lavacarancher":2eue305d said:
I've been wanting to try the synthetics but don't have anything new enough to run it in. For those of you who use it do you notice any difference in oil pressure? Not that it would make any difference in lubricity - just curious.
I really don't think age of the equipment has anything to do with using synthetic or not. None of the stuff I've used synthetic in has an oil pressure guage, only idiot lights, so I can't answer your question about oil pressure.
I've run 5W40 synthetic in my 1973 and 1974 Ford tractors and my 2013 Kubota. Also run 10W30 Mobil 1 synthetic in one of my V-twin zero turn lawnmowers since new, but considering switching back to dino 10W30 or straight 30.
The main advantage I was looking for the tractors was easier starting and faster lubrication in winter. I'm really not so sure that the 5W40 has any real cold starting advantage over regular 10W30. I always plug the tractors in anyway if possible.
On the lawnmower, I thought Mobil 1 might give some extra protection for operation under high heat/heavy load/ longer OCI on the zero turn. I can almost change the oil twice as often for the same price, except the cost of a new filter.
FWIW, I've got 10W30 again to change Fords this fall. Still plan to put 5W40 in the Kubota.
Another FWIW that I'm not sure is relevant to this discussion but I'll throw it out there anyway. I had a 1982 Chevy pickup with 189K miles and a very tired 350 in it. Don't know for sure before I bought it at 117K, but I suspect the engine had never had a wrench on it. That got to where it would use a quart of 10W30 in 600 miles. Not leaking oil, it was going out the exhaust and a spark plug would foul occassionally. Add a quart and be down another quart in 400 miles and then I usually changed it. Had similar experience with a 1979 Impala 305 after it got over 200K miles. Couldn't hardly keep it firing on all 8 all the time.
Last time I had the oil changed before I sold the pickup I had the guys at the co-op put 15W40 in it. The pickup did use less oil, and the aftermarket oil guage did read higher at any given temp and rpm. With the 10W30 at operating temp idling, there was only about 15 psi oil pressure 15W40 seemed to maintain closer to 20 psi, and at highway speed might get up to 30 psi.