I did just order some Amsoil - sponsor of this site. It's pricey but if that good a few bucks don't matter. I currently use Mobil 1 and have have had decades of good luck with it. It costs bucks too. So do engines!!

Will post back with any observations good or bad, T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
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http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/

Hey Tom, Hope you find luck with it.... I ran mobil 1 for years as well... so i was really shocked at the improved gas mileage gains or 2-4 mpg on my car.

Also take note of the rpm's and idel speed before and after adding the oil.... if it pans out right you should see a drop which will show you your engine is working less to do the same job....

My take is I went from getting 250-285 mpgs to 315-375 (depending on highway/ vs city driving) and with gas prices rising faster then GW telling us lies, we are in for an expensive summer....

if you look at my high and low ends ... 285-315 = 30 mpg's more... and in my car gets about 22-25mpgs, thats $2.50-$3.00 dollars a week I'm saving.... which equals about $72 dollars every six months, which if you look at cost, pays for the oil anyway....

looking forward to hearing about your luck...

It's interesting but I've used Mobil 1 for decades and have a 12.5 HP commercial lawn mower and after the initial break in have used it in it since. It is a pull start engine and I notice right away less effort to start it.

I want to use the Amsoil first in my 97 Chev PU that I plow snow with and go to the local dump every couple weeks. Those are a real pest to service and I'd love to get a year out of an oil change. I use synthetic grease also and in decades have only replaced one worn out front end part on a customer's car that was crazy about taking care of it and I bought it from him! It has 208K and shows near no engine wear - 89 Town Car. I have two more as the body is going on that one now from rust.

The truck is the newest vehicle I own and has only 40K. It does have piston slap when cold for a minute?? which I understand is now common with that engine the Vortec 5.7. I know it'l be fine but if Amsoil makes a difference with that I'll jump for joy.

I only plow two driveways and a run to the dump is only 2 miles away. Price of gas for me is not real important as I don't drive that much. The utility bills at my home have doubled and that hurts!


T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
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http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/

Yeah Gas prices are on the rise yet again... I figured the gov stepped in to lower them for christmas or retail would have taken a hit, but now its a free for all...

I'm glad the car companies are starting to battle with the hybrids and other AFV's out there. We should have been off oil in 1906 when Henry Ford had the electric car, but oil is power intodays world thast why we have troubles with the middle east...

stop paying for oil, stop paying farmers not to grow crops, let them grow corn and lets make our oil fuel... 100% made in the usa...

for years people arrgued it cost to much.... well if $3 bucks a gallon isn't much, what about next year when its higher.... oil is in a bowl.... and its running out.. plain and simple.... as long as we have the sun, we can grow corn... and other sources, not to mention that the corn fuel actually helps plants take in that form of CO2...

sorry about the run off tom lol....

Amsoil should take care of the "piston slap when cold " since it changes only a tiny bit when cold.... its one of the perks of it... better cold starts....

TEST put a quart of the amsoil in the freezer.... and shake it next to a quart the is warm.... tiny difference if any, now that should help next winter...

That piston slap I'm told is because GM shortened the skirt/length of the pistons and doesn't harm anything but I don't like it! This truck is a cared for machine and all orig and looks like new! I did buy it used but know it's history. T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
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http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/

Hello Tom and Carjunky,

I have a quick question. I never gave this much thought but a friend started running synthetic oil in a car and in a motorcycle. Both vehicles developed oil leaks, Oil pan gasket on the car and engine case gasket on the motorcycle.

Have you guys heard the same type of thing form others that have switched to synthetic oil???

2 years ago I bought a 2000 Cadillac STS. It was a high mileage car but was in otherwise perfect condition. When I did my first oil change I just bought regular 10w30 motor oil (like I have for all my other vehicles in the past) Then, a few days later I started to think that maybe the car should have had synthetic. I still to this day am not sure what is the factory recommended oil for that car, (I always forget to check because I never think about it except when I’m actually changing the oil) I’m still using regular oil because I’m worried that if I switch to synthetic the car may develop an oil leak.

