Engine Oil Change

[TheCount]

Has anybody got an opinion on the use of top grade full synthetic oil in a Ford 4.5litre diesel instead of ordinary 20/50. I seem to recall Pat Manley saying something about marine diesels rotting from the inside out if you used it. I presume that as mine cruises at 1500rpm it is not getting as much of a pasting as a car would, although it is running for considerably longer.
Any comment from the Lube experts out there? I change my oil twice a season without fail.

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[pvb]

Unnecessary expense...

You don't need the protection of a fully synthetic oil - or the price tag which goes with it! Any good quality diesel oil should do, especially if you change it frequently. I've been using Halfords Part-Synthetic Diesel Oil in my Volvo 2003T for years, but that's mainly to protect the turbo bearings.

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[sailorman]

Re: Unnecessary expense...

try your local motor factor it will be much cheaper

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[TheCount]

Re: Unnecessary expense...

We are in the Motor Trade for our sins so cost is not a factor. It is more of a concern for the suitability of the oil, as I would imagine that full synthetic would be the best you could get, but then again what do I know?
(After all only the best is good enough for MY baby!!)

regards Andy

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[pvb]

Ah...that changes things...

If you can get the stuff for next to nothing, you should certainly use full synthetic oil. But don't try to use it for extending the oil-change interval.

To really protect your baby, by far the best device to add would be a by-pass oil filter - you might well be able to source one in the trade at a reasonable price.

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[TheCount]

Re: Ah...that changes things...

Thanks for putting my mind at rest about suitability. It certainly keeps the internals nice and clean with no residue or sludging. I have a manual pump which empties the sump for oil changing so it isn't a major chore and as such is regularly done.I'm not sure I understand the by-pass filter bit. Where would you fit one?

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[seaesta2]

Re: Unnecessary expense...

I can only speak from experience (and an out-of-date 20 year long professional interest in diesel engine lubrication). IMHO your baby would be more protected with the fully sythetic oil - especially in the event of a loss of cooling ; it would also have less wear during the critical warm-up period and will be easier to start due to the lower cold temperature viscosity. There have been many threads on all this with a concensus that it may not be smart to run the engine in with fully syntetic due to bore glazing. My baby has been thumping away since 1966 and I will only ever give her fully synthetic oil.
Unless you have a disaster then the frequency at which you change oil is as important as exceeding the manufacturers recommended oil spec.
One caveat - do exactly what the manufacturer says in the warrenty period and dont give em an excuse to wriggle out!

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[TheCount]

Re: Unnecessary expense...

Thanks for that- it just keeps on getting betterer and betterer!!
My baby might just be out of warranty, though, as she is 23 years old!! Although has only logged about 450 hrs.She runs like the proverbial swiss watch (car trade terminology) and I was a bit concerned that I might have b*****ed it up by trying to be too clever.So thanks for the reassurance.


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[TheCount]

Re: Unnecessary expense...

By the way, what does IMHO stand for?

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[AuntyRinum]

Re: Unnecessary expense...

By the way, what does IMHO stand for?

"In My Humble Opinion"

It's a chat room abbreviation.

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[pvb]

By-pass oil filters....

By-pass oil filters are becoming quite well-accepted in the USA, especially with very high-mileage truckers. The original engine oil filter only removes particles bigger than about 30 microns, but it's reckoned by some that 60% of engine wear is caused by much smaller particles (say 5-20 microns). A by-pass oil filters is fitted in addition to the normal oil filter, and it takes a small percentage of the oil flow (around 10%) and filters it through a very fine filter - removing particles as small as 1 or 2 microns. Over an hour or so of running, all the oil is effectively filtered to a very high degree. As a result, engine wear is significantly reduced. Cummins did some tests in the late 80s which showed wear reductions close to 90%. Might not be financially viable on a boat engine (even if it is your baby!), but then again it might not cost you real money.

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[seaesta2]

Re: By-pass oil filters....

Hydraulics certainly benefit from very fine flitration on a by-pass system. Watch out with engines - I was told of a case where extreme fine filtration had filtered out the polymer molecules that give the multi-grade performance - cuasing real grief.

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[pvb]

Urban myth alert!!!! (nm)

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[Keith]

Re: Unnecessary expense...

YOU may want to talk to caterpillar and cummins, in the US using synthetic does not affect the warranty,in fact they are all for it and in there opinion you can extend oil change times, a lot of the long distance truck drivers use it, and they swear by it,just don't try and run your engine in on it, the rings and bearings don't bed properly, a freind of mine has a ford truck, and all he does is change the oil filter and re-establish the oil level with full synthetic,150,000 miles no appreciable wear according to the local ford garage........for what its worth i run it in my landrover, engine, gearboxes, diffs..........i love the stuff....keith

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[ex-Gladys]

Re: Unnecessary expense...

I know we're talking low perf diesel rather than high perf petrol here, but Triumph motorcycles in the UK recommend either 3000 mile service intervals on semi synth oil or 6000 on Mobil 1 fully synth... The extra cost of the oil is more than made up for by the reductions in trips to the dealer.

Also VAG based diesels now have a 10000 mile service interval... because they use synth oil...

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[TheCount]

Re: Unnecessary expense...

Many thanks to all the postings. Now I can even use the stuff in the gearbox I shall be taking a can to bed with me tonight!! Brilliant. Thanks again for all the very expert info.

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