switch from full-synthetic to semi-synthetic oil?

[jestercinti]

So that's the answer...the deusenheiser valve...but not to be confused with the manifold ka-bumper-flap-thinga-ma-rod.

Clear as an azure sky in deepest summer.

[mister]

Azure. Soon to be the name of some Hollywierd celebrity's kid no doubt.

Megan Fox saying Cam Shafts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq5apnzDhwA

[ojstinson]

10w-40 Castrol GTX (last stuff I bought that was on sale)
Flash point Closed cup: >200°C (>392°F) [Pensky-Martens.]

Castrol has always had a reputation for being stable at higher temperatures. If I remember correctly VW use to recommended Castrol in their owners manuals as the oil to use in the Beetle because it held up well when hot. It's good stuff anyway you look at it 

EDIT: A good Pour Point is clearly a good attribute for a motor oil to have, the Flash Point (The flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which it can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air) Probably tells you nothing about an oils stability while hot? I was hoping that looking at the numbers might be another way of looking at an oils quality's that wasn't driven by peoples opinion's. 

You're right, in 1968 I purchased a brand new Volks Beetle for $1,400.oo and the mechanic told me the warranty would be void if I used anything but Castrol straight 30 weight oil, multi viscosity oils were a no no and would seize the engine in summer heat. I really didn't believe that but I used the recommended oil just in case.

[Suzuki Stevo]

The worst thing you can do to a VW is lug it around at low Rpm's, combined that with the wrong oil and a dead bug is the outcome. I had a '62 with a pumped up 40Hp, I would wind it up until the Rpm's damn near plateaued, then I would shift....spinning the cooling fan at a high Rpm was the key to a cooler happy bug!   

SUNDAY MORNING EDIT: I just thought I would share an oil experience I had when I first started driving. I will keep this as short as I can...the edit is to keep from bouncing this thread back to the top

(1) My dad used Pennzoil, so when I started driving I used Pennzoil, obviously because it was what my dad used.
(2) My vehicle of the time, a '65 Rambler Classic V-8 would always use at least 1/3 a quart of oil between oil changes (give or take).
(3) I found out that Pennzoil is a paraffin base, so I thought that maybe, just maybe the paraffin (wax) was getting past the engine rings?
(4) So I tried another oil..Quaker State, and for whatever reason my oil consumption stopped completely.
(5) It was at this point in my life that I gave up the mindset that "oil is oil, use whatever, it's all wet"

Monkey fruitcake tampon string! 

[xunedeinx]

I run crisco in all my vehicles. It has superior viscosity, works well under stress, and gives off a pleasant odor under load.

If it can fry bacon and keep my insides lubricated, it can do the same for my vehicles!

When I cant source crisco, I make do with olive oil.

[burning1]

-is it ok to switch full to semi?
-as for my oil filter, i only put about 500km this season due to buying that mike late in the season, so should i be switching it as well?
-how often should the oil filter be switched?

To answer your questions... It's safe to switch oil type. I've heard rumors that it may cause leakage past seals, but I haven't seen any issues in practice.

Mixing oil is also okay, so long as you maintain the normal change interval, and honor the lowest common denominator oil in the crank. E.g. Some synthetics can go double the usual oil change interval. If you mix in conventional oil, treat the bike as if the entire thing was full of conventional oil.

To answer your second question: I wouldn't bother changing the filter, but I might be inclined to crack the compartment open. It holds about .25 liters of oil.

To answer your third question: I usually change the filter with the oil, but it should be fine to do it once every other oil change, if you are cost sensitive.

One other thing to consider: Different oils have different burn rates. Group IV sunthetics tend to have the slowest consumption rates, which is one reason to consider running them in the GS. When you change oil, you need to keep a close eye on oil level for a while.

