Switching to synthetic ??

[Ron Meadows]

How many miles are you guys going before switching over to synthetic? I want to make sure everything is broken in well before I jump.

thanks,

Ron

[The Juice]

You can jump any time, we have had that debate before. Some people think it needs to be broke in and others dont. A lot of vehicles are coming from the factory with synthetics now so........

[ITSAHEMI]

RON,DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL 10000 MILES.I TALKED TO MY AMSOIL DEALER AND HE SAID YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT THAT LONG.I ORDERED A CASE OF 5W20 SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL AND I WILL BE USING IT ON MY DODGE RAM 15OO HEMI WHEN I REACH 5000 MILES.I WAS ALSO TOLD I COULD START RIGHT AWAY,BUT I WANT TO BREAK THE MOTOR IN RIGHT.I WILL ALSO BE ADDING A MAGNETIC OIL DRAIN PLUG. GOOD LUCK.

[snakeman]

I would wait at least 5,000 what amsoil recommends.

[cwo2lt]

Change it at the next scheduled interval.

[CrossEyed]

where can you buy the magnetic oil plugs?

[DodgeFreak]

Are you talking about the Fram plugs at Autozone?

[ITSAHEMI]

crosseyed,
check your pm.i sent the website name.

[snakeman]

UC1912... post the link here for everyone:whackit:

[994X4QC]

CrossEyed - Here is a link for magnetic drain plugs. I purchased one for my MP deep trans pan.

http://www.cgenterprises.com/drain_plugs.htm

[ITSAHEMI]

you guys can also try superplug.com.they have better plugs.ask for ziggy if you call.this is a company located in texas.i ordered one for my hemi.i am waiting to install at the first oil change.

[mopar fan]

UC1912; What is the part number, and what did it cost?

[ITSAHEMI]

MOPAR FAN,
THE PART# THEY SENT ME WAS SP-210 M14-1.50(THREAD SIZE).THE COST WITH SHIPPING WAS 30.00. I HAVE NOT PUT IT IN YET,BUT IT WILL HOLD A SET OF KEYS.IT HAS A STRONG MAGNET.

[snakeman]

thanks UC1912 :tup:

[ITSAHEMI]

VERY WELCOME SNAKEMAN, NICE LOOKING TRUCK
HOW DO YOU LIKE THOSE MOPAR STEEL ENTRY GUARDS?DO THEY STICK ON?I ALSO HOPE THEY DO PROTECT THE DOOR AREA.THIS MAY BE THE NEXT INVESTMENT.

[larrygraves]

For what it is worth, in ref to the magnetic drain plug i rcmd the magnetic belt sold by JC Whitney that goes around the oil filter (~$20). Since every drop of oil eventually goes thru the filter, it just makes more sense to me.

If you really want something cool, check out
http://www.fumotovalve.com
It is a very well built oil drain valve. I have had one for 3 yrs now and highly rcmd it for anyone who does their own oil change. This is actually my main reason i don't do the magnetic plug.

[yangiant51]

If your engine has over 100k on it , is it still wise to change to synthetic, or does the motor have too much wear?

[Jeff_Taylor]

I too have a Fumoto valve. I installed it at my first oil change. The drain plug on the 5.9 dumps out onto the skid plate. The first oil change I had to cobble up cardboard to keep from filling up the skid plate. I installed the Fumoto valve with the "nipple" on it. Now I just attach a piece of hose to the valve, position my drain pan under the filter, open the valve and let it drain. Then I can go ahead and remove the filter. It really saves time, and keeps the drips off the garage floor.

Just a quick question. If you are getting metal in your oil, won't the filter remove it? If you have that many small particles isn't your engine self-destructing? I have never seen the need for the magnetic plug.:dunno:

[ITSAHEMI]

JEFF,
THE PLUG SHOULD PICK UP THE SMALL METAL PARTICLES THAT ARE TO SMALL FOR THE FILTER TO HOLD.I HAD USED THEM ON SEVERAL CARS INCLUDING A HIGH PEFORMANCE RACE CAR AND WHEN I CHANGE THE OIL I CAN SEE A SLIGHT DUSTING THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE MAGNET.I FELL BETTER NOT HAVING THIS STUFF FLOAT AROUND MY PISTONS/WALLS OF MY MOTOR.I CALL IT CHEAP INSURANCE.

