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Semi vs Fully Synthetic Oil

  • 02-11-2011 12:47am
    #1
    Cill Dara Abu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,851 ✭✭✭


    Whats the difference between the two? Is there an advantage to either one?

    Would it make much difference to a car if one was to put in fully synthetic oil instead of the recommended semi?


Comments

  • #2
    Chimaera
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,652 ✭✭✭Chimaera


    Full synthetic is better performing. Pretty much mandatory stuff for a turbocharged car these days.

    Older engines may do better on semi-synth oils as they tend to be heavier and work better with the worn tolerances on moving parts.

    This guy goes into it in a lot more detail: http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html


  • #3
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Chimaera wrote: »
    ....................

    This guy goes into it in a lot more detail: http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html

    Bordering on rubbish much of that is.


  • #4
    Chimaera
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,652 ✭✭✭Chimaera


    What's your basis for saying that?

    At worst, I'd say some of the info is a little dated and perhaps US centric, but fundamentally sound.


  • #5
    Tea drinker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,817 ✭✭✭Tea drinker


    Fully syn is probably a bit cleaner and more robust. Semi syn allegedly helps to keep older seals plumped up. As already said high performance engines need full syn, especially turbo as they literally cook the oil. There might be slight efficiency gains in using full syn, I'm sure I saw that on an adertisement somewhere ;-)


  • #6
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 23,339 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Chimaera wrote: »
    What's your basis for saying that? ...........

    The sludge stuff, change often enough and there won't be sludge, also having Castrol emblazoned on the page screams of bias.


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  • #7
    Skuxx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,379 ✭✭✭Skuxx


    Chimaera wrote: »
    Full synthetic is better performing. Pretty much mandatory stuff for a turbocharged car these days.

    Older engines may do better on semi-synth oils as they tend to be heavier and work better with the worn tolerances on moving parts.

    This guy goes into it in a lot more detail: http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html

    What would you recommend for an older turbo charged car, as in an '01 vw golf tdi, should it still be fully synth of should it be semi? Been using fully for the last few changes I've done and had no problems!


  • #8
    Tea drinker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,817 ✭✭✭Tea drinker


    RoverJames wrote: »
    The sludge stuff, change often enough and there won't be sludge, also having Castrol emblazoned on the page screams of bias.
    I dunno, on a turbo car I would be worried that semi would get more cooked than full syn. On the passats they reckoned it was turbo turds that blocked the pick up filter - very hard small pieces of gunk that buld up then break off from the turbo. It's not soft like sludge usually is. Potentially if the oil can't take the heat you could change it everyday and this could still happen, especially if you are unmerciful to the engine (no cool down before shutdown)

    @alan, keep doing what you are doing.


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