Author Topic: Low Oil Pressure with Synthetic Oil? (Read 2661 times)

wolvi · « **on:** July 15, 2005, 03:03:49 pm »

Ok i hope some one can help me here. I have a 1986 GMC S15 2.8L truck. I have owned it since it was new. I regularily chnage the oil and filters my self. A couple weeks ago i changed my oil and decided to try 5W30 100%Synthetic oil for the first time hoping it would help my engine out. I have 181,000km on it right now. I have never noticed my oil pressure anywhere but in the center of my pressure gauge in the dash. I also put on longer oil filter this time then i usually use. Now my oil pressure is just a little over Zero on the gauge. And it looks like im dripping oil very slowly. Is this from leaks in the seal that arent used to sythetic? And why is the oil pressure so low and is it a problem i need to look into right away?
Thanks in advance.

articsteve · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2005, 03:23:35 pm »

I would at least go out and screw on another filter. Use the original short one that you were using. Synthetic can really clean the crap out of an engine. Your new longer filter may be blocked a bit with crap.

Personally, I'd dump the syn and for summer run SAE 30 (Canadian Tire Brand) made by ESSO) and take it from there.

wolvi · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2005, 03:34:10 pm »

tnx i will try that, what oil would you recomend for winter then, is syn better for cold starts? Here in Saskatoon, i need all the help i can get :-)

21Rouge · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2005, 03:59:56 pm »

tnx i will try that, what oil would you recomend for winter then, is syn better for cold starts? Here in Saskatoon, i need all the help i can get

I know you are having trouble with your current oil change (synthetic) but I have read very good reviews of Esso XD 3 0W-30. It has the same high temp capabilities as 5W-30 and works much better for the possible very low temperatures of Saskatchewan. It is a full synthetic oil that costs just over $4 per litre.

mrthompson · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2005, 04:08:24 pm »

Synthetic is better in just about every sense. The reason why your are having oil leaks is because the synthetic cleaned the gunk that was on the seals (which have degraded/shrunk with age). This allows the oil to then get past the seals.

tpl · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2005, 04:58:57 pm »

Perhaps one of those oils advertised for " mature engines" They probably contain an additive that swells the seals.

and the exact correct filter for the engine... you sort of suggest that you are using a different filter.

articsteve · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2005, 07:59:22 pm »

is syn better for cold starts? Here in Saskatoon, i need all the help i can get

Very much so, but look what has happened to you recently. I would get the original short oil filter on asap and try the SAE 30 for now and then decide in the fall what you are going to do. So for now try and get the oil pressure back up.

articsteve · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2005, 08:01:17 pm »

Esso XD 3 0W-30. It has the same high temp capabilities as 5W-30 and works much better for the possible very low temperatures of Saskatchewan. It is a full synthetic oil that costs just over $4 per litre.

That is a knock out price. Where can this be had? An actual Esso station?

21Rouge · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2005, 06:20:10 am »

I recently picked up a case of the 100% synthetic XD 3 0W-30 (spec sheet found here)

http://www.imperialoil.ca/Canada-English/Files/Products_Lubes/IOCAENCVLESEsso_Xd -3_extra.pdf

after ordering it from my closest bulk lubricant listed in this document

http://www.imperialoil.ca/Canada-English/Files/Products_Lubes/ImperialOilLubesDi stributors-Ontario.pdf.

It cant be got at an Esso Station or other conventional retail location. Although Wal-Mart does carry the XD 0W-40.

Although I ordered it in the 4 L container it does come in the 1 L bottle. The price per litre worked out to be $4.09

articsteve · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2005, 09:15:19 am »

Great; all the brands have bulk stations out of Owen Sound so I will check it out. Even $4.50 per litre would be excellent because I'm paying $6.50 per litre for the Shell syn branded as a Crappy Tire oil.

21Rouge · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2005, 10:57:31 am »

Even $4.50 per litre would be excellent

It really is a world class oil...available only in Canada.

safristi · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2005, 12:17:08 pm »

The XD is NOT SYNTHETIC read the article you posted
Boxster!!!!

articsteve · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2005, 01:09:05 pm »

Cut and paste from page 1 of the above-noted Esso PDF:

_ Esso XD-3 Extra 0W-40 meets Cummins
CES 20078 and Mack EO-M Plus and is
recommended for API CI-4 applications
_ Esso XD-3 Extra 0W-40 and 0W-30 are
synthetic since they use polyalphaolefin
(PAO) as the basestock

Good enough I'd say. Warrants an inquiry.

safristi · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2005, 01:25:39 pm »

Page 3 same article

Precautions: ESSO XD 3 Extra is manufactured from quality petroleum base stock.......thats DINO is mY BOOK

articsteve · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2005, 02:12:11 pm »

OK, lets agree that the Esso PDF SUCKS. Very unclear and poorly presented. However, from what I read they made a note that ONLY XD-3 Extra 0W30 and 0W40 "are synthetic since they use polyalphaolefin (PAO) as the basestock".

Agreed, a tad nebulous but warrants investigation. If it does in fact have a pure PAO basestock I'm getting it. If it doesn't I'm suing Exxon/Mobil for making me cut and paste from a PDF, becoming wealthy from the law suit and then I will make a hostile bid for CD and then become it's moderator on all subjects oil related.

21Rouge · « **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2005, 02:52:55 pm »

Very unclear and poorly presented. However, from what I read they made a note that ONLY XD-3 Extra 0W30 and 0W40 "are synthetic since they use polyalphaolefin (PAO) as the basestock".

Correct. Only the 0W-30 and the 0W-40 are full PAO synthetics.

safristi · « **Reply #16 on:** July 16, 2005, 04:39:24 pm »

Why make 2 types of oil(Dino & Synth) and name them the same depending on the" *W**" ratings...something STINKS about that ..is it like the Castrol "Synthetics" we discussed way back,where they tried to qualify their oil as Synthetic by fudging the definition...of what "is "is" a SYNTHETIC !!!?

I'm gonna squeeze some BBQ Briquettes REAL HARD LIKE and see if I can come up wif a D'Oily Carte Blanche Saffynition ta satisfy Y'oil......

safristi · « **Reply #17 on:** July 16, 2005, 04:43:47 pm »

"KRAP...PAO!!!!!!....

maritime_storm · « **Reply #18 on:** July 19, 2005, 04:13:15 pm »

Actually Artic we switched to Shell for all of our oil a couple of years ago.

scarberian · « **Reply #19 on:** July 20, 2005, 11:21:09 am »

Wolfi,

The reason your oil pressure is low is due to the longer oil filter.

The reason for your drip is the flow properties of synthetic oil. A high mileage engine like yours will have seal wear, and synthetic oil is designed to flow easily.

You need a high mileage engine oil. There is a brand on the market specificly for high mileage engines. They have seal conditioners in the oil that make the seals swell and prevent leaks.
Nuff said