AND per his closing statement "so does synthetic oil cause oil leaks in older engines? well not in the case of my 45 year old tractor. that was a sample size of one." he understands this is just one experiment and is simply giving you his experience with a detailed list of events. basically, scientific experiments because he is doing the same steps that are required for one.
Main reason I stop watching other videos is when another project farm pops up. I know I'm about to learn something and it will not be a waste of time! Man, the effort put into making these vids is phenomenal!!!
Actually I enjoyed seeing the mowing part. Living in the city how many people do you think have seen how they use tractor to do it. Always enjoy the video. Let's compare the drones taking the video please.
The only true RUclipsr who doesn’t click bait actually sees people’s comments ideas and does them. It may take him awhile but he does see them and comments on them thanks for being such a great RUclipsr!
@@ProjectFarm I like to know as i'm wondering where Rotella stands on the list (in the competition) of all the oils that where tested.One more thing Project Farm if i may advise....can you do a list on a big white board (to make it really clear to us viewers) of all the oils you did and show which oil is the best for friction,heat evapourating process and cold flow test in order as they're all different and some are better in the winter than others but fail on the evap test.So viewers can determine what oil to use if eg. If they live in freezing temp,hot temps and also wants to know the best anti wear protection for the summer and for the winter.Good idea? P.S Getting close to the 1M subs mate.Respect from the UK.
Tardeli costantini hello, but do theu still sell HOLTS , car products, Used to see them when I was a youngster, my dad even used to use some of them,CHEERS FROM NJ...USA. 🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
I think the theory of it leaking is because a leak already exists, but the conventional oil already sludges up over time and sealed the leak. Then by adding synthetic, it penetrates and cleans out that area and therefore may start to leak again.
This aligns with what I've seen too. I run synthetic in my old Volvo turbo cars it noticeably cleans up the deposits that normally form in the camshaft area on top of the cylinder head. I've switched to synthetic on an old car that looked black and gummy in there and several months later it's squeak clean aluminum.
I spoke with Amsoil in regards to this some years back and that's exactly what it is. Synthetic oil will not cause a seal to go bad, it only exposes a bad seal. Typically conventional oil will create deposits and buildup and actually cause nicks and wear at the seal and as stated, end up sealing up the leak from the poor performance of the oil whereas synthetic oil comes in and cleans out all of those built up deposits exposing the leak/damaged seal. 👍
Worked for as a mechanic for years, when I was in school in 00'-02' my best teacher told us about his experience with synthetic oil. When a carbureted engine switched from conventional to syn, adjustments were required to get idle back to spec, and if sludge or deposits were hiding a bad seal, it would be revealed in short order, so be prepared...
What I have been told is that Synthetic oil doesn’t attack the engine seals, but instead it cleans up any engine sludge which been helping poor seals from leaking. Great video!
@@BicBones yes, also the particle size is just about all the same, except the additives of course. Conventional oil varies in particle size. Maybe high quality oil removes the sludge, which is helping to seal the engine, thus causing a leak.
Yes, exactly. It makes leaks worse; I'm not sure if it's just due to being synthetic, or simply a thinner base stock(the 5W vs 15W part). I will say in my experience, with 7.3 IDIs... If you've got a typical older engine with weeping seals - a few drops here and there, not enough to worry about - on 15W40... do NOT use 5W40 synthetic! It's going to start leaking massively. On the other hand, if you've resealed the motor... go ahead! It'll be fine.
"I'm going to put the filter media in a press to squeeze the oil out" *Expects a professional hydraulic press of some sort* ... it's a vice with a couple 2x4's... Keeping it real. This is why I subscribed!
@@ProjectFarm Hi I've been working in the automobile business and I have 19years as a mechanic and I never heard of synthetic oil causing leaks unless they lower viscosity.
These oil leaks were an excuse used by oil companies back in the late 60’s & 70’s to keep people from switching over to synthetic, early Mobil 1 was the blamed oil. Most of the time, I found that leaks were already present, and the synthetic oil would find the path of least resistance, thus creating an oil leak that was not noticed prior by the owner or the mechanic
@@ProjectFarm Can you review Amalie engine oil either the high mileage or full synthetic blend compared to some of your top brands? Royal Purple, Amsoil, Penzoil?
With all you've done to those engines during every episode, you make engine work look a lot more simple and a lot less intimidating than i originally thought. You explain things very well
@@ProjectFarm Why do you have large fields of wild grass and brush? I'm confused. Wouldn't this attract a lot of insects? Does livestock go out there? And those aren't alfalfa fields, are they? No offense, but this is what my family referred to as a hillbilly farm or a rich city slicker farm for recreation and dirt bikes etc. And yeah, they were kill joys. Haha It doesn't seem like the most ideal land management. If they are wild meadows which are only cut ocassionaly, do you spray for insects? The mosquitos this would attract would annoy the hell out of me. I'm itching just looking at it.
It may sound strange to some people , but l actually felt a peace come over me as l watched the tractor shredding the weeds and grass. I guess it's because it brought back memories of my granpa on a farm tractor working the land. I was a boy and enjoyed those long, peaceful days, sitting under the huge oak tree watching the tractor go by. Thanks Project Farm . I really enjoy your videos, extremely informative. God bless.
Would love to see an oil filter comparison test like Fram, Motorcraft, Wix, Napa Gold, AC Delco, Purolator, STP, Mopar. Always love watching product comparisons. Also notice that tractor did a wheelie(awesome)!
You’ve taught me a lot more than anyone else ever could about how an engine works, what to use and what not to use and just about life in general. Thanks for teaching us all something.
I am addicted to @Project Farms videos as the testing results are quantitative, factual, and not interpretational. The hard work and detail in the videos is very impressive. Great work and look forward to watching more videos. Thanks!
