Re: Can synthetic fluids be used in Packards?
Posted by Tim Cole On 2021/5/5 16:21:02
I think something more constructive is needed than slap downs. Below is the general defintion of synthetic pertoleum from the junknet:
"Synthetic oil is a lubricant consisting of chemical compounds that are artificially made. Synthetic lubricants can be manufactured using chemically modified petroleum components rather than whole crude oil, but can also be synthesized from other raw materials. The base material, however, is still overwhelmingly crude oil that is distilled and then modified physically and chemically. The actual synthesis process and composition of additives is generally a commercial trade secret and will vary among producers."
Are synthetic oils of great benefit in normal use? They are claimed better in extreme cold and extreme hot, and supposedly less hygroscopic. That is, they absorb less moisture when sitting. The extreme heat property is beneficial under boundary conditions. That is, near metal to metal contact which generates extreme heat.
How about all those claims of less frequent oil change intervals? I don't know any petroleum engineers to ask and can't comment except to say: who knows if they simply have more detergents and such? I did know a MOBIL oil corporate guy who put synthetics in his Packards. Here is what the product sheet says:
"If your vehicle is covered by a warranty, follow the vehicle's oil life sensor or the oil change interval
recommended in your owner's manual. Proper maintenance practices, including frequently checking the
oil level to ensure that the appropriate amount of oil is present, are required to ensure effective performance"
And what do they say about the product itself?
"(Brand name) Synthetic oils are made with a proprietary blend of high performance synthetic basestocks."
Basestocks are from crude oils.
One thing about old car motors is they run dirty, and many use large capacity sumps. Using synthetics is, thus, probably of no great advantage because dirty motors exhaust the additive packages more rapidly than the base oil wears out. That is my case for using convetional oil in old car motors.
Here is a case history I found that is very interesting. I don't have any means to test its validity, but it does support my preference for lighter grades of oil.
"My daily driver had nothing used in it except Mobiloil #30 for the first 99,000 miles of its life. When I started driving it (1959)it was burning a quart of oil every 500 miles. The shop foreman at the GM dealership where I worked said to use lighter weight oil as it would scrape off the cylinder walls easier. I switched to 20 wt and after three oil changes the consumption was down to a quart in one thaousand miles. When I overhauled my engine at 200,00 odd miles I started out with the best rated "DG" oil # 5 weight. I used this weight oil for over 100,000 miles and then went to #10 wt that I still use. I have 18 lbs pressure at an idle and 30 lbs when driving. The pressure stays like this all day driving at 40 to 55 mph. I had the pan off around 450,000 miles because one of my new pistons developed slap. Everything was clean and the bearings showed no wear ( I plastiguaged all nine of them). I would use nothing but the best detergent oil at the lightest weight possible."
As well, the Packard manual recommended heavier grades only to curb excessive oil consumption due to engine wear.
Synthetic oils were discovered by accident in a lab attempting distill heavier basestocks into gasoline.
Attach file:
QS2.jpg (219.13 KB)
"Synthetic oil is a lubricant consisting of chemical compounds that are artificially made. Synthetic lubricants can be manufactured using chemically modified petroleum components rather than whole crude oil, but can also be synthesized from other raw materials. The base material, however, is still overwhelmingly crude oil that is distilled and then modified physically and chemically. The actual synthesis process and composition of additives is generally a commercial trade secret and will vary among producers."
Are synthetic oils of great benefit in normal use? They are claimed better in extreme cold and extreme hot, and supposedly less hygroscopic. That is, they absorb less moisture when sitting. The extreme heat property is beneficial under boundary conditions. That is, near metal to metal contact which generates extreme heat.
How about all those claims of less frequent oil change intervals? I don't know any petroleum engineers to ask and can't comment except to say: who knows if they simply have more detergents and such? I did know a MOBIL oil corporate guy who put synthetics in his Packards. Here is what the product sheet says:
"If your vehicle is covered by a warranty, follow the vehicle's oil life sensor or the oil change interval
recommended in your owner's manual. Proper maintenance practices, including frequently checking the
oil level to ensure that the appropriate amount of oil is present, are required to ensure effective performance"
And what do they say about the product itself?
"(Brand name) Synthetic oils are made with a proprietary blend of high performance synthetic basestocks."
Basestocks are from crude oils.
One thing about old car motors is they run dirty, and many use large capacity sumps. Using synthetics is, thus, probably of no great advantage because dirty motors exhaust the additive packages more rapidly than the base oil wears out. That is my case for using convetional oil in old car motors.
Here is a case history I found that is very interesting. I don't have any means to test its validity, but it does support my preference for lighter grades of oil.
"My daily driver had nothing used in it except Mobiloil #30 for the first 99,000 miles of its life. When I started driving it (1959)it was burning a quart of oil every 500 miles. The shop foreman at the GM dealership where I worked said to use lighter weight oil as it would scrape off the cylinder walls easier. I switched to 20 wt and after three oil changes the consumption was down to a quart in one thaousand miles. When I overhauled my engine at 200,00 odd miles I started out with the best rated "DG" oil # 5 weight. I used this weight oil for over 100,000 miles and then went to #10 wt that I still use. I have 18 lbs pressure at an idle and 30 lbs when driving. The pressure stays like this all day driving at 40 to 55 mph. I had the pan off around 450,000 miles because one of my new pistons developed slap. Everything was clean and the bearings showed no wear ( I plastiguaged all nine of them). I would use nothing but the best detergent oil at the lightest weight possible."
As well, the Packard manual recommended heavier grades only to curb excessive oil consumption due to engine wear.
Synthetic oils were discovered by accident in a lab attempting distill heavier basestocks into gasoline.
Attach file:
QS2.jpg (219.13 KB)
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