Just follow the link HERE (http://autos.aol.com/article/luxury/v2/_a/synthetic-motor-oil/20080430125709990002)

Thanks Ed. That confirms what I've heard a fair bit. Now, if I can just get my hands on that vett...

I wonder if the high price of crude will make the synthetic oils affordable in the future, if it does I might make the switch from conventional motor oil.
As of now my driving style and conditions do not grant the switch to the more expensive synthetic oil. Since I don't get extreme cold weather nor do I drive for extended periods. High temps (around 90º only in the summer) might be the only situation, but 5W-30 is more than enough!

I wonder if the high price of crude will make the synthetic oils affordable in the future, if it does I might make the switch from conventional motor oil.

I tend to have a slightly negative view of corporate America in the past few years. I suspect that if the price of crude continues to increase, and that trickles down to the price we pay for dino oil the manufacturers of synthetic oil will find any excuse to raise the price of their product to keep it in line with the competition.

I now use Mobil 1 synthetic in all my vehicles - and my experiences have NOT confirmed some what this article states. A couple quick examples:

- I didn't switch to synthetic in my '86 Mustang until 120K miles or so. Conventional wisdom would have said oil consumption would have gone up, particularly as the engine gets older. Well, at 210K miles, oil consumption is about what it always has been (approx. 1 quart between changes) - and I've got to believe the tolerances on the engine are pretty open right now (the engine has never been opened up; all internal components are original).

- I switched my '95 Contour V6 to synthetic at 1000 miles. That's right, the car was still practically brand new. No indication of break-in problems (admittedly, the car only has about 75K miles on it). I have *NEVER* needed to add oil between changes; this engine is the tightest I've ever owned from an oil consumption point of view.

Of course, this is just my experience; your mileage may vary.

Oil chemistry has changed a LOT over the past 20 years....
This is true for BOTH conventional and Synthetic oils....
So...what was true 20 years ago is out the window today.
As one can see in my picture series for the lower intake manifold gaskets......my motor was pretty clean at 163K miles.....
I bought my '96 in '99 with just under 38K miles on it.
I used Mobil 1 up through the time the pictures of the lower intake manifold gasket pictures.......and it certainly did the job.
I am STILL using synthetic at over 196K miles....and intend to continue doing so.
I believe that the clean internals is a factor in the fact that I have not had the lubrication issue with the Camshaft Position Sensor ( CPS ) syncro.
Keep track of how things look under that front valve cover.......when you remove the oil fill cap.
That should be an indication of how things are going.
If you see ANY buildup.......rub your finger in around the underside of the valve cover....what you can reach.....
ANY buildup is an indication that you need to change your oil program from what you have been doing.
The "look and finger" test will tell you how things are going.
If it comes up fine....then your program is fine.

All Windstars are fine with the 5W-20 oil as per a FORD TSB that I list in the General Windstar Information sticky.

The line between Synthetic and Conventional has been blurred consideralbly.....and then you add in the synthetic blends.

So....BOTH synthetic and conventional oils have really come a LONG way in the past 20 years.....

Keeping up with ALL of your routine maintenance is KEY to long term vehicle health.

I've been buying Pennzoil Platinum when it's on sale/ rebates and I usually get it for about $2/qt or less. I change oil on the vehicles every six months whether it needs it or not.