He goes farther in depth that almost anyone else I've watched. I've watched a lot of other tool review channels and while they cover some details they don't actually do the tests I see done on this channel. Not only that a lot of it is somewhat contrary to what they said before. Not on this channel. Strait to the point and i don't see any bias at all. The winner is the winner. I think the only guy who goes into extreme detail is AvE but he tests things slightly different. But that being said... only 1 guy goes into more detail, out of the dozens out there... this channel is top quality stuff 👌 👏 I've watched nearly every video as they are released. These teats help me determine where to spend my hard earned money and it also saves me a lot of stress from dealing with sub par tools/equipment that would have otherwise wasted my time.
I love your videos. Very informative and to the point. Being a professional automotive technician for 40 yrs , Its nice to see someone who actually understand and takes the time to explain whats going on, an art thats lost in this day and age. With that being said, my personal 86 F250 6.9 Diesel always used a qt of oil every 500-750 miles. Oil changes done religiously at 3K. When I switched to the exact synthetic you used in this video, the truck would use 1 qt of oil every 250-300 miles. Never leaked any. After 3K miles , and 10 qts of oil added , I switched back to conventional oil and it went back to the same 1 qt every 500-750 miles. I did not notice any MPG improvement or changes in power when using the synthetic . Truck had 200K at that time. Keep up with the great videos !!
As everyone is saying - excellent, instructive videos and experiments with no fluff or wasted time. Good work. (I've converted a dozen cars and motorcycles to synthetic at low to very high mileages and no leaks that weren't already there)
@@joelkelly169 A lot of old things were very crummy back in the day as well. We just have a survivor ship bias because only the good old things are still around in use and the crummy ones are in the dump.
After working for over 40 years on all types of vehicles and support equipment (generators and air compressors) I've learned that synthetic oil use has caused leaks to start on equipment but it is not because the oil damages any component or seals; the reason these leaks start is that synthetic oils have a higher detergent content and they clean up all the dried up gunk between the seals and the shafts. these deposits are built up over years of use and they get caked on to the seals, once the synthetic oil cleans this mess up the hardened seals are not able to keep the oil in the assemblies. So the answer is NO, synthetic oil does not cause leaks, worn seals/shafts do.
Do modern synthetics contain newer detergents that also eat up older gasket and seal material in the same way a lot of older engines don't like ethanol fuel?
Excellent cinematography in this one!! I've been using Mobil 1 High Mileage for quite a while now in my older Acuras to prevent oil leaks (so far, none detected). They claim to have additives to prevent and stop oil leaks by swelling and rejuvenating the seals. It would be cool for you to put that claim to the test!
The problem with synthetic oil and older cars is that the oil has thin molecules and find places to get out easily. But they lubricate a lot better. What I'd like to know, how good does that miracle oil works?
Your tractor is in Great shape for its age. You really take care of your equipment. Thank you for all your time and effort in these videos. We all appreciate you!
Never mind friends with, I’d love to BE this guy. All that land and toys to play with, and making videos about things that up til recently, I thought I was the only person this interested in lol.
There are teachers and there are students in the world - sir you are a teacher ( leader ) love your vids you are someone that wants to teach humans what you know and so good for you. I love people that are achiever's in life and not just people that want things don for them. Hats off to people like you - Hats off to you mister your vid's are very helpful to my life and everyone watching should stand up and applaud humans like you - thank you for being my teacher.
I once had a '77 Cadillac Seville I bought used with 60k miles on it. It came from the factory with a 350 Oldsmobile gas engine. It had a slight rear main seal leak when I bought it, but it stopped completely after switching to Mobil 1 synthetic oil. I had read in Popular Mechanics that synthetic motor oil actually soften hardening neoprene seals. So it worked on that car and have been using it in all my cars with no oil leaks on any of them.
when I switched to synthetic oil on my 1963 KMZ (Dnepr) K750M, it did start to leak oil around the alternator, but not because the oil eat or destroyed the seal, but because it worked so well with its anti sludge properties, that the old gunked up oil around the old seal (just one big o-ring) was removes, but after replacing that seal, my engine works like a charm :P (the old seal was dry and had no elasticity left)
That makes complete sense. The only time I had a negative effect with synthetic oils was on my Old 93 Jeep 4.0 H.O. Was stuck out in the Trees and she started to burn oil which it never has done and knock with Amsoil 10-30. The old flat tapper camshaft didn’t like it. I switched back to shell and little STP and now 4 years later she’s started to get a Tired out with 230k Jeep miles on her. Time for a rebuild.
In my experience with synthetic oils,I have found that if an engine has any seeping or slightly leaking gaskets,the use of synthetic will worsen a seepage to a leak and will worsen a slight leak to a real leak.I found this to be true on a 1995 Grand cherokee with a 4.0 6 cyl .101,000 miles and a seeping valve cover gasket(not dripping) and an oil pan that would leave a drip or 2 in the driveway only about once a week.After doing an oil change with synthetic,only a day or 2 later there were multiple heavier drips on the driveway.Much worse than before.So bad after a week that I did another oil change changing back to conventional.So where synthetic oils dont make a nonleaking engine leak oil, it appears to make any seeping or leaking much worse .
Great video, you put so much work into each one, serious respect! I think synthetic oil is perfectly fine to use, in the heavy equipment industry we use synthetic (sometimes T6 actually) in everything including old equipment with tens of thousands of hours.
It really is crazy how much work he does for each video (some more than others of coarse) and the money he lays out is crazy. I’m positive in many of his vids he looses money.
They were the best 👌 I didn't know they would just set there I've got to get 1 now thanks for all of your videos and time I tell so many people to watch your videos no bs and hear exactly what u came for !! Every time!!!
High quality synthetic oil has anti-sludge additives that can sometimes open old paths that were closed by dried sludge causing a leak. But this means that the seal was probably bad and due for replacement.
