1 5w40 syn........Runs flat out, 2000 hours, no eng poblems,no oil consumption.
2000 lexus ..mobile1 5w30 syn....130k miles ,no problems
1996 infiniti..mobile 1 5w30 syn 150k miles no problems

Thanks!! Maybe not brain surgeons.. but tree surgeons!!

 

[howel07264]

Thanks!! Maybe not brain surgeons.. but tree surgeons!!

so true...good stuff

 

[cjnspecial]

Another vote for syn here. I've ran it in my cars for years and have 285K miles on one with no smoke, oil usage and runs like brand new. I run it in all my lawnmowers, log splitter and ope now with no problems. Here's an article on a guy that used synthetic in his forwarder...he's on his second engine in 30 years.

http://www.forestnet.com/archives/July_Aug_03/contractor_profile2.htm

 

[jburlingham]

Do you change your oil and filters as frequently as when using regular oil?

I do in my small equipment, esp. cause it usually less then 1 quart, in my vehicles I go with the Jeep recommended 6,000 rather the my standard of 3,000 that I used to do

 

[jburlingham]

True to some degree.

However, the original post was:

a) How many use synthetic oil in any of their equipment (chippers, grinders, whatever).
b) What is the experience been, benefits, cost savings, reduced down time, longer time between maintenance or oil changes, whatever.

c) If yes to above what filters and oil has been best in your opinion.

Only the last item would be personal opinion, but if answered in some detail may also provide some reasons why they chose that particular brand. Now may be best due to the vehicle they chose, the oil and fitler combination, the length of time between oil changes, whatever.. still an opinion and we all have one!! The first two items however should be a bit more easily stated in a logical and non-biased fashion.

When it comes to filters I'm not a brand-whore like some people that I know, Instead I have certain criterion I look for.
Quality of the filter media, crimped metal endcaps (not glued paperboard) on the filtration cartridge, allowed particulate size, and the the bypass valve quality.

this does cause me to overlook a few brands
Fram is out, as is Pennzoil, Quaker state, and a number of other Walmart quality filters.

The following all have what I look for to run in my stuff:
Wix
John Deere
Mobile 1
K&N
Carquest
AC Delco
Bosch

for more info on this you can check out one of my favorite sources for oil filter info.
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters/index.html

 

[limelakephoto]

If you want info on oils check out www.bobistheoilguy.com . Search the forums and you can find out alot ! There are even a few AS members lurking around there.

 

[mowrey1999]

Synthetic

As far as brands of synthetic oil goes, I use Amsoil myself and as far as cost goes I feel its a savings over regular oils for the little extra it is in price, I have always ran my cars to between 20-25000 miles per oil change and used a oil analysis kit to check occasionally and they have always come back showing the oil was still good or usable not full of contaminates or heavy metals,antifreeze or gas. I have a toyota pickup that is still running with over 625,000 miles , 3 timing chains and I never had one break I just changed them around 200,000 miles, I usually change air filters every 10,000 miles in alll vehicles, so in my cars any way I feel its cheaper than regular oil where I am changing my oil every 3-5000 miles and still getting excellent mileage and no oil usage or smoke, I also use the amsoil in my zero turm mower and have a couple thousand hours on it with no issues ,To me one of the most important aspects of keeping the oil from getting contaminated is clean air so keep your air filters changed and if working in a lot of dust and bad air change it more often.
oil change cost for me appx:
Amsoil 5qts-50.00
amsoil filter-15.00
air filters-15.00 ea x2 for 25000 miles
my avg cost is around 95.00 dollars to go 25,000 miles

If I was using regular motor oil changing 5,000 miles my estimated cost are :
any oil 5qts-10.00
any filter -4.00
air filter-4.00 or 8 dollars every 2 oil changes to change at 10,000 miles
total 18.00 to do it myself
changing oil every 5,000 to get to 25,000 =
5x18.00=90.00

I feel for the time under the vehicle which is 5 times the maintaince time than regular its worth the extra 4 dollars appx.

 

[TreeClimber57]

If you want info on oils check out www.bobistheoilguy.com . Search the forums and you can find out alot ! There are even a few AS members lurking around there.

thanks some interesting reading

 

[TreeClimber57]

To me one of the most important aspects of keeping the oil from getting contaminated is clean air so keep your air filters changed and if working in a lot of dust and bad air change it more often.

I feel for the time under the vehicle which is 5 times the maintaince time than regular its worth the extra 4 dollars appx.

Thanks for info. And maintenance time is certainally something to consider, even if you do yourself.. we all do enough of it likely on the rest of our equipment.

 

[mowrey1999]

synthetic

The figures I was giving were on the basic oil change or non synthetic 10w-30 ,the cheapest oil filter I could get as well as the cheap fram air filters or the cheapest filter I could find , the figures for the synthetic were to me one of the best oils out there ,the Recommended amsoil high grade filter or full flow filter as well as air filter, so to me your running the best possible products against the bottom of the line products, and as stated if your time means anything to you I know some people who go to oil change places and sit 1 hour every oil change waiting, so take that x5 and you might have 5 hours of waiting time for my 1 oil change and to me time is money. I know some people also disagree about synthetic brands or whats better but to me any synthetic is better than conventional oil as long as you follow there recommendations on changing it or get an oil analysis to see how its doing to see if its working up to your expectations, If it isnt doing the job according to the lab reports then change brands until your happy with one that does what it is supposed to .

 

[woodyman]

I don't have any heavy equipment but I use Mobil One Synthetic in my truck,wood splitter,push mower,riding mower and they run just fine.My 1990 3 1/2 push mower runs perfect except the frame is starting to rust in spots.I started running Synthetic oil in my truck in the winter so it would start better when its 20 below zero and never stopped.