semi synthetic vs full synthetic

[timberwolf]

Everyone in my family that has four-strokes run full synthetic oil. I will likely do the same but, i was wanting to no what are the advantages to full synthetic vs. semi-synthetic oil.

 

[kyzer]

This topic has been beaten to death..I don't believe you will go wrong with either one..From what I have read on this website most people are running full without any issues..I personally run 0 40 full synthic Amsoil and am very happy with it..I can't compare with semi or any other oils because I don't use them...Good Luck.....

 

[flambo]

0w40 Amsoil full synthetic for me too.

 

[2008 Nytro RTX]

0W 40 Mobile 1 works good

 

[blueironranger]

I really comes up to cost vs performance.

If you change your oil every year like you should and put less than the 2500 miles interval on it then semi should be perfectly fine. Full synthetic MAY give you a bit more power and you could probibly extend the oil change interval a few hundred more miles if you put ~3000 a year on to avoid and extra oil change.

That said, I use Mobil 1 in ALL of my stuff. I use to work a place that had free oil testing for employees. I have a car that has a Vortech blower running 11psi boost and sees frequent track use. It had NO issues going 1 year/12,000 miles on an oil change with Mobil 1 where as regular dyno oil, Mobil, was "used up" at around 3500 miles.

 

[FireStone]

Motul Snowpower 0W40 full Syntec.
The best under -30°C

 

[DKBrigs27th]

yup,

I use Mobil 1 too

 

[chevmal67]

The way I look at it is full synthetic is the best. Will your machine blow up if you use conventional or semi-syn? no, just dont be stupid about changing oil.. also dont think you can extend your oil change periods if you run full synthetic.. Sure the oils lubricating capabilities willl still be there unlike conventional where it breaks down, but the oil still gets dirty from combustion gasses and all that good stuff.. so definately change it just as often!

 

[Rockmeister]

The way I look at it is full synthetic is the best. Will your machine blow up if you use conventional or semi-syn? no, just dont be stupid about changing oil.. also dont think you can extend your oil change periods if you run full synthetic.. Sure the oils lubricating capabilities willl still be there unlike conventional where it breaks down, but the oil still gets dirty from combustion gasses and all that good stuff.. so definately change it just as often!

Used to believe that also, and still think the acid build-up in the oil can't be too great for the engine.

However...

Have read a couple oil studies based on regular oil tests, where changing the oil actually causes a serious blip of wear at each oil change, so you ended up being better off using better oil & running 6000 miles or so between oil changes.
(This was on cars)

Changing just the filter & topping off the oil at 6000 miles netted the least amount of engine wear over-all.
(With an extended oil change interval of 12,000 miles.)
(This was with Full Synthetic oils. Engine wear was measured by the increase in metal content in the oil.)

On our sleds, would suggest a good zinc content and change it once a year & not worry.

Currently using Amzoil 0w-40 myself.

 

[chevmal67]

Used to believe that also, and still think the acid build-up in the oil can't be too great for the engine.

However...

Have read a couple oil studies based on regular oil tests, where changing the oil actually causes a serious blip of wear at each oil change, so you ended up being better off using better oil & running 6000 miles or so between oil changes.
(This was on cars)

Changing just the filter & topping off the oil at 6000 miles netted the least amount of engine wear over-all.
(With an extended oil change interval of 12,000 miles.)
(This was with Full Synthetic oils. Engine wear was measured by the increase in metal content in the oil.)

On our sleds, would suggest a good zinc content and change it once a year & not worry.

Currently using Amzoil 0w-40 myself.

yikes with an interval of 12,000 miles, that would work better each time you do it i would think, because you would probably have to add more an more fresh oil too it each time lol. The filter change doesnt clean out the acids from the oil. Interesting that this study says to change filter more then oil, where-as yamaha says to change oil more often then filter.

The thing with oil changes is people will do what makes them feel good. Theres no way i will buy into the change filter at 6, and oil at 12 thing.. but thats just me..I use valvoline full synthetic in my car. they claim 4X better wear protection then mobil 1, an its cheaper too. i change that every 3000 miles(when i remember, lol). i would rather go back to conventional changing every 3,000 before going full syn changing every 12! just make me feel better.. for my sled so far i have stuck with the semi-syn yamalube.. cant go wrong with what the manufacturer says! However i will change that once a year (oil AND filter). If i was really concerned with my sled, i could cut my filter open each time and send an oil sample in at work each time i change. which i might when i get off of waranty, but im not too concerned with it being brand new.

 

[sleddheadd]

The semi synthetic will break down sooner than the full synthetic. You will lose your viscosity rating sooner. If you are a mile monger and only change your oil once a year go with synthetic, if you are a casual rider go with semi-syn.
The reason you can go 12,000 miles with an oil change but still have to change the filter is because of the media used for the filter, it will break down before the oil will. there are companies the have produced filters that can last for 25,000 miles, which I use in both of my vehicles. never had a problem!

 

[chevmal67]

Lets go back to basic engines class.. what are the 3 purposes of oil? to lubricate, CLEAN, and cool. filters cant clean out the acids created from combustion gasses. Yeah you can go 12,000 on an oil change, but i sure as heck dont wanna be the guy that ends up with it! Ive heard of ppl buying a new car, never changing the oil on it until they sell it with 75,000 miles.. so yeah, it can be done, but i bet your engine doesnt think much of you!

 

[Rockmeister]

Lets go back to basic engines class.. what are the 3 purposes of oil? to lubricate, CLEAN, and cool. filters cant clean out the acids created from combustion gasses. Yeah you can go 12,000 on an oil change, but i sure as heck dont wanna be the guy that ends up with it! Ive heard of ppl buying a new car, never changing the oil on it until they sell it with 75,000 miles.. so yeah, it can be done, but i bet your engine doesnt think much of you!

No real need to go back to basic engine class, had agreed with you in my first post.

Used to believe that(very frequent oil changes) also, and still think the acid build-up in the oil can't be too great for the engine.

My point was that with synthetic, most guys will never put enough miles on their sled in a year for changing oil mid-season to be a concern.
If I go up to 6000 miles between oil changes in my car, don't worry about that anymore either.

Have known guys that never change oil & agree, it is foolish, yet, wouldn't worry if you are a bit over miles between changes with synthetic.
(Being reasonable about changes of course.)

From what the study found, would suggest synthetic over conventional oil & less frequent changes.

Since you really only have to do one oil change a year in your sled, why not just use the best oil & go with it?
Not worry & just have fun.

 

[Mighty]

Isn't it nice that our 1 oil change per season cost about the same as what the 2 stroke guys pay for oil for a good weekend of riding

 

[Rockmeister]

Isn't it nice that our 1 oil change per season cost about the same as what the 2 stroke guys pay for oil for a good weekend of riding

Hhahahhaha!

Never thought of it that way, yet soo true!