Dead-on with that one. Also, thought, as was done in this video, you can safely go to a lighter oil and still receive better protection with a full synthetic oil, and thinner oil doesn’t need as large of a gap to get a leak going.
I was taught the synthetic has a smaller molecular structure and that is what would cause the leak. If I also add in what Vlado T said and think about gaskets and seals being made stronger now. That really makes sense why leaks would've happened in the past and dot now
I was a little surprised to see you add that oil additive for compression help, being a self- proclaimed skeptic of products like that, but it made me feel better cuz I do it too. Thanks Todd
RUclipsrs who test Oil issues in their old tractor by cutting weeds and hay on ~20 acres: Zero Project Farm: "seemed like a logical, good test". Thanks for your incredible work!
My experience as a mechanic: Typically, in a well maintained, or newer, or low miles/hours, or engine that started using synthetic oil early in its life, won't leak at all. Older engines, or ones with high mileage and have never used synthetic almost always leak when switching to it. Synthetic oil itself doesn't cause leaks, it simply exposes already bad seals that the conventional oil couldn't sleep through. Once you change the seals, the leaks stop. Great video as always! I especially liked the T4 and T6 comparison, thank you
I agree. The oil must have lower viscocity compared vith any old oils. That is the reason it will leak easier. That tractor does not have worn zimmers.
My 1970 Massey 165 69 303 massey oliver super 88 99 silverado john deere 1010 doesn't leak t6 some of this equipment is over 50 years old Put it this way if the engine has bad leaky seals it gonna leak . I use t6 in almost all my equipment diesel and gasoline aside from my Detroit 2 strokes .
I bought an '05 crown vic that did not leak, i was adamant about no leaks... Gave it a fully synthetic change with expensive stuff. Wix filter and all.. Within 800-1000 miles she was leaking from the pan gasket half the way aroung plus other areas! SO PISSED!! Its a mint(meh nearly for 150k) Learning the hard way sure sucks! At least ill never forget the lesson.omg
Syntetic oil is not the primary cause of leaks. It just wash away slug from the seals and if seal are already old and lost its elasticity or damaged - it will leak. Also modern syntetic engine oils will darken faster than mineral oils, just because they washing better... just my opinion. Also sorry for broken english and maybe typos.
I’m a little late in viewing this one, awesome video! In my experience , I used to be highly skeptical of synthetic because of this myth. I did have my truck start leaking after synthetic use, however, i believe it already was seeping and the synthetic oil flowed better making it look like a new leak. I have since been running amsoil in all my vehicles, all are older with over 250k miles and none of them leak a drop
I have been using synthetics since I got my drivers licence back in 1976, Back when Mobil 1 was about the only synthetic oil out there. Back then everyone said don't use it your engine will leak oil and your bearings will go bad, well none of that happened. In 79 I was in the U.S.A.F. stationed in northern Main after a blizzard and temps well below -35F my jeep with Mobil 1 in it was the only car in the barracks parking lot that started.
Eugene Tuorto Just a better breed of oil from the beginning. Thanks for sharing this, I didn’t know that we’d had synthetics commercially available since the ‘70s.
@@Cjbarker2 Mobil 1 used to have a commercial with a famous football player trying to hold the end of a screw driver dipped in Mobil 1 , I will have to see if I can find it on YT.
Regardless of this videos age and the rest, you’re relentless and undervalued. More lay testing like this in more fields is going to revolutionize quality and advertising, expose those with lesser quality products and hide the fact with flashy colors on a bottle.
Just discovered your channel. It is first-class in every way. About 18 months ago I bought a project truck 94 F250 with7.3 IDI engine. I bought it because it ran so strong. First I changed all the fluids not knowing what kind of oil was used in it before. From the time I owned it until I got the time to start working on it, I noticed it didn't have a leak of anything. First I changed the oil and went to a synthetic. Since then I have spent $$$ on body and paint. Though not many miles were put on the truck I noticed a small leak in time out of the rear seal. I put a quality stop leak additive in it but it has not stopped the leak. After seeing this video and reading the comments I now understand how the new oil may have created the leak. I've also noticed a small seeping of the valve cover gaskets that wasn't there before. I will have the repairs done because I can't stand any leaks in any of my cars. Now, I'm wondering to avoid any new leaks after the repairs should I go back to conventional oil? I don't want to create any new leaks that are not there now? Your opinion would be greatly appreciated. PS there is no wonder why your channel is doing so well. Your stats are off the hook. Your hard work has really paid off. Good for you.
I am far from a professional, however work in the automotive industry. I like the video. The general consistence on synthetic oils is they do not cause leaks. Leaks observed after switching from a conventional to a synthetic oil are results of the detergents and additive package cleaning up sludge and deposits with in the engine. This added to the fact that synthetic oils are designed to flow better results in existing small leaks to become more obvious.
I think also this issue was a lot more common in the 80s when people were just starting to try synthetic oil, in cars that already had a few miles on them. Back then everything had a rear main seal leak after 75k miles!😂
Sure, the car had leaks with conventional oil, it's just that it had a lot more deposits that clogged the holes, so you couldn't see the leaks. With syntetic you're just removing those deposits, and then leaks can occur.
You’re videos are always very well done. I know that you don’t get paid by sponsors but you should. I use rotella T6 in my Jeep 4.0 and it works awesome. No leaks and the internals look very clean.
A customer of mine in Owasso, OK, has a Ford Powerstroke Diesel, 7.3L with over 325,000 miles; he began using AMSOIL 100% Synthetic 15w-40 Diesel (DME) at 200,000 miles and still no leaks. Another very happy end-user. Thanks Scott.
