Synthetic vs. Conventional on a 4.6
12-15-2008, 06:39 PM
#1
4th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 1,589
Synthetic vs. Conventional on a 4.6
Hey guys, I already tried this once about two years ago when my 01 gt had 40k on her now she has 69k and when I did it last time I used Fords Synthetic blend after using conventional the whole time, and the car died on me they said I needed a new Idle Air Control sensor would that be caused by me putting in synthetic after only having conventional oil? And would it be safe to do that now? Wouldent that cause all the sludge that conventional has put in the motor over the years cause all that to flush out through the motor causing a blockage? dont know to much about this matter thanks!
12-15-2008, 06:54 PM
#2
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,106
Your IAC failed because thats what Ford IACs do..they fail..they've been doing that for the past 30 years. I'd try cleaning it, that works about a good 65% of the time. if cleaning it doesnt work then replace it..they're cheap and easier to replace then it is to pump gas. Your choice of oil had absolutley no effect on the crapping out of your IAC.
As far as the Synthetic dislodging sludge..it just won't happen. Not in your case anyway. You sound like you've had this car since what, 30k miles? and i bet you changed it every 3000-5000 miles. at 69k you will not have a single problem switching as long as you did your oil changes. I switched all my cars to synthetic and i've never in my life had a single problem. My Jetta i switched around 80k, my Mustang GT i currently own was changed at around 85k, my friends 89 GT 5.0 was switched at like 1xx,xxx miles..never once seen a problem.
imho, this is not even a question worth asking. It's something you should of done a long time ago and if i were you i'd change right now. Some people recomend going to a semi synthetic before switching to full synthetic and from what i understand your using semi synthetic right now, so your right on track. your going to make another 1-2 HP by switching to synthetic too.
As far as the Synthetic dislodging sludge..it just won't happen. Not in your case anyway. You sound like you've had this car since what, 30k miles? and i bet you changed it every 3000-5000 miles. at 69k you will not have a single problem switching as long as you did your oil changes. I switched all my cars to synthetic and i've never in my life had a single problem. My Jetta i switched around 80k, my Mustang GT i currently own was changed at around 85k, my friends 89 GT 5.0 was switched at like 1xx,xxx miles..never once seen a problem.
imho, this is not even a question worth asking. It's something you should of done a long time ago and if i were you i'd change right now. Some people recomend going to a semi synthetic before switching to full synthetic and from what i understand your using semi synthetic right now, so your right on track. your going to make another 1-2 HP by switching to synthetic too.
12-15-2008, 11:46 PM
#6
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Illinois
Posts: 311
Synthetic is all i use in everything including my lawn mower except on a new engine (anything with a flat tappet camshaft) then a use shell rotella T with the comp cams additive.
Theres so many WIVES TALES and myths about synthetic its ridiculous.
If it makes you feel better the "LUBE TECHS" here at the dealership use MOBIL 1 instead of the motorcraft in all the cars they service.
Theres so many WIVES TALES and myths about synthetic its ridiculous.
If it makes you feel better the "LUBE TECHS" here at the dealership use MOBIL 1 instead of the motorcraft in all the cars they service.
12-16-2008, 07:07 AM
#7
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location:
Posts: 870
I think technically it is possible to break up sludge and expose some leaks around seals that were being held by the sludge and clog the oil filter up and such....but the engine would have to be pretty old and neglected. Go with synthetic. All I've used in mine is Amsoil and Mobil1.
, synthetic is what I have been using, and I just realized Walmart sells Royal Purple!
