synth vs dino oil question
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 11
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From: Clay, NY
synth vs dino oil question
Other than extending the oil change interval, something I will not do, are there any benefits to switching to synth oil? It is a lot more costly.
any help please
any help please
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,904
Likes: 185
From: Maine
Yeah, it costs a little more.
Synthetic responds to high and low temps better.
There is nothing wrong with good quality dino oil if you change it often, along with the filter.
I would say the biggest advantage to synthetic is the extended change interval and reduced friction. Both are debatable.
Synthetic responds to high and low temps better.
There is nothing wrong with good quality dino oil if you change it often, along with the filter.
I would say the biggest advantage to synthetic is the extended change interval and reduced friction. Both are debatable.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: Tracy, CA
Honestly unless you wheel extremly hard or tow regularly no there isnt a huge bennifit (as long as you change oil and filter religously). If you do wheel hard and tow they synthetic is much better at protecting under extreme loads and will not break down or loose detergents as fast.
JK Junkie
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,565
Likes: 0
From: HAWAII
Yeah, it costs a little more.
Synthetic responds to high and low temps better.
There is nothing wrong with good quality dino oil if you change it often, along with the filter.
I would say the biggest advantage to synthetic is the extended change interval and reduced friction. Both are debatable.
Synthetic responds to high and low temps better.
There is nothing wrong with good quality dino oil if you change it often, along with the filter.
I would say the biggest advantage to synthetic is the extended change interval and reduced friction. Both are debatable.
The recommended oil change interval is at 6k miles per the owner's manual...IMO I would use synthetic & have it changed every 6k miles, if I was using dino/conventional oil, then I would change it every 3k-3.5k miles...I am currently running Synthetic just as a "piece of mind" assurance 
JK Junkie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,191
Likes: 6
From: Boston, MA
5w-20 mineral (dinosaur) oil is 5 weight oil with additives to make it lube like a 20 weight oil at operating temps. A synthetic 5w-20 is a 20 weight oil treated to run like a 5 weight oil when cold.
In the US, manufacturers are allowed to start with a group 3 base oil and refine it enough to call it synthetic. elsewhere, you can't call it synthetic unless it is made from group 4 or 5 base.
as mentioned by the others above, change it 'enough' and it won't matter. Changing at 3k for dino or 6k for synth... costs about the same, no?
time, really cold temps, and severe driving conditions (including lots of real short trips where operating temps aren't maintained for long, if at all) are the enemies of motor oil.
In the US, manufacturers are allowed to start with a group 3 base oil and refine it enough to call it synthetic. elsewhere, you can't call it synthetic unless it is made from group 4 or 5 base.
as mentioned by the others above, change it 'enough' and it won't matter. Changing at 3k for dino or 6k for synth... costs about the same, no?
time, really cold temps, and severe driving conditions (including lots of real short trips where operating temps aren't maintained for long, if at all) are the enemies of motor oil.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
From: downingtown, PA
I havent seen this problem on many german or japanese cars, maybe they use better silicone