So, synthetic motor oils that cause “leaks” are generally from the effectiveness of synthetics cleaning varnish/gel on neglected engines. Any wear or leaks may have just been masked. Also, still would love to see synthetic show-down on the new 0w-16 Toyota/Honda/Mobil one stuff and same for 0w-20 OEM oil from the Japanese imports compared to each other and high ends like valvoline advanced syn, penzoil ultra platinum, amsoil etc
I run 0W16 WalMart (Warren) Full Synthetic oil and Wix filter for my Japanese Engine, and it has held up amazingly well. I do 5,000 miles with mine and it is still rather clean for 5k when I change it. It has taken the roughness out of the engine from when I had to run 5W20 in it and my fuel mileage when up to 43mpg avg as my trips are about 75% highway miles.
That is not entirely true. Seal polymers change volume depending on the chemicals that are exposed to. Synthetic oil tend to swell seals less than mineral oil. For this reason some suppliers add "seal swellers" to the oil so the problem is completely gone. This is an issue that was relevant 30 years ago. Modern seals tend to behave better with synthetic oils.
I started using Mobil 1 synthetic oil over 30 years ago. I used it in a '77 Cadillac Seville that had the 350 Oldsmobile engine that had a rear main leak. The leak stopped. Same thing happened to my '75 Blazer. I once read in Popular Mechanics that normal motor motor oil actually hardens seals over time, and that synthetics actually softens them. They said they put an additive in it to reduce the amount of softening it does. Still use it in all my cars, plus the Mobil 1 for diesels in my '14 GMC 2500HD.
On my 36+ years old Audi the synthetic oil didn't start a leak, also when switching from partially to 100% synthetic on my 15 years old BMW it didn't start any leaks! Keep the good video coming mate, I love your videos.
Both cars are way to young. "Old" means in regards to possible sealing issues due to synthetic oil - pre WWII ans slightly after... till the 1960s max.
@@Slazlo-Brovnik 30 years is considered antique in the car world. Different engine compression and material plus different seals are used since the 80s - 90s and up to 2000 cars have changed alot. For this type of test it doesn't need to be an engine from the 60s-
@@fragglefknrock7568 Sorry - but ... no. The question is not if a car of this and that age is considered "antique" or not, this is just a word. The question is why exactly synthetic oil might be a problem. And that is the case because of some seal-materials used in older cars. These seals can be damaged by synthetic oil. I could go a bit more in the details here but unfortunately I do not know the english technical terms for the materials etc. in question (I am German). Basically the design features in question have been in use prior WWII and maybe a bit after that. More or less those seals (and some other design aspects such as the absence of an oil-filter) are not in use anymore since the early 60s. Of course stuff changed from 80s -90s to today, but for the question at hand that does not matter - the important change was done way before that. So again: Regarding the question "How old must an engine be, so that synthetic oil may be harmful to it" the answer is: It must be build prior ca. 1965. Okay, there is ONE possible issue with that statement, and that is: I am talking about European engines. It may be that in the US those older designs where used longer. But I doubt that. And even if: Not into the 80s. And BTW: Project Farms test just kinda supports my statement, don't you think?
Synthetic oils are not only lubricants, but they do a great job at dissolving and suspending carbon deposits and sludge that may be present in the crankcase otherwise when using a conventional oil. Switching from a conventional to a group 3 semi synthetic (what the US market calls a fully synthetic oil) in a car with leaky seals may cause those leaky seals to reveal themselves. Although some people may think that means it is better to stick to a conventional oil (as you may leak less), I advise against leaving the engine in such a state of neglect, as you will eventually clog and oil passage and starve components of oil. Synthetic oil is always worth the money in my book, especially in a turbocharged or high performance application.
I just learned in school about why synthetic oil can cause leaks in older engines: It containes a lot of detergents and "cleaning" agents and this might cause old tiny gaps or cracks that where already present but sealed off by years of grime and dirt to suddenly become exposed. Combine that with how insanely thin this oil can be to reduce the load in certain temperature conditions and you might risk a leak. If an engine was made to run on mineral oil, keep it that way. Just use what the manufacturer recommends.
Hate to tell you, man: nobody is on this channel to hear what can theoretically happen or what the manufacturer recommendation is. We've all heard both of those things a million times and learned that both are unreliable in real world testing. We're here to see the results of TESTING what the manufacturer recommends and learn from actual examples of how often the theory becomes reality. So the question becomes: when you learned about what could happen in school, did they cite a paper where we could see the actual data? Because the people watching this channel aren't interested in the abstract section of the paper. They want the data.
Great video! I buy all kinds of old vehicles that have been sitting and I revive them and keep them going. I always change oil as a start to any of them and usually run a cheaper conventional oil first then switch to a good quality synthetic after a few hundred miles. I've never seen a leak start from synthetic oil. Even the other day I asked for an oil change kit as my local parts store and the guy behind the counter asked if I'd always used synthetic in it. First time I was ever asked that. He said they can cause leaks and honestly I'd never heard that before. I told him I'll take the risk based on my years of the same routine! Thanks for this video!
This was very interesting. I just watched this with our mobile 1 engineer and reliability department at a gold mine in northern Ontario. We thought it was great, thanks
This channel should have 5 million subs. These are the most controlled test of consumer products on the market. You've saved everyone a ton of money over the years on buying snake oil.
You're the only youtuber I turn my adblocker off for. Thank you for all you do! I know this takes a lot of time and money and I appreciate it. I dont have any video recommendations because you've been so good at picking up the ones I would want to see but didn't even realize I wanted to see it until you did it!
I have a 20 yr old truck Chevy 2500 HD ive owned since new w/ 178k mi. and used synthetic the last 10 yrs, no new leaks but it has been weeping from rear seal for also about 10 yrs, but doesn't leak enough to even leave a drop on the ground. I am hooked on these videos. Thank you.
