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Re: Synthetic oil change intervals

To: "Jack I. Brooks" <brooks@belcotech.com>
Subject: Re: Synthetic oil change intervals
From: David Massey <105671.471@compuserve.com>
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 11:43:20 -0400
Cc: list <triumphs@Autox.Team.Net>
"Jack I. Brooks" <brooks@belcotech.com> writes:
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Snip >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I know I am going to catch flack for this one, but.....

I have used Mobil 1 since 1980, and I use a once a year or 20,000 mile,
whichever comes first, change interval.  Since 1980, I have had all of my
vehicles for 165,000 to 195,000 miles and have had no oil related failures
and very little oil consumption.  Our 1988 SAAB 9000, with 125,000, uses
none, ZERO oil between changes of approx 15,000 miles.  It was broken in on
"regular" oil, to 9000 miles.  The Chevy Cavalier (daily beater) with
99,000
miles uses approximately one quart in 10,000 miles.  It didn't get
synthetic
until 45,000 miles.  A toyota Corolla we owned did burn a fair bit of oil,
but it was abused, prior to my taking care of the maintainence.

This oil and change interval has been very successful for me and, as a
bonus, it is less costly than the 3,000 or 7,500 miles intervals I used
before changing to synthetic.

My TR3 was just converted to Mobil 1 20W-50, and I anticipate annual
changes, but this will be less than 2,500 miles per oil change.

As an aside, I am planning on completing a switch to Redline products later
this summer.

I am a firm believer in synthetics; I use synthetic greases and I am
switching over to using synthetic tranny lubes too.  The TR gearbox is on
Redline MTL, the SAAB will follow soon.

Synthetics are more expensive in the short run, but I believe, from my
personnal experience, that they will result in lower overall expenses in
the
long haul.

JME (just my experience), YMMV

Jack Brooks
1960 TR3A, TS69032L, 51,700 miles, Mobil 1 20W-50
1974 Norton Commando, 29,000 miles, Klotz 40 wt synthetic
1988 SAAB 9000, 125,000 miles, Mobil 1 10W-30
1989 Chevy Cavalier (yeah, yeah, I know) 99,000 miles, Mobil 1 10W-30
1992 Snapper lawnmower, 4 Hp Briggs and Stratton, 40 wt Klotz synthetic
1989 Chain saw, synthetic 2 cycle oil

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< End Snip >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks for your thoughts on Synthetic oil.  Since my TR6's (2 @) consume
a quart every 1000 miles I have been reluctant to make the switch.  But
I will reconsider since I change the oil annually regardless of mileage
which averages 1000 to 2000 per year anyway.

BTW I just changed to Red Line MTL on my ' 71 with O/D and It works fine.
In fact the O/D seems to engage a little more quickly which is nice since
it is a type J unit without an accumulator.  (I know, I know, a 71 is
supposed to have a type A but that is a long story)  But I just rebuilt
the transmission and O/D and there are no leaks and no oil loss.

Dave Massey
1971 TR6 (with many non-71 parts)
1974 TR6 (Nearly original)
1978 TR7 (long term project V6 conversion)
197? J.C. Penney lawn mower with 3 HP Briggs & Scrap Iron engine)
1976 GMC 1 ton Van
1987 Audi 5000S (all acceleration is intentional)
1995 MTD Chipper/shredder (w/ 5 HP Briggs & Scrap Iron engine)
1994 Escort Wagon 5 Speed
1996 Weed Wacker (electric)

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