Re: alfa-digest V9 #308

[Iopsycheng@domain.elided]

Hey Gang,
I've been reading about all the horror stories concerning oil leaks when 
switching to synthetic oils. Please lets get something straight! Synthetic 
motor oil DOES NOT CAUSE LEAKS, nor does it attack and/or degrade gaskets and 
seals! Improperly installed, poor quality or worn out seals and gaskets leak. 
Synthetic oil is very high detergent... If there were a small leak in an 
engine eventually some of the solid contaminants carried in suspension in the 
oil would find its way to the leak and become deposited. Enough deposits my 
eventually seal the leak. This is how products like radiator stop leak 
actually work. Anyway, now the owner fills the crankcase with synthetic oil 
and the high detergent capacity washes away the crud and presto! We have 
leaks... Well, actually you always had leaks before, now you just know where 
they are... I refreshed a 1957 Giulietta engine using many NOS gaskets and 
seals. I have run the engine several weeks on Mobil 1, the garage floor under 
the car is clean...
If you intend on using synthetic oil it would be nice to do it early in the 
life of the engine but I believe the wear saved by synthetic oil will more 
than offset the cost of an engine gasket set, a tube of gasket sealer and a 
weekend spent tinkering.
Thomas Gonnella
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