[Shotimes] Oil...

[Donald Mallinson]

A quart in 2000 miles is pretty good.

Most people don't realize that you have to have a REALLY BAD 
leak before it will effect oil level in 3000 miles much.

My 66 GP would drip steady from the rear main, and in 2000 
or so miles, the oil level would not drop enough to really 
tell.  It dripped enough that it was coating the underside 
of the car and burning off the exhaust causing oil smell 
inside the car on days when I had the windows open.  Most 
SHO's put maybe 2-3 drips on the ground when parked 
overnight, this is maybe 1% of what my GP was leaking!  So 
don't sweat a leak till you see it running out from under 
the car!  (almost, but you get my drift).

As for the Synthetic VS regular oil thing, usually synthetic 
won't leak as much as regular oil, because leaks happen 
under pressure and synthetic tends to run thicker than 
regular oil when hot, it is only when sitting cold that it 
will flow better than regular oil, and cars don't leak when 
sitting cold, they drip oil off that has already gotten 
outside the motor!

And for wear, Synthetic is better, but the difference, while 
measureable is minor in the scheme of things over 100,000 
miles.  Many people have gotten and will continue to get 
great engine life from good quality regular oil.

I prefer to use synthetic because the SHO is more of an 
"extreme" motor than a typical car, and synthetic offers 
better flow when cold, better protection when hot and under 
extreme rpm situations.

You can try the "old car" oils like Valvoline Maxlife.  It 
did help the leak on my old GP, and has slowed the leaks in 
my '89 SHO (190,000 miles, 1/2 to 2/3 a quart in 3000 miles 
or so) but I switch to synthetic for summer racing.

All but one major SHO mechanic that I know of like and 
recommend synthetic, the last one likes it for some 
vehicles, but does not like it for the V6 SHO.

Don Mallinson

Shylo McKinsey wrote:

> I seem to remember a very long thread and "heated"
> debate over this... I use synthetic in my car. Uses
> about one quart every 2000 miles. Leaks a little too.
> Whether it leaks it out and/or burns some too I don't
> know. Is synthetic bad for my car? Should I switch to
> regular oil? I've used Castrol Syntec ever since I
> bought the car. The previous owner used Syntec as
> well, and he had it for about 100k miles. As I said
> before, I'd really like to replace the head gaskets
> and mic the pistons and whatnot and all that jazz, but
> I don't have the money...So, should I stick with what
> I got? Or change to a "High Milage" oil???
> 
> Shylo McKinsey
> 
> '91 White MTX
> 
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