[iclrag]

Over kill is under rated.

anyways, i like the peace of mind knowing that i put the best of the best in my bike, i'll gladly fork out the extra $5 for a better oil, but then again i have a thing for castrol synthetic oil (the old school race mix) which isnt too expensive. but i guess the question here is why do you want to change to semi-synthetics? if you can make a valid argument for your position, then go for it, if not then perhaps you should think about why you can't.

so theres my opinion, i don't but the most expensive and i dont buy the cheapest, i buy what i prefer to use (though i may try switching to royal purple).

now to the next part, yes it's perfectly safe to swap oils so long as you don't go directly from full synthetic to straight oil (many people do but i've always been against it). and as a rule of thumb its always best to swap the oil filter every time you do an oil change, not a fan of changing the oil filter? look up the K&N filter, i believe it doesn't need to be swapped every time, but i could be wrong.


as for the seal leaks (see previous post) thats switching from non synthetic to synthetic, regular oil creates a carbon build-up which creates a good seal in in the engine, however, synthetics are designed to break it up which causes a leak because the carbon seal is no-longer present, at this point the gaskets would need to be replaced with newer gaskets capable of handling synthetic oils. Nowadays all gaskets are designed to handle synthetics.

[mister]

HEY, stop answering the oil question already. We are beyond that now. We are now in the realm of mockery and silliness. Nothing serious from now on.

Everyone knows you can extract oil from discarded guitar strings and That is the best. But you must add the fishing line and sinkers to your pegs to help prevent jibble.

[slipperymongoose]

OMG I have a guitar in my room with old strings on it I'm going to do this now, purple alien hat

[Funderb]

purple alien hat

now you're just being dirty. this is a family friendly forum slip. cut it out.

[xunedeinx]

I find if I take stray dogs, and put them through an old fashioned cloths wringer, it squeezes the oil right out of them, and it works great and bearing grease!

[RossLH]

To answer your questions... It's safe to switch oil type. I've heard rumors that it may cause leakage past seals, but I haven't seen any issues in practice.

This is a problem that stopped existing shortly after cork gaskets stopped being the industry standard. Seals, gaskets, hoses, and oils have come a long way since then. Going from a full synthetic to dino oil will not cause leaks unless your vehicle was built in the early 60's and none of those aforementioned components have been updated. It's a myth that really shouldn't continue to be spread.

[Janx101]

To answer your questions... It's safe to switch oil type. I've heard rumors that it may cause leakage past seals, but I haven't seen any issues in practice.

This is a problem that stopped existing shortly after cork gaskets stopped being the industry standard. Seals, gaskets, hoses, and oils have come a long way since then. Going from a full synthetic to dino oil will not cause leaks unless your vehicle was built in the early 60's and none of those aforementioned components have been updated. It's a myth that really shouldn't continue to be spread.

wish we had a 'like' button..... consider it liked anyway! 

[mister]

To answer your questions... It's safe to switch oil type. I've heard rumors that it may cause leakage past seals, but I haven't seen any issues in practice.

This is a problem that stopped existing shortly after cork gaskets stopped being the industry standard. Seals, gaskets, hoses, and oils have come a long way since then. Going from a full synthetic to dino oil will not cause leaks unless your vehicle was built in the early 60's and none of those aforementioned components have been updated. It's a myth that really shouldn't continue to be spread.

Well I find, I don't need to worry about expensive cork clutches any more. I recycle the corks from empty wine bottles. I don't drink so I need to roll old winos in the street to get them. Keeps me entertained for hours.

Another good place for oil is from cars in parking lots. I always find heaps. A small oil tray, slide under the car, crack the sump plug and BINGO, free oil. I do leave little thank you notes, you know, to show my appreciation.

Michael

[Janx101]

waaaaay to much effort there mister!! .... sure slide a tray under a car..... but pick an old leaky car!! ... that way the oil drips out on its own.... saves the chrome wear on the crescent wrench!! 

[mister]

Hey, Good idea. Too time consuming though. Time is money. Plus, I don't trust passers by who might thing I was doing the wrong thing

[Janx101]

Wear a recycle symbol shirt and look hippy-ish .. 'Save the planet man!'

[mister]

Or better yet, a Mobile Lube shirt. Lube While You Shop. Noone would be any the wiser. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[Janx101]

ahhhhhh !... clever!