[Grant211]

Ron, It's funny that you ask that question. I worked at AutoZone for over 2 years and I would get that question about once a week. The people that would ask me were the ones that just bought their vehicle. I would tell them that there are differences in the oil and the best one that is out on the market that AutoZone sales is Mobil 1. In fact a lot of high performance cars are coming from the factory with Mobil 1. As far as when to put in the oil I would suggest go ahead and put in the synsthetic, but DON'T change the oil brand and from synthetic to non-sysnthetic.

[Jeff_Taylor]

UC,

I see your point about metalic particles. But, if they are so small as to pass through the oil filter, are they really going to harm anything? Bearing clearances and piston-wall clearances are measured in thousandths of an inch. Don't oil filters catch particles in the micron range? How small a particle can pass through an oil filter? What size particle makes it through the air filter?

You are right about this being cheap. What does a magnetic plug cost - $10?

[ITSAHEMI]

like i said it is cheap insurance.that is your personal preference what you want to do with your vechile.some oil filters are much better than others in catching particles that others do not.i will use a top of the line oil filter to be safe.every time i change my oil i will see a very slight sediment on the magnet(normal wear).better on the magnet than in my motor floating around.it may not do a thing but i wont have it laying on the bottom of my pan.

[sgbofav]

Those magnets that wrap around the oil filter attract the "metal dust" before it has a chance to be filtered.

yangiant51,

It is perfectly safe to switch your oil after 100,000 miles. I switched to Amsoil synthetic oil in my Ram at 129,000 miles. My truck runs quieter and cooler now.
Mobil1 is a good oil but, you can do better and go up to 35,000 miles between oil changes with Amsoil .

http://www.amsoil.com/lit/lng_article/index.htm
http://www.amsoil.com/performancetests/amsoil_vs_mobil1.htm
http://www.amsoil.com/frequent.htm

Bill,

[TexasRam]

I changed to Castrol Syntec 20W50 at the first oil change. It seems to be doing great. Dodge worked very hard with Dana on the oil seals for the HEMI engine. It seems to have paid off. Besides, the Viper and the SRT-4 (and I'm sure the SRT-10 also) come from the factory filled with synthetic.

[sgbofav]

Originally posted by TexasRam
I changed to Castrol Syntec 20W50 at the first oil change. It seems to be doing great. Dodge worked very hard with Dana on the oil seals for the HEMI engine. It seems to have paid off. Besides, the Viper and the SRT-4 (and I'm sure the SRT-10 also) come from the factory filled with synthetic.

I'm not trying to burst your bubble but, I thought this might interest you. Castrol Syntec is not what you think it is.
http://www.syntheticoiltech.com/castrolmobilandpao.htm

Bill,

[NJRamFreak]

I just got my Amsoil preferred customer account and ordered all of my synthetics. Had them put in my tranny, engine and both differentials this week. Very nice .... the truck feels nice and smooth like its not working hard at all. Shifts are better and after a week or so am seeing a little more gas mileage, not much, but something. Great stuff !

[sgbofav]

Originally posted by NJRamFreak
I just got my Amsoil preferred customer account and ordered all of my synthetics. Had them put in my tranny, engine and both differentials this week. Very nice .... the truck feels nice and smooth like its not working hard at all. Shifts are better and after a week or so am seeing a little more gas mileage, not much, but something. Great stuff !

Congratulations on your switch to Amsoil. You won't regret it ever!
The nice thing about the gear lube is the fact it's lifetime fill. You'll never have to mess with it again.

Which oil did you buy? Did you buy a second oil filter?

My last project is switching my Trannies to Amsoil ATF myself. I had just had them both serviced right before I discovered the benefits of Amsoil products. I don't drive a ton of miles so I haven't rushed to change them out.

Yeterday 3/14/03 I switched my mom's pathfinder to Amsoil oil and their oil wetted foam filter. She has to make an 800 mile round trip and I wanted to give here the best protection possible. Now I have to build a bracket to mount the duel bypass filter under my Dad's Chevy Silverado HD.

I swear by Amsoil products. I wish more people would actually try it once and see what they are missing.

Bill,

[NJRamFreak]

75-140 for the back diff., 80-90 for the front diff., 5w-30 for the engine and automatic ATF for the tranny.