Man, I’ve always appreciated this channel for the large amount of unbiased detailed information. But after watching this, there is even MORE detailed information and facts that I have never considered. Project Farm has been and always will be the most awesome RUclips channels out there. Thank you.
@@ProjectFarm , I couldn't agree more with Jimmy. I don't know if you follow Shanna Simmons ( research engineer for Shell Oil) on RUclips. I think you will find her results pretty close to yours.
Great video testing as usual. Have a 96 exmark mower, 2004 Kubota L48 TLB and a 2011 F250 diesel. All after breaking used mobile one syn, 2 years ago switched to T-6 have had no problems. The backhoe is a bit quieter. The Ford runs about 4 degrees cooler and also use it in my snowblower and stand by generator. No complaints. Thx, your very informative.
PF, I can honestly recommend your vids to ANYONE who loves Science. Thanks for all you do here. Can I ask, while you were out doing the fieldwork, who was it that was operating the drone? And some of those shots really made me smile too!
I really love how utilitarian your channel is, and it’s filmed very well too. I must admit I’ve taken inspiration from you while getting my own channel going. Thanks for your awesome content!
When you opened that oil filter I saw a large chunk of metal, thought "Oh Man your tractor is toast!" Turned out to be a chunk of dust on my laptop screen. Please keep these great videos coming!
Old radial aircraft engines were expected to have chunks every oil change. 1-2mm isn't uncommon. Granted, those have a stack of mesh screens, not actual paper material.
Excellent video, I believe this theory about synthetic oil came from someone who already had an oil leak but didn't know it due to old thick oil. After putting in a lower viscosity synthetic the small leak became significantly more noticable
I love this channel. Thanks for the tip on "Engine Restore." My 25 year old Kubota is now starting up almost immediately. I've also been running T-6 in it for a couple of years with no leaks.
@@ProjectFarm there is no way synthetic oil can cause a leak. Maybe its cleaning out the dirt then it starts leaking but not on a good engine. I only use synthetic. I put it in lawn mower, car. Motor bike, honda gx engine, it dosnt have anything in it to damage seals or any other parts but it is moor resistant to heating and takes longer to break down. Anyway great video as usual i love what your doing keep using synthetic in that tractor👍 big thumbs up👍
I used to take care of a fleet of buses. We used Shell Rotella 15w40. One day the powers to be ordered synthetic oil that was supposed to be the equivalent to the Rotella. I said we don't want to go there. They said to use it. Well we did. Lost one engine and three others took up smoking. Needless to say the powers to be decided that I was right. Synthetic has its place but there are some applications that it doesn't fit. I use the T4 in everything, and I mean everything. From my tractor to the riding mower. Some have argued with me but, seeing is believing. Seen synthetics used in the wrong application and the damage done. Never seen one cause seals to leak though. Great videos. Thanks for sharing.
This “myth” has never stopped me from using synthetic in anything. Synthetic is pretty much always better than regular oil so I try to take advantage of that
Always go synthetic it makes a huge difference. I even use synthetic in my commercial lawn mowers and snowblowers, it’s amazing how much longer the oil stays a light amber color. When I would use conventional sae 30 it would turn black in 1 day or less. Also much easier cold starts when the temps are low in spring and fall on the larger engines on the zero turns. Used to kill batteries cranking in the morning start at least once a week on something, now never.
It lasts longer thats it.if you change your oil often there is no need for it.you can change the oil on 12k km intervals with syntetic. I use both depending on the budget.you can switch from syntetic to regular without any harm to an engine..i tested it since 25yrs allways done it on all of my engines
Hands down best videos on RUclips!! Tells u exactly what you want to hear every time!! Not about what is going on with the cat and dog and every body else that walks in the videos thanks for that 100% 👍
I always like your testing, very impressive and thoughtful. I started using synthetic oils in the late '70s, Mobil 1. That was because of military experience with them in jets. The "leaks" are generally from older motors, that have used conventional oils and there is "sludge" build up. This generally collects in recessed areas of seals. Due to the improved detergent action of syn-oils, and ability to flow freely, the gunk that was actually acting like a plug gets cleaned out and that is the leak source. Mobil had a great series of informative articles that compared natural and syn oils after very high mileage and hard service uses (taxis) and compared cleaning actions. You may be able to find those. Didn't expect tractor to leak, however get an old Ford with 300k on it and try the same test with a normal 3000 mile test, you may see something there Keep up the tests, really enjoyable, like AvE and Big Clive
Ah great I tried T6 in a 150k 5.8L Windsor engine and it runs good but burns a bit. Back to the Motorcraft semi-synthetic 5w-30 I reckon, hopefully that'll pack some sludge back in there
@@KingAdrock420 I am thinking back a long time ago, cork gaskets and Permatex, and Pennzoil. Lots of build up. Mobil did tests and synthetic oil had superior cleaning and they did not reccomend on high time motors. They even advertised you could run that oil for a year, just replace the filter at recommended intervals and top up the oil. I did that on my Toyota , a 1977 Corolla and drove the snot out of it. I had an oil temp gauge too and it ran cooler, lower friction?
I changed the oil in my 1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo to Amsoil Signature 10W-30. The car started leaking a significant amount of oil after about 1000 miles of driving. What a mechanic told me is older cars can start leaks converting to full synthetic usually because of the better cleaning provided by synthetic. (old oil deposits being removed that were preventing the leaks). interesting to see it had no effect on your tractor.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this video,.. or any of Project Farm's videos. If you want facts, ( bear in mind that 'facts' by definition, are self evident truths ) on the products you use, then this channel is the one to subscribe to.
People should take notes on how he does videos.
Straight and to the point, no clickbait or unnecessary talking to fill time. Thank you.
