Natural to Synthetic Oil, any complications? Options

[hurley97]

I've always used natural oil because thats what I assumed the previous owner used. I want to switch to synthetic but I've heard bad things could come from doing so after using natural for so many years.

I can't remember exactly what possible problems I was told could arise nor can I remember where I heard it but it had something to do with the deposits that form and casing leaks, etc.

Is this just a myth? I plan to just flush the system like I did when I switched weights, would that have any negative consequences?

[hellsyphon]

Depends on the mileage of your engine. usually cars with higher mileage 100k+ when converting from dino oil to synthetic develop leaks usually around the engine seals because of deposits left behind in the engine left behind by dino oil. The deposits keep oil from getting to those areas where the build up and the seals that are covered by that sludge harden over time. Then when you switch to synthetic oil, which has more detergent properties, it will clean away the sludge and leak out of those hardened seals. Your best bet is to use Auto-Rx if you have a higher mileage engine for a few runs. It will clean out those deposits in your engine and recondition your seals so you have a lesser chance of developing a leak. After a couple runs of it you should be fine. Unless you know that your engine has been maintained very well its life with 3-5k oil changes everytime, I'd play it safe and run auto-rx through a couple times and then you'd be good to go to synthetic. Hope that helps.