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Dump The Mobil 1

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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 05:44 AM
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Default Dump The Mobil 1

I'm a believer in synthetic oils,but stuff is so good that it's hard to believe you can break a car in with it from day 1. Tests have shown that cars using synthetic show little or no wear after 200,000 miles! Isn't a little wear good for the first 500 or 1000 miles??
How about the idea of dumping the Mobil 1 immediately, switching to regular oil (say 5w30) for the first 1000 miles, and than using synthetics for the life of the VETTE.

Again , I believe in synthetics. I'm not a expert on oils--but sometimes I believe the only reason Vettes come with Mobil 1 is because of some joint marketing venture between GM and Mobil.

Any opinions??
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 06:24 AM
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Had there been any ill effects of the Mobil1/GM collaboration it would be all over this forum by now. While it may be a "plus" for Mobil 1 marketing, Im not sure what GM gains from it marketing-wise.

That you can't break in an engine with synthetics is one of those "urban legends" that persists from the early days of synthetic's introduction - in my opinion.
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 07:05 AM
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If more wear = good break in then I suppose we should just thrown in some vegetable oil.

Break-in is mostly about heat cycles and, to a much lesser extent, wear. But that wear is easily achieved no matter what oils you use.

Not to mention that a lot of break-in is for the transmission, differential, and brakes. Changing your engine oil won't change any of that.
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Scissors
If more wear = good break in then I suppose we should just thrown in some vegetable oil.

Break-in is mostly about heat cycles and, to a much lesser extent, wear. But that wear is easily achieved no matter what oils you use.

Not to mention that a lot of break-in is for the transmission, differential, and brakes. Changing your engine oil won't change any of that.
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by c6vette
Tests have shown that cars using synthetic show little or no wear after 200,000 miles! Isn't a little wear good for the first 500 or 1000 miles??
The crankshaft in my SWC measured right in the middle of the OE tolerance range, at 115K miles and that was on sixties and seventies vintage oils. There was slight measureable bore taper and valve guide wear.

"Breakin wear" is not measurable with conventional tools. An electron microscope might show it.


Again , I believe in synthetics. I'm not a expert on oils
All the more reason to follow the manufacturer's service and fluids recommendation.

Duke
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 07:45 PM
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I actually saw on a Maxima forum, a guy suggest that it was okay to switch to synthetic oil but only after 10,000 miles. And then, only after a preceeding change interval of 50/50 conventional and synthetic before the final full strength dose. Imagine that. Like an engine is a living thing that needs a period of adjustment to acclimate itself before being subjected to the full monty. But those guys aren't nearly as smart as Y'all.

Regards,
Vince
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 11:25 PM
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imo only a fool would take out the mobile 1....heat is the main killer of oil...synthetics can take the heat and keep on protecting the engines moving parts....do you think wear is a good thing? what exactly are you breaking in ? my 98s break in period lasted about 30 feet off the dealers lot....still runs strong , never a mechanical problem and i am in the rev limiter alot!!
coming back from autocross yesterday in 106 az heat at 90 mph with 4.10 rear , rpm at 3300 or so and oil temp at 243...was very glad to have mobile 1 ....i would not leave home without it
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Old Sep 13, 2004 | 11:32 PM
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I believe the reason so many LS1 / LS6 cars are oil burners is because the rings never set properly. When we built my motor, I ran conventional for the first 3000 miles then switched over. Went from a quart every 1000 miles to a non burner.

Of course I could be wrong, but that was my own personal experience.
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by c6vette
I'm a believer in synthetic oils,but stuff is so good that it's hard to believe you can break a car in with it from day 1. Tests have shown that cars using synthetic show little or no wear after 200,000 miles! Isn't a little wear good for the first 500 or 1000 miles??
How about the idea of dumping the Mobil 1 immediately, switching to regular oil (say 5w30) for the first 1000 miles, and than using synthetics for the life of the VETTE.

Again , I believe in synthetics. I'm not a expert on oils--but sometimes I believe the only reason Vettes come with Mobil 1 is because of some joint marketing venture between GM and Mobil.

Any opinions??
These engines do not need "broken in". The only break-in is required for the drive train components after the clutch.

The less wear on the engine the better. Period.
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 03:35 PM
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I would think that GM fills the factory new Vettes with its own brew of break in additives. If you have ever replaced a cam you would know that you put a type of Moly-Graphite on the lobes to break-in the new cam/lifters. I'm sure your new LS-2 is handled the same way. After that initial oil change the parts are now broken in and you're off on your way to using Mobil-1
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by wwashing
These engines do not need "broken in". The only break-in is required for the drive train components after the clutch.

The less wear on the engine the better. Period.
I agree, have you ever driven a car that needed a break-in.
there is a huge difference the first time you start the engine and 500 miles, 2000 and 5000 miles later in performance but also in consumption and you ear the engine idling diferently.
On the Vette never see any difference from mile 1 to now. And I speed up to 170 miles after 200 miles.
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 07:36 PM
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all this talk about synth run engines not breaking in properly is such old news...

That used to be the case 15 years ago, but no longer:

Myth: You should break in your engine with conventional oil, then switch to Mobil 1.