AND per his closing statement "so does synthetic oil cause oil leaks in older engines? well not in the case of my 45 year old tractor. that was a sample size of one." he understands this is just one experiment and is simply giving you his experience with a detailed list of events. basically, scientific experiments because he is doing the same steps that are required for one.
Main reason I stop watching other videos is when another project farm pops up. I know I'm about to learn something and it will not be a waste of time! Man, the effort put into making these vids is phenomenal!!!
I do love his style... But 5min of mowing certainly couldn't be considered filler lol
Actually I enjoyed seeing the mowing part. Living in the city how many people do you think have seen how they use tractor to do it. Always enjoy the video. Let's compare the drones taking the video please.
K N Plus the way that he pours oil into the beakers,
.. no spill☝️ even to the edge
The only true RUclipsr who doesn’t click bait actually sees people’s comments ideas and does them. It may take him awhile but he does see them and comments on them thanks for being such a great RUclipsr!
Thank you very much!!
@@ProjectFarm Respect is where respect is due.
@@ProjectFarm I like to know as i'm wondering where Rotella stands on the list (in the competition) of all the oils that where tested.One more thing Project Farm if i may advise....can you do a list on a big white board (to make it really clear to us viewers) of all the oils you did and show which oil is the best for friction,heat evapourating process and cold flow test in order as they're all different and some are better in the winter than others but fail on the evap test.So viewers can determine what oil to use if eg. If they live in freezing temp,hot temps and also wants to know the best anti wear protection for the summer and for the winter.Good idea? P.S Getting close to the 1M subs mate.Respect from the UK.
I have a 48 year old Harley and if it didn't leak oil I would be worried.
Tardeli costantini hello, but do theu still sell HOLTS , car products, Used to see them when I was a youngster, my dad even used to use some of them,CHEERS FROM NJ...USA. 🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
I think the theory of it leaking is because a leak already exists, but the conventional oil already sludges up over time and sealed the leak. Then by adding synthetic, it penetrates and cleans out that area and therefore may start to leak again.
Thanks for the feedback.
I think you may be right, or that the synthetic is thin enough to slip through.
This aligns with what I've seen too. I run synthetic in my old Volvo turbo cars it noticeably cleans up the deposits that normally form in the camshaft area on top of the cylinder head. I've switched to synthetic on an old car that looked black and gummy in there and several months later it's squeak clean aluminum.
I spoke with Amsoil in regards to this some years back and that's exactly what it is.
Synthetic oil will not cause a seal to go bad, it only exposes a bad seal.
Typically conventional oil will create deposits and buildup and actually cause nicks and wear at the seal and as stated, end up sealing up the leak from the poor performance of the oil whereas synthetic oil comes in and cleans out all of those built up deposits exposing the leak/damaged seal. 👍
Worked for as a mechanic for years, when I was in school in 00'-02' my best teacher told us about his experience with synthetic oil. When a carbureted engine switched from conventional to syn, adjustments were required to get idle back to spec, and if sludge or deposits were hiding a bad seal, it would be revealed in short order, so be prepared...
The amount of work you put into you're videos makes you a legend and you deserve more then you get!
Thanks for the nice comment!
What I have been told is that Synthetic oil doesn’t attack the engine seals, but instead it cleans up any engine sludge which been helping poor seals from leaking. Great video!
This is exactly it. Source: auto tech.
I've also heard somewhere that it has smaller molicules and will make it's way through where conventional oil won't.
@@BicBones yes, also the particle size is just about all the same, except the additives of course. Conventional oil varies in particle size. Maybe high quality oil removes the sludge, which is helping to seal the engine, thus causing a leak.
Synthetics reveal leaks, not cause them
Yes, exactly. It makes leaks worse; I'm not sure if it's just due to being synthetic, or simply a thinner base stock(the 5W vs 15W part).
I will say in my experience, with 7.3 IDIs... If you've got a typical older engine with weeping seals - a few drops here and there, not enough to worry about - on 15W40... do NOT use 5W40 synthetic! It's going to start leaking massively.
On the other hand, if you've resealed the motor... go ahead! It'll be fine.
"I'm going to put the filter media in a press to squeeze the oil out" *Expects a professional hydraulic press of some sort* ... it's a vice with a couple 2x4's... Keeping it real. This is why I subscribed!
lol. Thank you!!
@@ProjectFarm Hi I've been working in the automobile business and I have 19years as a mechanic and I never heard of synthetic oil causing leaks unless they lower viscosity.
These oil leaks were an excuse used by oil companies back in the late 60’s & 70’s to keep people from switching over to synthetic, early Mobil 1 was the blamed oil. Most of the time, I found that leaks were already present, and the synthetic oil would find the path of least resistance, thus creating an oil leak that was not noticed prior by the owner or the mechanic
This man is GENIUS
@@ProjectFarm Can you review Amalie engine oil either the high mileage or full synthetic blend compared to some of your top brands? Royal Purple, Amsoil, Penzoil?
This is hands down the best channel I've seen for practical, concise product analysis.
Thanks!
This man puts SO much work into these videos!!
Thanks!
Can we just appreciate how he replies to 95 percent off comments at this amount of subscribers? Edit -how many likes lol
Hes the real mvp
Yes, isn't that wonderful. I was saying that a few months back. You just don't see that often on YT.
He probably has his family helping out
Hahahah right, hes replied to every comment ive made for 2 years
@Mike B allways replied to me so I say yes he does as well
I think I speak for most people when I say it's very satisfying watching your work in the field
Thank you very much! I'll try to begin adding more of that type of video footage.
I would love a tractor. It could've prevented or slowed down a fire I had on my property last month. Hunting season isn't happening for me this year.
I am astonished at the production quality of these videos. What a well done job.
Thanks!
With all you've done to those engines during every episode, you make engine work look a lot more simple and a lot less intimidating than i originally thought. You explain things very well
Thank you very much!
this man has managed to make a race between oils feel exciting, well done sir!
