Ron sez:
> Lars,
> Additionally, synths are a form of PAO
> (polyalphaolefin for those who care). Aside from high
> temp viscosity stability, it has excellent heat
> transfer properties, and is used as a liquid coolant
> in aircraft applications.
It also is more resistant to high temperature breakdown.
Conventional oil begins to breakdown at about 200C,
synths at about double that. This breakdown results in
particulates in the oil. This is why engines running on synth
are much cleaner on stripdown.
The particulates are abrasive too.
The areas around the ring groves are (IIRC) where the oil gets
hottest. This is why you get a lot of the particulate despositing
around the ring landings with conventional oils.
So, while conventional oils are perfectly fine through most of the
engine, there are localised hot spots where it is outside its
optimum operating specs and synthetic is significantly better in
these hot spots.
Mike
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