Gary Lloyd
Jedi Knight
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I was just at the Healey forum, (to try and help them out a bit
) and there is a discussion on synthetic oil. I found this one particularily interesting!! Any thoughts guys?? It made sense to me, and please notice that he is a Canadian!!!
RF Thom
Senior Member
Member # 994
Rate Member
posted 01-21-2003 09:55 PM
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Petrolium based engine oils break down at 280 degrees F. where as synthetis break down at 450 degrees F. Oil in the engine serves many functions one of which is a heat transfer medium, and as such can reach temperatures of 260/275 F. Petrolium based engine oils therefore do not provide a sufficient protection cushion. Remember the hotist components in an operating engine are 1st the valves then the pistons. Exhaust valve can reach 1800 degrees F. - pistons domes 450 degrees F. As the oil breaks down it turns to a black ash, [ remember 'Blacky Carbon']and is commonly found behind the piston rings eventually contaminating and stopping them from functioning. I use synthetic oil in all my vehicles. Before I retired I was a Design Liaison Engineer for GM Powertrain and had access to relative test results. I've seen data where 600 hour dyno tests [ = 100,000 miles ] without an oil change with oil sampling analysis every 25 hours showed no trace materials after the initial 10 hour breakin.
Regards, Bob
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Posts: 20 | From: St.Catharines ON Canada | Registered: Aug 2002
RF Thom
Senior Member
Member # 994
Rate Member
posted 01-21-2003 09:55 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petrolium based engine oils break down at 280 degrees F. where as synthetis break down at 450 degrees F. Oil in the engine serves many functions one of which is a heat transfer medium, and as such can reach temperatures of 260/275 F. Petrolium based engine oils therefore do not provide a sufficient protection cushion. Remember the hotist components in an operating engine are 1st the valves then the pistons. Exhaust valve can reach 1800 degrees F. - pistons domes 450 degrees F. As the oil breaks down it turns to a black ash, [ remember 'Blacky Carbon']and is commonly found behind the piston rings eventually contaminating and stopping them from functioning. I use synthetic oil in all my vehicles. Before I retired I was a Design Liaison Engineer for GM Powertrain and had access to relative test results. I've seen data where 600 hour dyno tests [ = 100,000 miles ] without an oil change with oil sampling analysis every 25 hours showed no trace materials after the initial 10 hour breakin.
Regards, Bob
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Posts: 20 | From: St.Catharines ON Canada | Registered: Aug 2002