Super synthetic oil,what is it?

[ZR1cliff]

Is this the long life stuff?
We use 5W-30 motor oil in our ZF 6 speeds and ive come across some GM 5W-30 Super Synthetic motor oil,would this be suitable.

[splatspeed]

yes this is ok

synthetic is made from a heating of certain materials

and is beleived better for wear and heat resistance

the second number is the viscosity

the first is the quality

30 is thin

maybe 0 w 30 would be better but this is the same

Sean

[Trooper2]

Here is a Wiki article on it;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syntheti


I'm thinking that "Super Synthetic Oil" is just G.M.'s way of saying it will work longer before it breaks down.

Edited by Trooper2 on Wednesday 7th June 10:35

[ZR1cliff]

Thanks for the advice chaps

[Alpineandy]

Ask the oilman : www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=237642&f=23&h=0

[mave]

splatspeed said:

yes this is ok

the second number is the viscosity

the first is the quality

Sean

Sorry, I don't think that's right, both numbers relate to viscocity.
The first number indicates cold viscocity, the second number indicates hot viscocity.

eg a 5w-30 oil has the viscocity of a 5 weight monograde at -20C, and a 30 weight monograde at 100C.

The quality of the oil is covered by the ACAE and SG / SH etc. type spec of teh oil.

[MeLLoN Stu]

what mave says is correct. first number is cold, second hot.

i've pulled this from a thread on another forum for good measure, should help explain things a bit.

==============================================================================================================================
A short lesson on Multigrades:

If you see an expression such as 10W-40, the oil is a multigrade.

This simply means that the oil falls into 2 viscosity grades, in this case 10W & 40.

This is made possible by the inclusion of a polymer, a component which slows down the rate of thinning as the oil warms up and slows down the rate of thickening as the oil cools down.

It was first developed some 50 years ago to avoid the routine of using a thinner oil in winter and a thicker oil in summer.

For a 10w-40 to attain the specification target a 10W ( W = winter) the oil must have a certain maximum viscosity at low temperature. The actual viscosity and the temperature vary with the viscosity grade but in all cases the lower the number, the thinner the oil, e.g. a 5W oil is thinner than a 10W oil at temperatures encountered in UK winter conditions.

This is important because a thinner oil will circulate faster on cold start, affording better engine protection.

For a 10w-40 to attain the other specification target a 40 oil must fall within certain limits at 100 degC. In this case the temperature target does not vary with the viscosity grade, if there is no "W", the measuring temperature is always 100degC. Again the lower the number the thinner the oil, a 30 oil is thinner than a 40 oil at 100 degC., which is typical of maximum bulk oil temperatures in an operating engine.

The engine makers are, of course, very well aware of this and specify oils according to engine design features, oil pump capacities, manufacturing tolerances, ambient temperature conditions etc. It is important to follow these guidelines, they are important and are an are stipulated for good reasons.

If the engine has been modified, the operating conditions may well be outside the original design envelope. The stress on the oil caused by increased maximum revs, power output and temperature may indicate that oil of a different type and viscosity grade would be beneficial.

[ZR1cliff]

Well after changing the oil in the ZF6Speed box to GM's Super
Synthetic and then giving the car an outing to Le'Mans and back
plus other mileage i can report that everything seems rosey.

The Box sounds quieter and the gearchanges are 100%,ile probably
change it once a year just to look and see how the oil is holding up.

Edited by ZR1cliff on Saturday 24th June 03:27