As I was looking at a small oil leak at one of my breather grommets, I notice a tan colored pasty residue built-up under the inside of the breather cap. There does not appear to be anything in my oil, anti-freeze or otherwise. I have Mobil One synthetic in it now.

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77 Camaro Z28 (To my grave) and 03 S-10 shorty ZQ8 4.3, (my daily driver)

A tan to white foamy film is common inside the breather cap and also on the PCV when a vehicle is driven in cold weather. If it doesn't happen anymore once the weather consistently stays above 40 degrees, you can probably assume it is just condensation from the cold.

If it is condensation, just keep changing your oil at recommended intervals because all that condensation ends up in your oil, and eventually, the oil detergent has absorbed as much as it can and loses effectiveness.

This is my main reason for not using synthetics. They accumulate just as much water as non-synthetics in cold weather, and you can't risk increasing the oil change intervals to make up for the incresed price of the synthetic oil because that water will damage the engine if left in too long.

[This message has been edited by Gary S (edited February 07, 2005).]

a good way to get rid of the condensation is to just drive the car. A nice long drive to get the oil fully warm will boil all that water right out.

As for synthetics, I run M1 because of the greater resistance to heat. In the summers around here when I'm climbing long, steep hills in 100* heat, it really makes a difference!
I still change at 3K on the Camaro and my daily driver. Remember, Mobil 1 at least does not reccomend extending the service interval.
Besides, it's only $25 per change for oil and filter.

Hey BlueEyes!

Have you seen the new Mobil1 Extended Drain? It can go to 15K!

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Home/Hompage.aspx

The 3k changes are a waste IMO. I used to do this too, but not anymore.

15K oil change intervals aren't really all that new. i worka t a BMW/Mini dealership and we use "BMW" and "Mini" sythetic oil in all our cars although the oil is not anything really special it is just sythetic castrol 15w20, i belive. and BMW and Mini recomends 15K intervasle between oil services. most of the time the oil is dirty but it isn't too bad. I still continue to chage my oil in all my cars religiously at 3K. just becasue of the fact thatnone of my cars run as clean as a BMW or Mini. the cleanest car i have is a small block in my pick up. which it is prolly failry clean right now because it is a newly rebuilt one but the older engines tend to have more blow by. which the oil absorbs some of. which after time it can break down the detergent.

haven't seen the extended drain stuff yet, but I have read about it somewhere. Isn't it 15K or XX months?
The link isn't working on this computer.

15K does sound interesting, but I tend to run 5-30 in winter for the below-freezing days, and 10-30 in summer for the over 100* days, so I'd want to change it before the full 15K. Of course, with extended drains, one could just change oil with the seasons.

Sorry about the link. You may want to check out this site though, they've got tons of info.

www.bobistheoilguy.com (http://www.bobistheoilguy.com)

I've seen these new oils @ Walmart, they go for $5.36/Qt.

FYI-stay away from ANYTHING Castrol full synthetic-there are classified as a Group III Hydro-cracked carbon base....basically meaning they are a petroleum base oil with craploads of "synthetic" additives. They are not a true synthetic. Mobil tried to sue over the use of the term synthetic claiming Castrol was mis-leading consumers. Courts were confused over what really classifies an oil to be deserving of the term synthetic. Mobil lost the case but nevertheless-Castrol Syntec is NOT synthetic at least in base form, and that is the most important thing!

From what I've learned, Valvoline Synpower is also a group III, which apparently isn't worth the price, correct?

Oh Boy! Did I start something here! I did remember looking at the "bobistheoilguy" site at one time and will go back to it. It does not suprise me about castrol and pennzoil. I'll have to look into otherbrands or just go back to a good conventional oil. I have been doing my oil changes on everything I drive 3 months or 3,000 as much as I can. http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif

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77 Camaro Z28 (To my grave) and 03 S-10 shorty ZQ8 4.3, (my daily driver)