It's content
Thank you!
Seems like watching an F1 race 🤣
More exciting than NASCAR nowadays for sure.
And start a fight ! Bonus
I can’t believe the amount of work that went into making this video. The drone shots/editing in particular are amazing! Love this channel!!
Thank you!
@Alex I was thinking that too. I was thinking to myself he must have a dozen or more episodes in the making at any given time! Lol
@@ProjectFarm you really have a lot of time on your hands huh? Nice work.
Ain't nothing worth doing if you ain't gonna do it right
@@ProjectFarm Why do you have large fields of wild grass and brush? I'm confused. Wouldn't this attract a lot of insects?
Does livestock go out there? And those aren't alfalfa fields, are they?
No offense, but this is what my family referred to as a hillbilly farm or a rich city slicker farm for recreation and dirt bikes etc. And yeah, they were kill joys. Haha
It doesn't seem like the most ideal land management. If they are wild meadows which are only cut ocassionaly, do you spray for insects? The mosquitos this would attract would annoy the hell out of me. I'm itching just looking at it.
It may sound strange to some people , but l actually felt a peace come over me as l watched the tractor shredding the weeds and grass. I guess it's because it brought back memories of my granpa on a farm tractor working the land. I was a boy and enjoyed those long, peaceful days, sitting under the huge oak tree watching the tractor go by. Thanks Project Farm . I really enjoy your videos, extremely informative. God bless.
Thanks so much!
Would love to see an oil filter comparison test like Fram, Motorcraft, Wix, Napa Gold, AC Delco, Purolator, STP, Mopar. Always love watching product comparisons. Also notice that tractor did a wheelie(awesome)!
Thanks for the suggestion.
You’ve taught me a lot more than anyone else ever could about how an engine works, what to use and what not to use and just about life in general. Thanks for teaching us all something.
Appreciate hearing! Thanks for watching.
@@ProjectFarm same here also is that a Ford 5000
I like how you popped a wheelie in the tractor
lol. Yes, heavy brush hog!
Video idea - does popping wheelies in tractors cause accelerated wear on steering components? Let's find out!
Kenny C. Ha ha ha ha!
Tractors have lots of torque.
@@grassroot011 that and the engine being part of the framework translates that torque very well no flex to soak it up
I am addicted to @Project Farms videos as the testing results are quantitative, factual, and not interpretational. The hard work and detail in the videos is very impressive. Great work and look forward to watching more videos. Thanks!
Thanks so much!
Your shear enthusiasm is so inspiring.
Thank you so much for your channel!
You are so welcome!
You're such an awesome person and youtuber don't ever stop producing these high quality and high informative videos!
Thank you very much!
@@ProjectFarm You are! I Love Your Videos! It's like the thing most of us mechanical types have always wondered and possibly wanted to do!
I completely agree with you!
He is an asset to the world.
He goes farther in depth that almost anyone else I've watched. I've watched a lot of other tool review channels and while they cover some details they don't actually do the tests I see done on this channel. Not only that a lot of it is somewhat contrary to what they said before. Not on this channel. Strait to the point and i don't see any bias at all. The winner is the winner. I think the only guy who goes into extreme detail is AvE but he tests things slightly different. But that being said... only 1 guy goes into more detail, out of the dozens out there... this channel is top quality stuff 👌 👏 I've watched nearly every video as they are released. These teats help me determine where to spend my hard earned money and it also saves me a lot of stress from dealing with sub par tools/equipment that would have otherwise wasted my time.
This is by far one of the best channels on RUclips. No bs straight forward and to the point. Keep up the great work.
Thanks!
THAT'S YOUR OPINION ONLY
I love your videos. Very informative and to the point. Being a professional automotive technician for 40 yrs , Its nice to see someone who actually understand and takes the time to explain whats going on, an art thats lost in this day and age. With that being said, my personal 86 F250 6.9 Diesel always used a qt of oil every 500-750 miles. Oil changes done religiously at 3K. When I switched to the exact synthetic you used in this video, the truck would use 1 qt of oil every 250-300 miles. Never leaked any. After 3K miles , and 10 qts of oil added , I switched back to conventional oil and it went back to the same 1 qt every 500-750 miles. I did not notice any MPG improvement or changes in power when using the synthetic . Truck had 200K at that time. Keep up with the great videos !!
Thanks, will do. Thanks for sharing.
As everyone is saying - excellent, instructive videos and experiments with no fluff or wasted time. Good work. (I've converted a dozen cars and motorcycles to synthetic at low to very high mileages and no leaks that weren't already there)
Thank you very much!
I'm amazed you have a 40 year old diesel that doesn't leak oil.
And a Ford at that. I have seen new Ford tractors that leaked in less than a year.
@@joelkelly169 Yep! Perhaps they just don´t make em´like they used to.
@@darkoflight4938 very true the quality of most every produce has took a nose dive in the last couple of decades
@@joelkelly169 A lot of old things were very crummy back in the day as well. We just have a survivor ship bias because only the good old things are still around in use and the crummy ones are in the dump.
@@peterduck1204 you do have a point there
After working for over 40 years on all types of vehicles and support equipment (generators and air compressors) I've learned that synthetic oil use has caused leaks to start on equipment but it is not because the oil damages any component or seals; the reason these leaks start is that synthetic oils have a higher detergent content and they clean up all the dried up gunk between the seals and the shafts. these deposits are built up over years of use and they get caked on to the seals, once the synthetic oil cleans this mess up the hardened seals are not able to keep the oil in the assemblies. So the answer is NO, synthetic oil does not cause leaks, worn seals/shafts do.
Thanks for sharing.
Yup
This is what I have heard too. If you use older motor with dino oil, keep using dino oil.
