Synthetic oil on old Accord?
 

Having followed the Oil Burning thread a bit, I was wondering if
should switch my 1991 Accord to synthetic? It burns no oil and is at
113,000 miles. It does need the big general service appointment.

Also, I think it only had the timing belt done once. Probably getting
ready for that? I need to check when that was done.

Re: Synthetic oil on old Accord?
 

On 09/15/2009 04:35 AM, dgk wrote:
> Having followed the Oil Burning thread a bit, I was wondering if
> should switch my 1991 Accord to synthetic? It burns no oil and is at
> 113,000 miles. It does need the big general service appointment.

only do it if you want to. only makes sense if you leave it in for the
extended period it's designed for. contrary to myth and halloween
rumor, it doesn't cause seal leakage.



>
> Also, I think it only had the timing belt done once. Probably getting
> ready for that? I need to check when that was done.

Re: Synthetic oil on old Accord?
 

jim beam wrote:
> On 09/15/2009 04:35 AM, dgk wrote:
>> Having followed the Oil Burning thread a bit, I was wondering if
>> should switch my 1991 Accord to synthetic? It burns no oil and is at
>> 113,000 miles. It does need the big general service appointment.
>
> only do it if you want to. only makes sense if you leave it in for the
> extended period it's designed for. contrary to myth and halloween
> rumor, it doesn't cause seal leakage.
>

My dealer still pesters me for changes every 6k (km) using synthetic, the
same interval as dyno-juice.

a

Re: Synthetic oil on old Accord?
 

"dgk" <dgk@somewhere.com> wrote in message
news:6puua59c3b452ad1vsh95vj2v14053r333@4ax.com...
> Having followed the Oil Burning thread a bit, I was wondering if
> should switch my 1991 Accord to synthetic? It burns no oil and is at
> 113,000 miles. It does need the big general service appointment.
>
> Also, I think it only had the timing belt done once. Probably getting
> ready for that? I need to check when that was done.


If it ain't broke.......

Re: Synthetic oil on old Accord?
 

dgk wrote:

> Having followed the Oil Burning thread a bit, I was wondering if
> should switch my 1991 Accord to synthetic? It burns no oil and is at
> 113,000 miles. It does need the big general service appointment.

> Also, I think it only had the timing belt done once. Probably getting
> ready for that? I need to check when that was done.

I can't say you 'should,' but it won't hurt anything.
If, as sounds likely, the compression rings are in good shape (not
allowing excess blow-by) a solid Syn will go 10K between changes. Use a
good filter for extended oil change intervals.

Going by mileage, the belt is probably still fine. Aging is another
matter. I don't know the suggested lifespan, but like you say it's
worth looking into.

Re: Synthetic oil on old Accord?
 

On 09/15/2009 07:07 AM, a wrote:
> jim beam wrote:
>> On 09/15/2009 04:35 AM, dgk wrote:
>>> Having followed the Oil Burning thread a bit, I was wondering if
>>> should switch my 1991 Accord to synthetic? It burns no oil and is at
>>> 113,000 miles. It does need the big general service appointment.
>>
>> only do it if you want to. only makes sense if you leave it in for the
>> extended period it's designed for. contrary to myth and halloween
>> rumor, it doesn't cause seal leakage.
>>
>
> My dealer still pesters me for changes every 6k (km) using synthetic, the
> same interval as dyno-juice.
>
> a

then the dealer is either ignorant or a crook. if you buy long life
mobil 1, it's rated for 15k. my friend who works for exxon says you can
double that. he runs regular mobil 1 and changes his suburban at 25k.

if in doubt, get analysis done.

Re: Synthetic oil on old Accord?
 

dgk wrote:
> Having followed the Oil Burning thread a bit, I was wondering if
> should switch my 1991 Accord to synthetic? It burns no oil and is at
> 113,000 miles. It does need the big general service appointment.
>
> Also, I think it only had the timing belt done once. Probably getting
> ready for that? I need to check when that was done.

I wouldn't bother unless you live where cars don't rust. My 1991 Accord
has a bit over 215K on it and still does not use any significant amount
of oil between changes. It's had changes every 7500 miles since new
with regular 5W30, in average-ish service with a few thousand miles of
trailer towing thrown in. At the rate it's been going, the car will
have disintegrated around a still-functional drive train in another 5
years or so (grin).

The timing belt change interval is 90K miles. If you didn't have it
done at 90K it's overdue. Run, don't walk, to the nearest place to get
it changed if this is the case. If it breaks you won't like what
happens. If you had it done at 90K it's not due again until 180K.
Either way, do the water pump at the same time.

For more info about timing belt change intervals I have yet to find a
better reference than the one from Gates:

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...cation_id=3487

--
JRE

Re: Synthetic oil on old Accord?
 

On Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:31:56 -0400, JRE <nothing@nowhere.invalid>
wrote:

>dgk wrote:
>> Having followed the Oil Burning thread a bit, I was wondering if
>> should switch my 1991 Accord to synthetic? It burns no oil and is at
>> 113,000 miles. It does need the big general service appointment.
>>
>> Also, I think it only had the timing belt done once. Probably getting
>> ready for that? I need to check when that was done.
>
>I wouldn't bother unless you live where cars don't rust. My 1991 Accord
>has a bit over 215K on it and still does not use any significant amount
>of oil between changes. It's had changes every 7500 miles since new
>with regular 5W30, in average-ish service with a few thousand miles of
>trailer towing thrown in. At the rate it's been going, the car will
>have disintegrated around a still-functional drive train in another 5
>years or so (grin).
>
>The timing belt change interval is 90K miles. If you didn't have it
>done at 90K it's overdue. Run, don't walk, to the nearest place to get
>it changed if this is the case. If it breaks you won't like what
>happens. If you had it done at 90K it's not due again until 180K.
>Either way, do the water pump at the same time.
>
>For more info about timing belt change intervals I have yet to find a
>better reference than the one from Gates:
>
>http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...cation_id=3487


Thanks to all. I'll just leave the oil as is. You're right about the
rust; it's likely to do in the car eventually. If the interval for the
belt is 90,000, then I did it around then. But there is also a year
maximum as well - I shouldn't be anywhere near that yet.

Alright, I just need to do the big general maintenance sometime soon.