Switching From regular to synthetic oil with 114k Miles...bad? - DodgeIntrepid.Net Forums - Dodge Intrepid, Concorde, 300m and Eagle Vision chat

houligan91 · 10-23-2012, 01:24 AM

So....

many many rumors out there about switching an older car from regular to synthetic.

I have a 2002 Intrepid SE I picked up for the winter, and as a new daily driver for a while to avoid car payments. Heard the 2.7 has some sludge issues etc.

Thanks to the very thorough 2.7L guide in this section I also inspected the Water pump and its running great.

I do always swap any car I buy to synthetic if it was not already running it. Specifically want to on this one due to sludge.

Issue I keep hearing about is if you change it to synthetic this late in its life, it may cause lots of leaks? Car currently does not leak. Replaced a few cracked hoses, so its running just fine.

Any wisdom in this? or just people who dont want to deal with sludge problems until its too late?

hrmwrm · 10-23-2012, 04:43 AM

no leaks then it shouldn't be an issue. just keep an eye out around seals/valve covers for any leakage after changing. i've never experienced troubles in changing over. i always do it for better cold startability in winter.

**peva** · 10-23-2012, 06:49 AM

The other claimed possibility is that the synthetic will cause sludge to break loose too quickly, which could cause problems clogging oil passages causing noisy lifters and destroying bearings. If true, that would be an argument against doing a sudden changeover when you know there's moderate to heavy sludge.

There are people on both sides of the argument. Just because someone has changed over and never had the problem doesn't mean it's not a risk. It's like I say - "I ran two red lights by mistake one time, and didn't have an accident or get a ticket either time. So I've concluded that there is no risk going thru red lights, so now I do it all the time."

My opinion is that if you know an engine is relatively sludge free, your probably OK to do it. If moderately or heavily sludged, it is a real risk.

SRT6INTREPID · 10-23-2012, 02:52 PM

I'm going to have to agree with Peva there.

houligan91 · 10-23-2012, 03:47 PM

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback..

How do you know if you have lots of sludge buildup? Car runs great, no noises or leaks or idle issues. What are the symptoms of sludge build up?

bh1992 · 10-23-2012, 04:16 PM

I've also heard that it's not a great idea to go straight from regular oil to full synthetic because the two are not compatible with each other. I guess there's a semi-synthetic stuff that is compatible with both and is supposed to be used when making the transition. Never made the change myself, but I've hears a bit of talk about it.

**DrDodge** · 10-23-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bh1992

I've also heard that it's not a great idea to go straight from regular oil to full synthetic because the two are not compatible with each other. I guess there's a semi-synthetic stuff that is compatible with both and is supposed to be used when making the transition. Never made the change myself, but I've hears a bit of talk about it.

thats what a few have done,, blended oils are becoming the norm, I know Kendal, and Castol make them,, im thinking most of the Majors do also,, do a couple of changes with that first,, then switch over,, I suggest using a mopar filter also,, or Mobile 1 filter,,

houligan91 · 10-23-2012, 04:59 PM

ok, Ill try the blend first. With A mobile 1 filter. Thanks a lot guys!

**cdmccul** · 10-23-2012, 05:39 PM

I have never heard of a compatability issue with oil like that... I'm not going to research it, but I'm going to call BS on it... "Synthetic" isn't synthesized oil from raw piles of atoms that could be assembled to be hydrophilic by accident... it is all the same base oils...

hrmwrm · 10-23-2012, 08:56 PM

yes, they are all compatible with each other. it's not a difference like between glycol and silicone based brake fluid. they are still oil. read the labels. they even say they are compatible with other oils. i keep hearing that crap about once you go synthetic you can't go back. what a load. i've heard the same bs for so many years.
don't know where this crap keeps coming from. don't believe it.

DonB · 10-24-2012, 08:27 PM

I did a progressive changeover to synthetic beginning at 108k miles about 4 years ago. Now I'm at 126k and the change was a non-event. The 3.2 never leaked or used oil. It still doesn't

**Adpros** · 10-24-2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdmccul

I have never heard of a compatability issue with oil like that... I'm not going to research it, but I'm going to call BS on it... "Synthetic" isn't synthesized oil from raw piles of atoms that could be assembled to be hydrophilic by accident... it is all the same base oils...

^^^ X2

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrmwrm

yes, they are all compatible with each other. it's not a difference like between glycol and silicone based brake fluid. they are still oil. read the labels. they even say they are compatible with other oils. i keep hearing that crap about once you go synthetic you can't go back. what a load. i've heard the same bs for so many years.
don't know where this crap keeps coming from. don't believe it.

^^^ And X3

***Daytrepper*** · 10-24-2012, 10:57 PM

Old days, (like the 80's and before) antiquated engines and gaskets, high mileage, switching to synthetic was a bad idea, nowadays, no sweat, no worries, have never seen it affect anything, regardless of condition. However, if you have sludge, there will be problems no matter what oil you run.

Dodge Intrepid 1996 · 10-25-2012, 11:25 AM

I switched my 96 to synthetic nothing leaked, but if my car was stopped at a light the oil light would turn on. When I would hit the gas the light would turn off. I then switched it to high mileage I never had this problem. My car has 130,000 miles on it.

houligan91 · 10-25-2012, 01:01 PM

when you switched your 96 over.. what engine was it?