Change to full synthetic oil
Change to full synthetic oil
Is there any concerns about switching to full synthetic oil .
One of things I have heard oil and synthetic oil should not be mixed .
If this is true how do I get the oil residue out from previous oil?
One of things I have heard oil and synthetic oil should not be mixed .
If this is true how do I get the oil residue out from previous oil?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
Anyhow, switching to synthetics, and back again is no biggie generally speaking, but there can be some cautions if you are running an older bike that has been on regular oil for a long time. A few points:
1. Some synthetics are really just super refined conventional oils and not true synthetics.
2. Many synthetics are already a mixture of synthetic and conventional oils.
3 Most synthetics are a mixture of 2 different types of synthetic (PAO & Ester) base stocks.
Really, the only downside, other than price, of switching to a synthetic is if your motor is older and been running on a conventional oil for many years, switching to a synthetic may (or may not) affect seals and may, because of their natural detergent properties, dissolve so much built up internal sludge and varnish all at once that this becomes a problem. If your machine is only a few years old I don't think you have anything to worry about.
I'm not convinced the uber long drain intervals promoted by some synthetics marketers is all that great an idea. There is stuff in an oil's additives package that can be depleted regardless of what base stock it is dumped into and motorcycle engines have a certain reputation for torturing oil more than passenger cars do. Synthetics are slicker, run cooler and are more durable than petroleum oils and if those are the benefits you're after then go for it. IMHO change intervals shouldn't be stretched out in an effort to recoup the higher costs. I think the cost is warranted by the properties synthetics bring to your engine.
Last edited by HKMark23; Jul 30, 2014 at 05:19 AM.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,070
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From: Auburn Ohio
Be careful, if they mix it will set off a chain reaction and blow the heads right off your bike.
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Cruiser
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From: St Johns
I'm not convinced the uber long drain intervals promoted by some synthetics marketers is all that great an idea. There is stuff in an oil's additives package that can be depleted regardless of what base stock it is dumped into and motorcycle engines have a certain reputation for torturing oil more than passenger cars do. Synthetics are slicker, run cooler and are more durable than petroleum oils and if those are the benefits you're after then go for it. IMHO change intervals shouldn't be stretched out in an effort to recoup the higher costs. I think the cost is warranted by the properties synthetics bring to your engine.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
Originally Posted by HKMark23 
I'm not convinced the uber long drain intervals promoted by some synthetics marketers is all that great an idea. There is stuff in an oil's additives package that can be depleted regardless of what base stock it is dumped into and motorcycle engines have a certain reputation for torturing oil more than passenger cars do. Synthetics are slicker, run cooler and are more durable than petroleum oils and if those are the benefits you're after then go for it. IMHO change intervals shouldn't be stretched out in an effort to recoup the higher costs. I think the cost is warranted by the properties synthetics bring to your engine.
I'm not convinced the uber long drain intervals promoted by some synthetics marketers is all that great an idea. There is stuff in an oil's additives package that can be depleted regardless of what base stock it is dumped into and motorcycle engines have a certain reputation for torturing oil more than passenger cars do. Synthetics are slicker, run cooler and are more durable than petroleum oils and if those are the benefits you're after then go for it. IMHO change intervals shouldn't be stretched out in an effort to recoup the higher costs. I think the cost is warranted by the properties synthetics bring to your engine.
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