Why Synthetic?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
You have the Chemist's point of view, now for the uneducated Hillbilly. Synthetic oil does everything that conventional oil does, only better. That is not to say that conventional oil isn't “adequate”. Engines were running for over a hundred years before the introduction of synthetics. It’s nothing for a newer Twin Cam to run hotter than 250F, the unofficial threshold of conventional oil, so an easy solution is to just run an oil that can handle the heat. Synthetic's tolerance to higher heat than conventional makes it well suited to the extra hot Twin Cam. Use an oil cooler, tuning, or some other method to get your max oil temp down to 250F or below, and you can run conventional oil without any serious concerns. Personally I don’t care to cook my b@lls, so I chose to lower my oil temp instead and that allows me to run conventional oil. For the record, I am not an anti-sythetite, I simply choose a conventional lifestyle.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 86
From: Centeral Coast, California
And I'm appreciative. Although I tried to be prefectly clear about the intent, I should have known that only a REAL chemist would understand the inquisitive nature behind the question! The question could have been asked elsewhere, but the beating was worth the couple of really good answers so far! Check is in the mail...
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 8
From: Atlanta, GA
And I'm appreciative. Although I tried to be prefectly clear about the intent, I should have known that only a REAL chemist would understand the inquisitive nature behind the question! The question could have been asked elsewhere, but the beating was worth the couple of really good answers so far! Check is in the mail...
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 752
Likes: 23
From: Acton, CA
I love these chemistry questions! Synthetic oil is like "cloning" the best long-chain hydrocarbon molecules of oil without the contaminants like wax and sulfur found in regular oil. They have higher boiling points and lower freezing points - they pour and lube when others are frozen or boiled off! These consistently-shaped chains lubricate better, and just as importantly, exchange heat better to keep your expensive engine running cool and with less wear - worth the extra cost in this chemist's humble opinion. To save some cash, I simply run generic Brand X synthetics in my cars and Mobil 1 15:50 in my Hog.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 461
From: Illinois
I shouldn't even answer because I am not a propeller head....... but I guess I can't resist.
Any jr. high science fair will show you the difference between syn and dino oil from kids who aspire to be a propeller head someday.
Dennis
Any jr. high science fair will show you the difference between syn and dino oil from kids who aspire to be a propeller head someday.
Dennis
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 86
From: Centeral Coast, California
It's ALL good stuff.....some of these lashings were pretty damn funny. Thanks, to many of you!
