difference between full synthetic and synthetic blend

tractorguy2 · Mar 30, 2022

Been using Carquest brand full synthetic 5w-30 oil in my car. Last summer I bought oil that was on sale at Orscheln's store. I just noticed the box is marked
synthetic blend.

Can I use the synthetic blend in place of the full synthetic oil?

RayNorthAlabama · Mar 30, 2022

Synthetic blend can be as little as 1% Synthetic oil

used red MN · Mar 30, 2022

As far as synthetic blends and oil change intervals I personally treat the length of an oil change interval the same as conventional oil. Right or wrong I have no data to verify my actions. My 2017 Explorer calls for a 5w20 synthetic blend oil. I have been running it the recommended 5000 mile change interval. Other vehicles I have that run conventional or synthetic blend get changed every 3000 to 3500 miles. Just the way I do it.

timcasbolt · Mar 30, 2022

(quoted from post at 17:39:38 03/30/22) Been using Carquest brand full synthetic 5w-30 oil in my car. Last summer I bought oil that was on sale at Orscheln's store. I just noticed the box is marked
synthetic blend.

Can I use the synthetic blend in place of the full synthetic oil?

f your car requires full-synthetic per the owner's manual, you should use full-synthetic. If not, use whatever you want.

Robin Hood · Mar 30, 2022

four or six cylinder?

Geo-TH,In · Mar 30, 2022

Some cars that shut off cylinders will definitely need full synthetic and should use top tier gas.

Check owner's manual.

Use any oil in YT tractors.

tractorguy2 · Mar 30, 2022

Buick six cylinders.

pete 23 · Mar 30, 2022

Oils are changing. NAPA says all oils will be or already are synthetic blends or full synthetic. .

Steve@Advance · Mar 30, 2022

I would first refer to the owner's manual. It will have the API specs (the donut) with the API service XX at the top, and SAE weight in the center.

The API service, first letter, C for compression ignition (diesel), or S for spark ignition. The next letter is the spec the engine requires. As long as the oil meets, or exceeds alphabetically, (the rating always goes up), the oil will meet the engines requirements.

Next read on to see if there are any other requirements such as 'Dexos'. Be sure that is also on the label.
I suspect all Dexos oil is synthetic or synthetic blend.

If it meets those requirements, it's your choice, full or blend.

Texasmark · Mar 30, 2022

U think the Acronym is Delos Rated for my 2011 GM PU. Delos rating is full synthetic. Addiionally the tranny and differential are full syn also (verified by online purchase product description for GM lubricants), but the Delos acronym isn't applied to them. I noticed that wallyworld's full syn. carries that certification...so I bought their oil rather than Mobil 1 which I had been using since it was new.

On engines with the cylinder deactivation, My 2009 Dodge Hemi half ton PU had the deactivation mode, specified 5W-20 but said nothing about type other than meeting Spark F rating I think was the letter in the Starburst on the container. Said the system wouldn't work with heavier oil.....said so in the owner's manual.

MarkB_MI · Mar 30, 2022

GM specifies Dexos-approved oil for their late model gasoline vehicles. According to the <a href=https://www.gmdexos.com/brands/dexos1/index.html>Dexos site</a>, only the full-synthetic Carquest brand oil is Dexos-certified. So the answer is 'no', you can't use that oil in your Buick if you want to meet the warranty requirements. But it's your car, do as you like.

John M · Mar 30, 2022

What year?

Stephen Newell · Mar 30, 2022

A full synthetic oil is made from crude oil like any other oil but they refine it to remove a lot of the junk that crates engine sludge and replace it with man made ingredients to replace what is removed. The blend oil will vary between brands and is a mixture of full synthetic oil and conventional oil. You just don't know the ratio.

Hoenes · Mar 30, 2022

Agreed Ray. I read where a Valvoline Rep said 5w30 Valvoline Synthetic blend contained so little synthetic, it was still classified as conventional.

Crazy Horse · Mar 31, 2022

Ray .... interesting comment, where did you find that information I wonder? I'd like to see exactly what the source you are referencing has to say. I guess anyone could change that to read 0.01% and it would still be true in theory. Somehow I doubt anyone is marketing synthetic blend oil having 1% synthetic in the recipe but if there is, let us know the details.