What’s your opinion guys??


Brian.
Kitty O'neil 412 mph in 3.22 sec. in 1977!!!

(This post was edited by Brian1 on Apr 15, 2006, 12:20 AM)

Brian and Carjunky,

I've dealt with synthetics since about 1978. It then was just Mobil 1 and came in a metal can and if I recall was only available as 5-20. I was working for a Mobil gas station and at first Mobil 1 claimed it would give you a year between oil changes and some unreal amount of miles. We had one customer with a Chevy something that ended up needing a camshaft and Mobil paid for it!! Keep in mind that back then new cars usually had 12/12 warranties not like the new stuff today. I think the car had the problem NOT the oil even then. Mobil got sued silently as under certain conditions there's no way a year is possible or good for a vehicle. They stopped advertising that you got better mileage (but I know you did) and went back to saying change oil as recommended. The other problem was that almost all cars had grease fittings and that still needed tending to.

Since then I have never seen a problem with synthetics even switching back and forth. I almost never use anything else over all that time and thousands of cars and they always behaved better in the long run.

As said - I'm going to put the Amsoil in my truck and see if I notice a difference. I drive like an old lady so my own cars near never have big problems.

I think a sludgy engine will seal some gasket leaks before it croaks. If it gets cleaned up with better care they (if bad) may show oil leaks but probably would have with any good oil and proper maintenance.

Just my experience with synthetics. T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
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http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/

Hey Brian and Tom,

I bought my current car with 120,000 miles today its just over 210,000... I've been using amsoil for about 2 years and before i used mobil 1 full syn... since 98 when i bought the car..

I 2003 when i changed I was shocked that My gas milage improved, in addition to my rpms' dropping.... as with leaking oil, I haven't had the problem.... one concern I have is that sometimes they suggest using motor flush to clean out the engine.....

THE BIG problem is that motor flush really works well and sometimes sludge that is keeping the engine tight, gets taken out from the motor flush and this is the cause of the leaks.... not syn...
so I suggest "YOU DON'T USE MOTOR FLUSH" on a high mileage older car, unless you want to repair most gaskets


Amsoil is expense but like tom said you do get what you pay for, and after this past quater for exxon its hard to think they are using the best stuff in there brands.... $9 billion profit....

as with amsoil and mobil 1... just from me switching I'm saving at least a gallon of gas if I drive hard, and 2-3 if I drive "normal"

so I figure just the switch is saving me $2.50 to $6 a week, drive about 325 miles per week.... as with tom will only drive about 300-1000 all year.... and thats if we get a bunch of snow lol... right tom...

Brian, you can really get some good information by calling Amsoil directly and ask for technical support (free) then tell them what you heard and ask them what they suggest for your car....1-800-956-5695 or try using the Online Application Guide and put in your year on the left side, then find your Cadillac select it and select the engine, then on the right frame it should tell you what airfilter, oil to use along with some other stuff...

but calling will get you to talk to the techs and I'm sure they have heard this before.... open mon-fri and you can then decide if you want to try a syn whether amsoil, mobil or another brand.


but if you decide to go amsoil mention "referral 1312987 " for us ;-)

Good luck, and Nice bike... now off to the NY Auto Show for some picture taking


(This post was edited by carjunky on Apr 16, 2006, 12:11 AM)

To readers of this thread: I wicked don't recommend a motor flush that has known sludge. Better to change oil way too often and let the oil filter pick it up. All approved motor oils will clean up an engine but slowly. If a chunk of sludge gets into some very small ports for oil that part is going to be junk in short order. If you are already taking care of you vehicle there's absolutely no need to try a motor flush - "oil that is" - "Jud Clampit" T
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest Boston - USA
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http://www.autoacsystems.com/tomgreenleaf/