Thanks for the feedback guys. Think I'm gonna try the Max Life.

 

VC gaskets will leak because of dry rot or shrinking. It's the radial seals you have to be concerned about. The time to start with synthetic, IMO of course, is after the "new" period break-in. When I switched back to conventional, my 5.2 eating oil issues all but stopped. BUT...mine was a Mopar reman so it could have been set up on the max end of the specs, which would explain my oil usage and mediocre oil pressure over the 120K that I owned it.


However, talking newer and older engines where oil is concerned is kinda apples and oranges. I would just stick to what the recommendation is.


Which brings up a weird thing also.....The new FIAT engines, the 2.4L Multi-air to be specific, calls for FULL synthetic and a 6-7K mile oil change interval. We've seen MANY< MANY come in with weird running issues, bucking and stalling. Come to find out they are eating the hell out of oil. I have put as many as 3 quarts in, lost by 3500 miles. Looks like someone didn't update their piston ring technology with their engines design.


So confusing this car business is...

 

TNTech,

Sounds like the same guy that re-designed the Subaru engines a few years ago. Maybe he got fired and found a new job at fiat.

 

We have a 2013 Dart (1.4T) that is noted for oil consumption, yet we don't have the issues that most seem to have with oil consumption... it goes oil change to oil change without any top off needed.

I've run Mobil 1 full synth in my 318 for half of it's 200k+ life, and have seen no change in consumption since the change.

 

Mine was eating it and I never could figure out why. I had no other issues so I just went with it. You know how us techs are about our OWN rides...lol. After it hit 150K, I only use it as an in-town daily driver.

 

I ran Mobil 1 syn for about a year and the experience was louder valvetrain and cleaner due to the detergent influence.

Changed to Royal Purple and been happy for the last 4 years. 176K total, ran in the last 20K.

Got cracked heads now though...unrelated. lol

 

Used mobile 1 full syn for years. no oil consumption, and lasts longer. Recently switched to 10w40 conventional to try and quiet my lifters on startup, unfortunately no change in lifter noise with the 10w40.

 

What lifters do you have in it?

 

The word was that Royal got rid of Hemi tick, but if you had MDS it was setting random oil codes. I never did confirm or deny this myself, but a bunch of customers said it was true. I guess if you programmer your MDS off there shouldn't be an issue.

 

I've used synthetics since they first came out with it. I have used it on 20 plus vehicles. The myth that it causes leaks is false. It just magnifies the leaks you already have. If you don't want to fix a leak then don't use it. Out of the 20 plus vehicle I can't remember it causing leaks. From a 68 Commando with a Buick 350 to a 02 BMW X5 with 200K on it. Never a problem. My 04 Corvette Z06 says to use Mobile 1 and is on the oil cap, I also use Mobil 1 in the transmission and diff.

I'm going to put Royal Purple synthetics into my engine, trans (currently going through rebuild), Xfer case, and differentials on the truck. I can get 5 qt jugs of 10-30 Royal Purple for a couple of $ more than the other synthetics, shipped.

I've used mostly Castrol synthetics, don't know why. Any synthetics from your favorite Brand will work. I'm switching over to Royal Purple for all of my needs, like Gibbs, it's a gut feeling. I've been a mechanic for 30+ years and only work on my cars now.