Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Denver Mods 7/26/84) 6/24/83; site drutx.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!drutx!pagiven From: pagiven@drutx.UUCP (GivenP) Newsgroups: net.auto.tech Subject: Syn Oil and Breakin Message-ID: <746@drutx.UUCP> Date: Mon, 2-Dec-85 14:57:45 EST Article-I.D.: drutx.746 Posted: Mon Dec 2 14:57:45 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 3-Dec-85 20:13:01 EST Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver Lines: 32 - I have heard from more than one source now, that before using syn- thetic oil, the engine should have 6K to 8K miles so the engine could properly "break in," "seat," or "become seasoned." What exactly do these terms mean, anyway? Is it necessary for an engine to wear out to a certain degree before the process is stop- ped with a changeover to synthetic oil? It would seem to me that as an engine wears, tolerances become greater, that is, parts fit more loosely and thereby no longer pro- perly seal. For instance, oil leaks past rings into the combustion chamber, oil leaks past valve guides, gasoline and burnt byproducts blow past the rings into the oil, tappets start making noise, etc., etc., all to a greater degree in engines that have more wear. I had 400 miles on my 1981 Buick when I changed to synthetic. It now has 95K more miles on, with no increase in oil consumption. It uses about 1 quart every 4K to 5K miles now as it did when it was new. Should I be concerned that my engine was never properly "broken inIIIe BTW, what is the difference between an "engine" and a "motor?" I always understood a motor to be an electric engine. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Given {ihnp4, houxe, stcvax!ihnp4}!drutx!pagiven AT&T Information Systems Laboratories 11900 N. Pecos, Rm 1B04, Denver 80234 (303)-538-4058 ----------------------------------------------------------------