Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: duggs on 24 June 2009, 13:59:35

Title: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: duggs on 24 June 2009, 13:59:35
Well ! I'm here at the office, shortly to embark on a trip round to Halfraulds or perhaps even VX.

On a 98 2.5, I assume I should go for 10/40 oil BUT what type should I go for and what are the advantages/disadvantages...Semi or Fully Synthetic ?

Any quick replies would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: tunnie on 24 June 2009, 14:03:07
if you have access to a trade club card, GM 10/40 semi synth is excellent value for money, get 4 x 5L for price of 3.

I also buy oil filters buy the box load from Vx, means an oil change on the 2.2's costs less than a tenner!
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: Vmax on 24 June 2009, 14:04:02
Yeah go to Vaux, much better value and recommended oil. :y
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: duggs on 24 June 2009, 14:10:16
BUT semi or fully synthetic ?
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 24 June 2009, 14:13:27
Quote
BUT semi or fully synthetic ?


Agree with the comments above on Vx oil, and it should be semi! :y :y
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: Vmax on 24 June 2009, 14:16:52
Yup Vaux recommended the semi  to me :y
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: duggs on 24 June 2009, 14:50:08
Thank you. Just puzzles me why so many people on the Net rave about Fully Sythetic.  Can't see the why/what fors though.
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: tunnie on 24 June 2009, 14:57:59
Quote
Thank you. Just puzzles me why so many people on the Net rave about Fully Sythetic.  Can't see the why/what fors though.

Semi is fine for Vx engines.
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: tigers_gonads on 24 June 2009, 16:54:43
i may get corrected on this but i always thought that full synthetic has more detergent in it.

if your engine has done alot of miles / lot of town work and the car has'nt had regular oil changes then your lible to have quite a bit of crap / sludge in there.

fully synthetic tends to loosen this and you may end up with blocked up oil ways / breathers  :'(

if you know its pretty clean in there and know the history of the car then fully synthetic would be great  :y

if not then stick to semi and just change the oil and filter every 4-5000 miles ish  :y
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: TheBoy on 24 June 2009, 19:52:40
The supposed advantage of fully synth is longer life.  Personally, I wouldn't want any oil in my engine for that length of time, so always use semi, and change slightly more regularly than I would fully synth.  The more regular oil changes do the engine far more good than using a better oil for longer - as anyone who drives my 155000 mile MV6 will testify ;)
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: AndyVXR300 on 24 June 2009, 19:59:39
Personally i use 10/40 semi synthetic in mine and currently change this every 2500 miles mainly due to the car being used for short trips.

Andy :y

Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: TheBoy on 24 June 2009, 20:02:17
Quote
Personally i use 10/40 semi synthetic in mine and currently change this every 2500 miles mainly due to the car being used for short trips.

Andy :y

Rather than note how long its in there, I now change the oil when it starts to go from clear to light brown.  For the past 70k, its always been every 3-3.5k, but started to notice it was still perfectly clear :y
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: i260 on 24 June 2009, 22:16:51
Mine has had Mobil1 (0W40)in it from about 15k and at 67k the engine is a gem, father has used this in all the last 3 or 4 cars both 4pot and V6's and the difference IS noticable in improved MPG and response and starting turnover. Not cheap but when you work it out as pence per mile it is neither here nor there.

Fully synth is more stable under heat (it is the only thing that would last out 6000 miles on my 9000 Aero).

Personally wouldnt use anything else.
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 25 June 2009, 10:24:37
Quote
Quote
Personally i use 10/40 semi synthetic in mine and currently change this every 2500 miles mainly due to the car being used for short trips.

Andy :y

Rather than note how long its in there, I now change the oil when it starts to go from clear to light brown.  For the past 70k, its always been every 3-3.5k, but started to notice it was still perfectly clear :y

I used to leave oil changes TB to the usual service intervals, but since gaining advise on this forum I am now on 3-4,000 mile intervals.  In fact I did a full oil and filter change last week on 3,650 miles, and already I am noticing a difference with the engine being quieter, with the old oil coming out no way near as black as it did before. 8-) 8-) 8-) ;)
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: duggs on 25 June 2009, 10:33:13
I'll second that Lizzie.

Its a wonderfull site to see oil run around for 4000 miles, only to see it pour out as clear as it went in.

On that basis, I'm questioning whether I should let it run on for at least 6000 miles.  Don't see the point in changing it if it still looks as fresh as a daisy. Spoke to my mechanic and he can't see why good oil should be changed so early either.
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 25 June 2009, 10:55:14
Quote
I'll second that Lizzie.

Its a wonderfull site to see oil run around for 4000 miles, only to see it pour out as clear as it went in.

On that basis, I'm questioning whether I should let it run on for at least 6000 miles.  Don't see the point in changing it if it still looks as fresh as a daisy. Spoke to my mechanic and he can't see why good oil should be changed so early either.

It is still early days for me Duggs, but I think maybe you are right when eventually the engine is fully 'cleaned out' by the short oil change policy 8-) 8-) ;)
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: duggs on 25 June 2009, 11:50:02
After I got her, in a space of about a year, she had at least 3 quick oil changes over a space of about 12,000 miles. Now on the 4th lot of oil and 3500 the oil is STILL as clear as it went in.