RealityYou can start using Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ in new vehicles at any time, even in brand-new vehicles. In fact, Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ is original equipment (it is installed at the factory) in:


Chevrolet Corvette
All Porsche vehicles
Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles
Dodge Viper
Ford Mustang Cobra R
All Aston Martin cars

One of the myths that persists about Mobil 1 is that new engines require a break-in period with conventional oil. Current engine manufacturing technology does not require this break-in period. As indicated by the decisions of the engineers who design these high-performance cars, Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ can be used in an engine from the day you drive the car off the showroom floor.


and this from Pat Goss:
Another big misconception, says Goss, is that new engines require a break-in period with conventional oil, and then drivers can switch to a synthetic. In fact, today's engine technology does not require this break-in period.

and this from the Quaker State web site:
Myth #6
Engines have to be “broken in” before using synthetic oil.
I need to break in my engine with non-detergent oil.
If I use regular oil or synthetic oil in a new engine, my engine will take longer to break in.

Fact
It was common years ago for engine manufacturers to recommend non-detergent oils for engine break-in. This was when the pistons used cast-iron “square-faced” rings and the rings needed to wear some to “seat” into the engine. With today’s technology of oils and engine manufacturing, engine manufacturers no longer recommend the use of non-detergent oils for the break-in period. In fact, engines today are factory-filled with high quality API SL performance motor oil, which contains high levels of detergents and dispersant additives.
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by cenzo
Had there been any ill effects of the Mobil1/GM collaboration it would be all over this forum by now. While it may be a "plus" for Mobil 1 marketing, Im not sure what GM gains from it marketing-wise.
Free oil?

But, I agree with the others. I wouldn't worry about it. Every T1 racer I know just drops a new motor in the car, adds a good synthetic, warms the oil up to 120 or so, and goes...
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 10:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Subdriver
Free oil?
So that would mean free GoodYear tires, free AC Delco parts, free Chevron gas...nothing is free...........do you get free oil?
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Old Sep 14, 2004 | 11:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Cruncher
So that would mean free GoodYear tires, free AC Delco parts, free Chevron gas...nothing is free...........do you get free oil?
Do you honestly believe that GM gives Mobil 1 the inside track to hundreds of thousands of customers like you all by paying full price for Mobil 1?

I don't have any idea what agreement GM and Mobil 1 have, but I would venture to guess that is beneficial to both of them. If Mobil 1 gave GM "free" oil for new cars, that saves GM millions of dollars per year. In turn, GM is giving Mobil 1 customers, because the vast majority of owners will continue to buy Mobil 1 for the life of the car.

I would suspect Goodyear and GM have a similar type of relationship. Maybe not free tires, but do you really think GM is paying what we are paying for tires?

And while I can't comment on the specifics of my relationship with AMSOIL, yes, I am sponsored by AMSOIL. However, it was after obtaining sponsorship that I became so impressed with their full product line, vice just the racing lubricants that I was using in my Z06, that I became an Independent AMSOIL Dealer. I do buy my oil, filters, wiper blades, etc for my F350 and Chevy Trailblazer from AMSOIL at wholesale, same as any other preferred customer or dealer.

C6vette,
Sorry for the hijack.
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 12:42 AM
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Mobil gives GM the oil for free and pays them to use it in the Corvette. In exchange, Mobil gets to use the Corvette in its advertising.

Same thing with Goodyear.
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 01:04 AM
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Originally Posted by cenzo
I actually saw on a Maxima forum, a guy suggest that it was okay to switch to synthetic oil but only after 10,000 miles. And then, only after a preceeding change interval of 50/50 conventional and synthetic before the final full strength dose. Imagine that. Like an engine is a living thing that needs a period of adjustment to acclimate itself before being subjected to the full monty. But those guys aren't nearly as smart as Y'all.

Regards,
Vince
What? There are actual Maxima forums? You gotta be joking, right? That's hilarious. Maybe I should start an Altima forum or something.
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 03:40 AM
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Also keep this in mind. If I recall I heard someone mention initial cam to lifter wear. Guy's where have you been the past 10-20 years. We have roller lifters now. No wear needed at all. which is why you don't need to change lifters with a cam swap any more.
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 07:13 AM
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Nothing is free.........if that were the case, why doesn't GM use Mobl1 & GoodYear tires and belts for all its vehicles. I am sure that there is pricing based on volume, same as any other vendor. The difference between Amsoil and Moibl is that Mobil (and GoodYear) work with the car manufacturers to develop a product that is compatible with its cars. As example, the Supercar tire was developed specifically for the Z06. Does Amsoil work directly with manufacturers? I think not.
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Old Sep 15, 2004 | 08:35 AM
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Originally Posted by cenzo
Had there been any ill effects of the Mobil1/GM collaboration it would be all over this forum by now. While it may be a "plus" for Mobil 1 marketing, Im not sure what GM gains from it marketing-wise.

That you can't break in an engine with synthetics is one of those "urban legends" that persists from the early days of synthetic's introduction - in my opinion.
with roller lifter engine mobil 1 is fine. you only need dino oil if the engine has flat tappets because mobil 1 because is so slippery that the lifters MAY NOT rotate which can cause lobe wear. the rings are now "broken in" in a fixture at the ring factory so they are ready for use in the engine as soon as they are used.
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