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Can we talk about the guy at my shop who insisted synthetic oil in a 1995 Civic was a waste of money
I overheard him telling a customer that paying $45 for synthetic was stupid because the engine burns oil anyway. I get his point but my own 2000 Corolla ran smoother for 5,000 miles after I switched. Anyone else run into old school mechanics who swear by conventional in older cars?
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emma_wells8318h ago
Old school guys have their reasons, but they're stuck in 1995 too. My dad's a retired mechanic and he still refuses to believe synthetic handles heat better in high mileage engines. Yeah, an old Civic might burn some oil, but that doesn't mean you want sludge building up in the rings and causing more leaks down the road. I've seen plenty of 90s Hondas with 200k+ miles run way quieter and start easier in winter after a few synthetic changes. Temperature swings in a 30 year old engine matter more than those guys give credit for, at least in my area.
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kai_burns7313h ago
Nah, your dad's half right but for the wrong reasons. I've seen a late 90s Camry with 180k that leaked like a sieve after switching to synthetic, but that was because the seals were already cooked, not because the oil caused it. The real sludge problem I've seen is people running conventional way too long in these older engines. It breaks down faster and leaves that brown gunk in the valve covers. Synthetic just doesn't do that as quick, in my experience. Your Civic example is spot on, those things wake up with a good synthetic change.
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scott.olivia14h ago
Wait, are you sure synthetic is the one causing sludge in high mileage engines? I've actually heard the opposite from a few guys I trust. Conventional oil breaks down faster under heat and leaves varnish and sludge behind, especially in older engines that run hotter. Synthetic is more stable, so it doesn't turn into that gummy mess as quickly. Your dad might be thinking of the old days when synthetic would clean out years of crud and cause leaks because the gaskets were already shot, but that's a different problem. The real issue with high mileage engines is usually worn out seals, not the oil itself causing the leaks. Have you ever tried a high mileage synthetic blend on one of those Civics?
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