I have an 04 Dakota 4.7L with 90,000kms on it. I have just switched to synthetic Mobil 1 for the oil changes. Wondering if it is harmful to the engine to switch back to regular oil after I have now used synthetic. I am not saying by any means that I want to or am going to, I was just curious if this is just a myth or true. Thanks

 

I wouldnt switch back, at least with out flushing your engine. I dunno if anyone has tried it but im not gonna be the first LOL

 

From what I have learned is if it wasnt built for synthetic its best to do a off on kind of thing. Every other oil change use synthetic then regular. This way it keeps (teflon I belive it) is from building up. There is alot of contravercy on the use of synthetics so you will hear alot of different opions. But this is a general rule for engines that do not require synthetics.

 

older the engine.. better to use syn, built for it or not..

also what does it matter if its built for it or not? Its better all around nothing that can hurt a non syn built engine. It just brakes down easier causing less friction only thing that syn can do worse is leak.. if you have any leaks syn will find it and leak worse or more. Normal oil wont leak as bad.

Why would you want to switch back anyways? Price of syn vs. normal? If you can't afford oil changes you shoudn't be driving a car. Get a 3 wheeler.

which is like 50% of the U.S we have people every day complain that a 15.99 oil change is overpriced at NTB... so i say..

Go do it yourself then come back and tell me if 15.99 is to much..

Window washer fluid = 6$
Coolent = 10$
Power Steering Fluid = 5$
Oil = 10$
Filter = 4$
Grease = hmm 5$
Labor/ 10-20min = 30$ or so (considering 1 hour = 90$)

seems like a good deal to me..

 

i use a semi synthetic so i have the best of both worlds. and as user2006 said if you cant afford an oil change dont drive a car. it costs me $30 for an oil change if i do it myself. who cares keep that up and you wont have problems later on in the cars life.

 

I by no means said I couldnt afford it. I was just wondering what the school of thought is on this subject. I use Mobil 1 and will continue to use it for the life of the engine. I dont think I can do it any harm by always using synthetic. Here in Canada it costs me approx$70.00 to change the oil if I get somebody to do it. Im not complaining if it helps the engine!!

 

I was running synthetic oil, and then purchased some high milage mixture from the same brand, believing it to be synthetic also. Turns out it wasn't. I called in the 1800 number, they said itwould be okay to switch. I did, and my motor runs better than ever.I howver, attribute this performance difference to the fact that I ran sea foam through the oil before this past change.


I've heard the same story that switching from synthetic to regular oil and back is ill advised. However, I've yet to hear of any scientific evidence, nor any studies, or even personal experience stories about switching from synthetic to regular. I'm inclined to believe that it's a marketing ploy to keep people converting to synthetic to "have" to remain with synthetic oils.

 

Sythetics are great. But there not 100% perfect. So it comes down to the brand and what they add and dont add. The reason I said its best to go off and on from sythetics is beacause of the early sythetics were not so great. They ate soft metals if left just before the change intervals. And they would eat up seals in the engine. I did some reserch and found out the Modern synthetics are much better now. IFounda few sites that have good info and tests http://p2library.nfesc.navy.mil/P2_O...ok/6_II_4.htmlhttp://www.synthetic-oils-wholesale.....php#additiveshttp://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/s.../oil-life.html http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/at_001121.htm
So what I found was most are mixable and it might be best to go premixed. So if you want to go back off of synthetic or go to it is okay no need to flush just change the filter.

 

I run synthetic and its around $50 an oil change and I do it myself. I dont trust the lil punks making minum wage to change my oil.

 

I agree with what Jonny said, I dont care if it costs me 100 bucks to do it myself vs 15.99 for someone to do it for me. I HATE anyone messing with my vehicles. I take care of all maintance, cleaning, rebuilding etc..of my cars. The only time i ever had someone change my oil it was a fast lube place and it was becuase my foot was broken and i couldnt get down underneith the car. It broke my heart to have it done but as soon as i healed up i changed it again myself