Nvncibl

It seems that Mobil 1 Synthetic is very popular but on a fresh gasket, will it leak easier? I dont even know what rating of oil to get. Its a 2.8 from a '94 90Q.

moribundman

All oil leaks if it can "slip" through. M1 does not leak more or less than any other oil in that regard. The myth of synthetic oil causing leaks comes from people's practice to put synthetic oil in cars that used to run on dead dino oil. Dead dino leaves deposits behind, which can mask leaky seals. Synthetic oil can clean those deposists, hence it makes "engines leak."

I'd rather break in the engine with dead dino oil (don't use 5W-30), change the oil a couple times more often at first, and switch to fully synthetic oil at 3-5k miles. For break-in, I'd change oil and filter after 600 miles, then again after another 1k miles.

What oil do you have in mind?<ul><li><a href="http://www.aera.org/Consumer/breakin.htm">some info</a></li></ul>

snowman '92 100

You'll get better ring seals.

eep

I like Mobile 1 (since about 50k miles; currently around 155k), but no way do I want to get involved in a synth vs dino flame war (anyone here a q-lister around 1998/1999?). Just a data point.

But:
&lt;shameless plug&gt;
http://www.12v.org/maintenance/index.php?section=ss&amp;ss=4
has some tips on weights/ratings/whatnot.
&lt;/shameless plug&gt;<ul><li><a href="http://www.12v.org/maintenance/index.php?section=ss&amp;ss=4">http://www.12v.org/maintenance/index.php?section=ss&amp;ss=4</a</li></ul>

moribundman

Seating the rings is accomplished by putting the engine under load, then get off the gas. That should be done repeatedly about 20 times within the first few miles the car is being driven. That's why new cars are driven out of the factory by nutjobs with lead feet. :-P

Other than that, a new engine should be driven with varying RPM (no crusie control) and at various speeds in all gears (except reverse, I guess :-P). I woul avoid redlining from the beginning, bit slowly work my way up to the redline over the first 1.5k miles.

snowman '92 100

And more so for the first 2-300 (hundred) miles. Then, relax, drive it normal

moribundman

Drive normal? Me? You gotta be kidding!