Can I have some input? 1989 740GL 255,000.km's
Car is not using much oil(about a litre per 5000k's), seals aren't leaking,but I would like the protection of synthetic.The thing is I had a bad experience changing to Mobile One on a 1996 Plymouth Voyager. About a month in and my head gasket went!Is this a problem with the B230F?
Thanks for any replies
Charlie

Hi:

This is the way it was explained to me from a Shell Expert. "If you don't have any oil leaks, at the seals, then the switch to synthetic is ok". If you already have oil leaks, then Synthetic will make them worse.

I switched to Shell Rotella Synthetic 5W-40, in my 760 GLE Turbo Diesel, with no adverse effects. In fact, the water temperature went down slightly and the fuel mileage went up slighly. The shell expert said this is characteristic in some applications, due to the better lubricating properties.

I know, you say the expert is trying to sell his companies oil. So he'll tell you anything. But I was convinced when he told me that Rotella Synthetic is a great choise but has higher soot handling properties than I need. I could use an oil like Mobil 1.

Not convinced? Go to the website for the oil of your choise and ask their expert. I was convinced and pleasantly surprized by the slight increase in the fuel mileage.

Good Luck

Well, for starters, synthetic oil did not cause your head gasket to fail. Just can't happen.

I've changed a lot of cars to AMSOIL synthetic in the past 26 years. A very few started leaking through seals or gaskets (but they had not been well maintained before the change). Not a single headgasket went bad because of oil change.

Ditto what Dick said. The switching of oils had nothing to do with the head gasket failure. It was simply coincidence.

Jeff Pierce
--
'93 945 Turbo ( one kickass family car ! ), '92 Mercedes 190E (my daily driver), '53 Willys-Overland Pickup (my snow-plow truck/conversation piece -- sold to a loving home), '85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow

You should be fine. Mobil 1 is better oil, period, for any age motor as far as I can tell. Started using it on my 35-year-old BMW motorcycle last year, works great. Not worth the money if you are already burning/leaking, that's all.

Are you sure the oil caused the problem on the minivan?