Another oil versus Synthetic question
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
Beary speaks the truth regarding HIS bike. If he spoke the 'truth' for synthetic oils in general we would all experience the same weeping phenomena as his.
I too have had certain engines, both motorcycle and auto, that did as his bike is doing with syn oil....weeping at the gaskets. Changing to dino sometimes, but not always cured the problem.
So, making a statement that syn causes weeping is inaccurate at best.
And if you're simply going to reply at least provide a link for those of us that have open minds. Otherwise don't waste my time with your post, thank you. But maybe you did it jus2anoyme (and you did).
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 7
On a molecular level, synthetic molecules are all the same size. All very small, which backs up the claims that synthetic flows better and lubricates better due to its uniform small molecular structure.
Conventional oil, due to its 'non man made' composition, it is a crude by product that is refined to the point that it meets sae criteria and is still profitable for the oil company. It's molecular structure varies widely. Large molecules, small molecules and everything in between. 'No two the same' could apply here.
Syn oil is genetically designed to be a clean pure oil. It does not 'cook down' into another state. It's structurally the same from start to finish. It changes very little from the day it's poured in, to the day it's drained out. Only it's contaminants bear a factor in its change. the oil itself remains relatively unchanged.
Conventional oil is PROVEN to change composition during its life. It starts at a specific grade, thins out as its additive package is consumed, and then thickens back up as its service life is stretched beyond its intent. It also contains many components that the oil company cannot afford to remove. These components 'cook out' of the suspension over time thus leaving behind a 'coating' inside your engine. Mind you, this takes a lot of heat cycles and a lot of miles.
Syn has small molecules and no 'by products' to slow an oil leak or seep. Conventional have variable sized molecules and by products that get left behind that can collect at seams and joints to inhibit leaks and seeps.
Make sense?
And no, I'm not here to 'anoyu' but I am here 'jus2anoy some'
Conventional oil, due to its 'non man made' composition, it is a crude by product that is refined to the point that it meets sae criteria and is still profitable for the oil company. It's molecular structure varies widely. Large molecules, small molecules and everything in between. 'No two the same' could apply here.
Syn oil is genetically designed to be a clean pure oil. It does not 'cook down' into another state. It's structurally the same from start to finish. It changes very little from the day it's poured in, to the day it's drained out. Only it's contaminants bear a factor in its change. the oil itself remains relatively unchanged.
Conventional oil is PROVEN to change composition during its life. It starts at a specific grade, thins out as its additive package is consumed, and then thickens back up as its service life is stretched beyond its intent. It also contains many components that the oil company cannot afford to remove. These components 'cook out' of the suspension over time thus leaving behind a 'coating' inside your engine. Mind you, this takes a lot of heat cycles and a lot of miles.
Syn has small molecules and no 'by products' to slow an oil leak or seep. Conventional have variable sized molecules and by products that get left behind that can collect at seams and joints to inhibit leaks and seeps.
Make sense?
And no, I'm not here to 'anoyu' but I am here 'jus2anoy some'
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,623
Likes: 6,442
From: Honah Lee
LOL you can't change facts. I sit and wonder why folks can't accept reality, is it personal?
My engine case DID NOT weep with dino oil. My case DID weep when I switched Syn oil. My case QUIT weeping when I switched back to dino. It STARTED weeping again when I went back to Syn oil.
Folks have no problem accepting that syn oil runs cooler, but won't acknowlege the make up of syn oil might also be the cause of weeping. Does that make sense?
The facts are the facts. So it's not a matter of if, but why. My guess is the molecular structure of syn oil is smaller. And maybe the gaskets become brittle in the Oklahoma heat, I don't know. The bike was four years old with around 15000 miles when I switched. Is age a factor, four years old isn't very old. Is 15000 miles a factor? Maybe, but a lot of folks who switched with around that many miles don't have weeping. So maybe not. It is something though because the engine only weeps with synthetic.
Beary
Beary
My engine case DID NOT weep with dino oil. My case DID weep when I switched Syn oil. My case QUIT weeping when I switched back to dino. It STARTED weeping again when I went back to Syn oil.
Folks have no problem accepting that syn oil runs cooler, but won't acknowlege the make up of syn oil might also be the cause of weeping. Does that make sense?
The facts are the facts. So it's not a matter of if, but why. My guess is the molecular structure of syn oil is smaller. And maybe the gaskets become brittle in the Oklahoma heat, I don't know. The bike was four years old with around 15000 miles when I switched. Is age a factor, four years old isn't very old. Is 15000 miles a factor? Maybe, but a lot of folks who switched with around that many miles don't have weeping. So maybe not. It is something though because the engine only weeps with synthetic.
Beary
Beary
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jul 1, 2013 at 02:50 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 9
From: Greensboro, NC
The only way to know what any oil is doing in your bike is to have it sent to a lab to be tested. Check out http://www.blackstone-labs.com. I've used mobile 1 in a lot of bikes and can go more than 10K miles. I change my oil at 10K for piece of mind.
If you really have questins about motor oil check out, http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/
If you really have questins about motor oil check out, http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
PersonalJust were was your motor leaking with SYN? Do you do your own service. Only reason I ask is you say the case, and unless you do you own service and know, it's real easy to get oil trapped in odd places when you change the filter and they will look like they are leaking for a long while. Just saying. But I am sure you could very well be correct that SYN can leak out of smaller gaps, especially shaft seals. However, I do not consider slight weaping unless it drips from a shaft seal to be a leak.
I know that my bike is unusual, so I'm curious to the cause of the weeping. It's hard to have an open minded discussion on this forum.
Beary
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Grand HDF Member
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From: Edmond Oklahoma
Beary
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 7
Given the exact scenario that you pose, I would run the conventional oil and never give it another thought!