Wooops - think I got that confused with the lifter issue, which was separate. (Sorry!) On second thought, I believe the lifter noise was with the 0W-40 variety of M-1, and the noise would go away when switching back to 15W-50 or 0W-40. Brian T wasn't impressed with the 0W-40 and someone else had less than stellar results too. I thought Marshall had that with SynTec as well, but apparently my memory was on the fritz and it was just a consumption problem (which IMO, is more serious!) I think the 0W-40 is used as factory fill for fuel economy, not for protetction... I wouldn't put it in my cars. YMMV, etc.
=) -dm > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 02:09:35 -0400 > From: Marshall Booth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [MBZ] proper and best fluids > > Dave M. wrote: > > In addtion to what Jeff said... > > > > 1) Marshall noticed that his OM60x engines would develop lifter noise > > before a 5kmi change interval rolled around, which would go away when > > the SynTec was changed. Reverting back to Mobil-1 kept them quiet past > > 5kmi. This was, I believe, with the original 5W-50 variety. Marshall > > can correct or elaborate on this I'm sure. > > Actually I noticed that SynTec consumption rate increased starting at > about 2500 miles. This is a CLASSIC sign of viscosity improver > (additive) breakdown (it happens with MANY conventional oils - > especially those that use ONLY group I base so must make extensive use > of viscosity improvers). At about the same time I was puzzling over the > increasing oil consumption rate, Red Line published a test in which an > unnamed 5W-50 oil (SynTec was the ONLY 5W-50 oil sold in the US then) > displayed marked reduction in lubricity that corresponded with the > increased consumption rate I was seeing. It was later confirmed that the > 5W-50 oil was SynTec. As long as SynTec is changed frequently, it's > pretty good oil - much better than most conventional oils - but it > needed to be changed MUCH more frequently than Mobil 1 - long before > soot or other combustion by-products made it unsuitable.
