Stick with a full synthetic, no blends. The major oil companies have spent 10's of millions of dollars in testing to verify and confirm the data that over time and heat, the viscosity of the oil does not break down as rapidly as conventional oil. Mobil 1 is first fill now on Z06, Viper, Mercedes McLaren SLR and the new Nissan GT-R to name a few. These manufacturers didn't make these decisions without knowing it was the best they could put in their cars. I regularly run my daily drivers 15k between changes with changing the filter at 7500 and topping off the system. Pre charge the filter if possible and buy a quality filter, Mobil 1 or K&N. There are some syn blends out there that don't meet todays specs for new cars and the drive up oil change facilities are still putting it in new cars. DO NOT use synthetic stabilizer. Mobil, Penzoil, Valvoline didn't put millions into developing the best oil so Joe down the street could come up with "snake oil" to make the best better.
Drain your oil well, including oil cooler as best you can. Fill with Mobil 1 (winter and summer weight as specified by your engine builder). You should see decrease in running temperature and an increase in HP.
I listen to people all day and the main complaint is the cost. Well, my motor is worth it. In my Backdraft I'll change my oil every 3,000 and it's Mobil 1 10w30. Small expense for my precious motor.
The section below talks about NEW vehicles. These are factory built cars. I know of nothing in the engine building process that would cause a problem running full synthetic over conventional. The engine builder knows how tight or loose they're building the motor and knows what motor oil they recommend. Seals, rings, bearings are all still made from the same materials and will not react adversely to full synthetic oils.
For answers about zinc levels go to
Has Zinc Been Removed from Motor Oils?
Myths
People have a lot to say about synthetic oils. Unfortunately, it’s not always accurate. But ExxonMobil is here to clear things up. Read below to get the truth behind some of the most common misconceptions about synthetic oils and your vehicle.
Myth: You should break in your engine with conventional oil, then switch to a synthetic oil like Mobil 1.
Reality:
You can start using Mobil 1® in new vehicles at any time, even in brand new vehicles. In fact, Mobil 1 is original equipment (it is installed at the factory) in:
Mobil 1 is factory fill in:
Acura RDX
Aston Martin
All Bentley Vehicles
All Cadillac Vehicles
Chevrolet Corvette C6 and Z06
Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS
Chrysler 300C SRT-8
Cobalt SS S/C Coupe
Dodge Caliber SRT-4, Charger SRT-8, and Magnum SRT-8
Jeep Cherokee SRT-8
Mercedes-Benz AMG Vehicles
Mercedes SLR
Mitsubishi Evolution
Pontiac Solstice GXP
All Porsche Vehicles
Saturn Ion Red Line and Saturn Sky Red Line
Viper SRT-10
One of the myths surrounding synthetic oils is that new engines require a break-in period with conventional oil. The fact is,
current engine manufacturing technology does not require this break-in period. As indicated by the decisions of the engineers who design the high-performance cars listed above, Mobil 1 can be used starting the day you drive the car off the showroom floor.
Myth: Using Mobil 1 will void the warranty on my new car.
Reality:
Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Extended Performance will not void new car warranties, with the exception of the Mazda rotary engine (Mazda does not recommend any synthetic motor oil). Mobil 1 exceeds the API and ILSAC motor oil service requirements for all new vehicles, both import and domestic. If in doubt, always check your vehicle owner's manual or contact your vehicle's manufacturer.
Since most new car warranties call for shorter service intervals than those enabled by Mobil 1 Extended Performance, ExxonMobil recommends you follow the recommendations in your owner's manual while your car is under warranty.
Myth: I need to flush my engine before switching to Mobil 1.
Reality:
No special preparation is necessary when switching from conventional motor oil to Mobil 1 or Mobil 1 Extended Performance.
Myth: Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Extended Performance require a special oil filter.
Reality:
While ExxonMobil recommends that you use a high-quality filter, you can use the same type of oil filter that you would normally use with conventional oil. ExxonMobil does offer a very high-quality oil filter that is a perfect companion to Mobil 1. The Mobil 1 Extended Performance Oil Filter contains synthetic blend filter media instead of the typical cellulose filter media. With a 99.2 percent efficiency rating (under SAE J1858 Multi-Pass Efficiency Test), the Mobil 1 filter is much more efficient than a typical oil filter. Its new high-capacity design stores more contaminants (two times the capacity of the leading brand).
Myth: Motorcycles can't benefit from synthetic oil.
Reality:
Motorcycles are an ideal application for synthetic oil. ExxonMobil offers two fully synthetic motor oils for motorcycles:
Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 is recommended for on-road, high-performance, 4-cycle sport bikes, which are typically liquid cooled. It can also be used in air-cooled engines calling for a 10W-40 oil.
Mobil 1 V-Twin is a 20W-50 oil recommended for 4-cycle V-twin engines, particularly those that are air cooled and tend to run hotter than other types of engines.
Myth: Mobil 1 will leak out of the seals of older cars.
Reality:
Mobil 1 does not cause leaks. In fact, new Mobil 1 was tested in dozens of industry standard and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) tests to prove its seal performance. It is fully compatible with the elastomeric materials from which all automotive seals and gaskets are made. If an older engine is in good condition and does not have oil leaks, Mobil 1 provides the same advantages as when used in a new engine. ExxonMobil recommends taking measures to repair the leaks, then using Mobil 1. ExxonMobil also recommends following the automobile manufacturer's manual for the proper oil to use.