Synthetic v's Semi-Synthethic

NONE !!!!!! The oil you're using is pretty good so a small step up to fully synthetic won't make any diff ( won't do any harm either )

Very little performance difference GAV.

Still I would only use synthetic's , particularly in gearboxes / diffs where its more noticeable in my GU patrol

Some synthetic's like shell Ultra are usually sub-$50 at Big-w etc so I don't find them to costly.

(Repco is expensive)

Robin Miller

Hi Gav,
I had a 97 Jack (3.2ltr) & ran Mobil-1 full synthetic from its first service when the vehicle had approx 90K on the clock I would start to get hydraulic lifter rattle on start up for approx 15sec but not every time, as you can imagine the dealers response, "new lifters" $$$'s, however I was advised by a local mechanic to drop down to a semi-synthetic ie: Mobil-S as the vehicle had done over 100K, & the change was instantanious & never had the issue again, sold the vehicle with 180K+ & it had never missed a beat. just my thoughts.

regards Simon.

I would use a good mineral oil instead of synthetic's.

You will never acheive the benifits of synthetic oil under average driving conditions, mineral oils have come along way in the last decade and there is not no benifits going to a synthetic oil.

If you have synthetic oil in your engine and you are running low you only can top it up with synthetic oil.....many be a problem if you are away.

Its a brillant marketing ploy isn't it!

A good quality mineral oil is as good as an expensive synthetic oil.

It all depends if you want to waste another $20 plus dollars on something you will not see a benifit from.

It happened in camper trailer suspension, one maker used indipendent suspension and marketed it as being fare better the leaf spring ....so every other manufacture had to do it to.......when the case was there is very little differance.

Next you will sy nitrogen is better in tyres then compressed air...LOL.

Regards Richard

Thanks very much for all of reply's everyone, looks like sticking with the HPR10 will be the way to go.

Gav

Its all to do with marketing.......unless its being used in extreme conditions.

Regards Richard

Gav99x,
Like most things, you get what you pay for, but in most cases (engines) a good mineral or semi synthetic is good enough. In the case of a more highly stressed engine, synthetic is good insurance, but the important thing is to stick with the right rating and grade. Some manufacturers suggest tripling oil change intervals with synthetic. With your engine this isn’t so important.

Gav,
I had sent an email to Penrite regarding going from HPR30 (mineral) to HPR15 (semi-synthetic) in my 80 series landcruiser.
Here is a copy of Penrites reply,

Rob

Thanks for the enquiry.

While there is no problem in going from HPR 15 to HPR 30, if the HPR 30 is working well for you, you may as well stay there.
Semi synthetics do not cause any problems if a mineral oil was used in the past. Differences in additive chemistry can make more of a difference (not the case here) but even that is limited to short term oil consumption which goes away after a subsequent change.

regards,

Tony Lawton
Technical Manager
Penrite Oil Company

Rob