Texasmark · Mar 31, 2022

Well Mobil1 and WW oils (to name 2 of which I am aware) have the green sticker on the container. I really doubt companies that large would false advertise something that could get the magnitude of a lawsuit if it were true. That could be extended to Dexos possibly doing the false advertising, or not updating the www. Thanks for correcting my spelling.....I didn't feel like going out to the shop to look up the proper name on a container.

Texasmark · Mar 31, 2022

Somewhere in the back of my mind of 20 years ago, PAO is the main component of synthetic vehicular oils....Poly-Alpha-Olephin (spelling) if my memory serves me properly. I used it for a high voltage dielectric/heat conducting fluid for my equipment at work. I was surprised when I found out the vehicular use but considering the wider operating temperature range without degradation it made sense.

dhermesc · Mar 31, 2022

Best thing you can do with one of those engines is get a plug in override to prevent it from deactivating. GM's 5.3 and 6.0 engines are great but the deactivation mode destroys the lifters and cam. The tiny amount money saved through fuel mileage gained is lost due to repairs of the engine. Earlier 5.3s and 6.0s are good 250k to 350K mile engines with reasonable care. A lot of the engines with cylinder deactivation never even make it to 100K without a massive repair bill.

Older GMs with the 4.8 are great - they never added cylinder deactivation to that engine - then they dropped the engine.

INCase · Mar 31, 2022

not really... some are yeah sorta. but Group 4 synthetics are not.

INCase · Mar 31, 2022

they are not the same.

think of it this way. you take a quality synthetic oil (as everything else in the world all synthetic oils are NOT created equal) and then dilute it with conventional oil

kinda like taking real maple syrup and mixing mrs buttersworth in it. why would you do that?

also>> plus what does synthetic blend mean? 10% synthetic/90% conventional oil?? 60% synthetic 40% conventional??? the labels never give you that information.

Texasmark · Mar 31, 2022

I have that engine in my 2011 Silverado 1500. Nice simple pushrod V8 with none of the fancy stuff. It does have the roller lifters however so that it can redline at 6k if you are of a mind....I'm not! Mileage is plenty good enough to suit my driving habits......oh and the best parts are that I can reach into the bed and extract items without a step ladder and its hooked up to a sooth running 4 speed automatic that is bullet proof.

Texasmark · Mar 31, 2022

That's exactly why I don't buy blends. If I want a blend, I'll blend it myself and then I will know what I have.

MarkB_MI · Mar 31, 2022

> Well Mobil1 and WW oils (to name 2 of which I am aware) have the green sticker on the container. I really doubt companies that large would false advertise something that could get the magnitude of a lawsuit if it were true. That could be extended to Dexos possibly doing the false advertising, or not updating the www. Thanks for correcting my spelling.....I didn't feel like going out to the shop to look up the proper name on a container.

Mark, I don't get your point. Either an oil carries the Dexos logo or it doesn't. If it has the Dexos logo, it should be good enuff for late model GM cars. If it doesn't say 'Dexos', well maybe it's good enuff, maybe it isn't.

Note that Dexos is a licensing scheme, and companies have to pay GM to get the Dexos label. I suspect many companies have semi-synthetic oils that would meet the Dexos requirements, but they don't try to get those cheaper oils certified since doing so would just cannibalize sales on their high-end products.

MarkB_MI · Mar 31, 2022

What brand of oil are we talking about? I originally thought the semi-syn you bought at Orscheln was also Carquest brand, but I think I misunderstood you.

Alvin 41 · Mar 31, 2022

Now you tell me ? I've got 220K on my Honda Odyessy with regular 10% ethanol and no problems with the ECO cylinder deractivation .

4play · Apr 1, 2022

What brand is the oil/blend you bought? The dexos certifications do not specify what kind of oil is used, it simply has to pass a set of tests. Many syn blends meet or exceed dexos standards. Some of these companies simply don't want to pay GM for licenses & royalties all for that stupid label. Keep in mind each product requires an individual certification and license for dexos, that's for every viscosity, each formula and type etc, for example, Valvoline has 34 different licenses just for the dexos gen 2, there are currently 5 different dexos specifications too.

Which dexos certification are we talking about?
dexos 1 gen 2
dexos 1 gen 3
dexos R
dexos D
dexos 2.

difference between full synthetic and synthetic blend

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