Like you, its amazed me how several quick oil changes can clean out the V6 engine so well.

In 4 weeks time she'll be flying down the Autobahns of Europe so I'm REALLY not sure whether to change the oil before I go, when the current oil is looking so good.
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 June 2009, 12:00:10
I recently drained some VX Semi Synth from the Westfield. Can't remember exactly how many miles it had been in there. Certainly not more than 4k or so.

Now, the car does get a bit of a spanking at times, but also had done probably 2k of motorway cruising on that oil, and it has a generous oil-to-water heat exchanger so the oil temperature doesn't exceed 100 degrees unless it's being given real abuse.

What struck me was how thin it was (in fact, what prompted me to change it was a drop in oil pressure).

I compared the flow rate through a funnel with the oil that was about to go in (a 5w30, so less viscous all round in theory) and the Semi Synth was a good bit thinner. :o

In other words, clarity of the oil isn't the only factor. If the oil is staying clean and you're tempted to leave it for longer intervals, I would use a better oil than the VX 10w40, personally. Which will cost more, of course, so perhaps it's better just to change regularly.

Kevin
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 25 June 2009, 12:00:12
Quote
After I got her, in a space of about a year, she had at least 3 quick oil changes over a space of about 12,000 miles. Now on the 4th lot of oil and 3500 the oil is STILL as clear as it went in.

Like you, its amazed me how several quick oil changes can clean out the V6 engine so well.

In 4 weeks time she'll be flying down the Autobahns of Europe so I'm REALLY not sure whether to change the oil before I go, when the current oil is looking so good.

Why change a proven system, and especially before 'testing' the miggy on an autobahn!  You need optimum performance from your oil, so personnally I would still change it Duggs :y :y :y :y
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: duggs on 25 June 2009, 12:28:21
Then change it I surely will...thank you.
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: Pitchfork on 25 June 2009, 13:04:00
Quote
I'll second that Lizzie.

Its a wonderfull site to see oil run around for 4000 miles, only to see it pour out as clear as it went in.

On that basis, I'm questioning whether I should let it run on for at least 6000 miles.  Don't see the point in changing it if it still looks as fresh as a daisy. Spoke to my mechanic and he can't see why good oil should be changed so early either.
We Traktor owners can only dream of oil remaining clean :( :(
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 25 June 2009, 13:51:14
Quote
Quote
I'll second that Lizzie.

Its a wonderfull site to see oil run around for 4000 miles, only to see it pour out as clear as it went in.

On that basis, I'm questioning whether I should let it run on for at least 6000 miles.  Don't see the point in changing it if it still looks as fresh as a daisy. Spoke to my mechanic and he can't see why good oil should be changed so early either.
We Traktor owners can only dream of oil remaining clean :( :(

Serves you right having a traktor!! ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: TheBoy on 25 June 2009, 21:30:34
Quote
Quote
I'll second that Lizzie.

Its a wonderfull site to see oil run around for 4000 miles, only to see it pour out as clear as it went in.

On that basis, I'm questioning whether I should let it run on for at least 6000 miles.  Don't see the point in changing it if it still looks as fresh as a daisy. Spoke to my mechanic and he can't see why good oil should be changed so early either.

It is still early days for me Duggs, but I think maybe you are right when eventually the engine is fully 'cleaned out' by the short oil change policy 8-) 8-) ;)
I think once it starts to turn, its either god contaminants, or has started to break down.  On that basis, thats when I change it.

Kevin Wood is right, clarity is not the only factor.
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: Entwood on 25 June 2009, 21:45:29
Quote
After I got her, in a space of about a year, she had at least 3 quick oil changes over a space of about 12,000 miles. Now on the 4th lot of oil and 3500 the oil is STILL as clear as it went in.

Like you, its amazed me how several quick oil changes can clean out the V6 engine so well.

In 4 weeks time she'll be flying down the Autobahns of Europe so I'm REALLY not sure whether to change the oil before I go, when the current oil is looking so good.

I always change the oil 2 weeks before my continental holiday. Simply because its going to work hard towing the van for longer distances, we tend to travel around sightseeing more, the temperature is, hopefully, higher than here and lastly .. its one thing less to worry about .. new oil. new filter, + two weeks runing about that checks for leaks ...

It's my holiday . so the Miggy gets a treat as well . :)
Title: Re: Semi or Full Synthetic.
Post by: duggs on 25 June 2009, 23:07:51
Well its all done..took the usual hour by the time i cleaned the oil from the drive way..AGAIN.

Because of the Autobahn trials she's gonna be having I went for Mobil Super S in the end...Sincerely hope the "S" ain't short for sh1t. ????   Semi.

That said, THIS weekend she's going for a trip to Sussex, in two weekends time we're off to see a donkey singing at the O2....Eeyore...You know, Winnie the pooh's mate..

Must stop saying we're off to see a Donkey...my daughter gets most upset...Its some geyser called "Ne Yo"....honestly thought he was Winnie's pal...but hey, what does this 46 year old know ??

Then 25th July its off to Dover for Miggys proper day out...Yippee.  Least we're gonna be in the right country if the engine blows up. ?