Do modern synthetics contain newer detergents that also eat up older gasket and seal material in the same way a lot of older engines don't like ethanol fuel?
Saved me a bunch of typin.
Well said
I don't often watch with captions, but even your captions are thorough and detailed. Thanks for making this show. You're doing great.
Thanks and you are welcome!
Excellent cinematography in this one!! I've been using Mobil 1 High Mileage for quite a while now in my older Acuras to prevent oil leaks (so far, none detected). They claim to have additives to prevent and stop oil leaks by swelling and rejuvenating the seals. It would be cool for you to put that claim to the test!
Thanks for the suggestion.
I have heard of "A Saucerful Of Secrets", but, "A Filterful of Seal Monkeys."?
@@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113 Woo hoo! Pink Floyd.
The problem with synthetic oil and older cars is that the oil has thin molecules and find places to get out easily. But they lubricate a lot better. What I'd like to know, how good does that miracle oil works?
@@pedromartinez4913 more myths and snake oil lies you propagate with zero facts. Are you a democrat??
Amazing how much the production quality has improved over the years. This is one of my favorite channels!
Thank you!
I love how you've evolved your tests to increase accuracy in these comparisons, like in the bearing test. Keep up the great highly informative work!
i was just about to comment this, its awesome to see it change over time
Your tractor is in Great shape for its age. You really take care of your equipment. Thank you for all your time and effort in these videos. We all appreciate you!
Thanks so much!
Would love to see a video comparing all the different best oils for Diesel engines!
Your channel is awesome!
Thank you! Thanks for the suggestion.
Drone footage: Thumbs-up! On a side note, wouldn't you love to be friends with this guy?
Never mind friends with, I’d love to BE this guy. All that land and toys to play with, and making videos about things that up til recently, I thought I was the only person this interested in lol.
Thank you very much!! I appreciate the positive comments!
I cannot imagine a better neighbor.
Idk man, he might strap you to a wheel, coat you in oil and see how much of you wears away.
Oh hell yeah. There would be many sleepless nights playing with all sorts of mechanical marvels figuring out new ways to break them.
Finally a oil filter reviewer that realizes that all the metals inside an engine are not magnetic. This is why I watch your channel.
If there are magnetic bits in the oil of any reasonable size, something has gone very bad internally.
There are teachers and there are students in the world - sir you are a teacher ( leader ) love your vids you are someone that wants to teach humans what you know and so good for you. I love people that are achiever's in life and not just people that want things don for them. Hats off to people like you - Hats off to you mister your vid's are very helpful to my life and everyone watching should stand up and applaud humans like you - thank you for being my teacher.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I once had a '77 Cadillac Seville I bought used with 60k miles on it. It came from the factory with a 350 Oldsmobile gas engine. It had a slight rear main seal leak when I bought it, but it stopped completely after switching to Mobil 1 synthetic oil. I had read in Popular Mechanics that synthetic motor oil actually soften hardening neoprene seals. So it worked on that car and have been using it in all my cars with no oil leaks on any of them.
Thanks for sharing.
when I switched to synthetic oil on my 1963 KMZ (Dnepr) K750M, it did start to leak oil around the alternator, but not because the oil eat or destroyed the seal, but because it worked so well with its anti sludge properties, that the old gunked up oil around the old seal (just one big o-ring) was removes, but after replacing that seal, my engine works like a charm :P (the old seal was dry and had no elasticity left)
Thank you!
That makes complete sense. The only time I had a negative effect with synthetic oils was on my Old 93 Jeep 4.0 H.O. Was stuck out in the Trees and she started to burn oil which it never has done and knock with Amsoil 10-30. The old flat tapper camshaft didn’t like it. I switched back to shell and little STP and now 4 years later she’s started to get a Tired out with 230k Jeep miles on her. Time for a rebuild.
The amount of time you put into this videos for our joy is just remarkable. Keep up the good content and the good work! Cheers from Sweden
Wow, thank you!
Yes, he is the man!!!
In my experience with synthetic oils,I have found that if an engine has any seeping or slightly leaking gaskets,the use of synthetic will worsen a seepage to a leak and will worsen a slight leak to a real leak.I found this to be true on a 1995 Grand cherokee with a 4.0 6 cyl .101,000 miles and a seeping valve cover gasket(not dripping) and an oil pan that would leave a drip or 2 in the driveway only about once a week.After doing an oil change with synthetic,only a day or 2 later there were multiple heavier drips on the driveway.Much worse than before.So bad after a week that I did another oil change changing back to conventional.So where synthetic oils dont make a nonleaking engine leak oil, it appears to make any seeping or leaking much worse .
Second this. 2003 GMC Safari van. Threw in some thick oil and it stopped leaking.
Plus synthetics are way way more expensive!
I agree 100%! Synthetic oils will not create leaks but will certainly find them.
Great video, you put so much work into each one, serious respect!
I think synthetic oil is perfectly fine to use, in the heavy equipment industry we use synthetic (sometimes T6 actually) in everything including old equipment with tens of thousands of hours.
Thank you!
It really is crazy how much work he does for each video (some more than others of coarse) and the money he lays out is crazy. I’m positive in many of his vids he looses money.
Those overhead shots have to be the coolest time lapse you've done ever
Thanks so much!
They were the best 👌 I didn't know they would just set there I've got to get 1 now thanks for all of your videos and time I tell so many people to watch your videos no bs and hear exactly what u came for !! Every time!!!
High quality synthetic oil has anti-sludge additives that can sometimes open old paths that were closed by dried sludge causing a leak. But this means that the seal was probably bad and due for replacement.
Thank you!
that makes sense.
This was pretty much my understanding of the phenomenon.
Dead-on with that one. Also, thought, as was done in this video, you can safely go to a lighter oil and still receive better protection with a full synthetic oil, and thinner oil doesn’t need as large of a gap to get a leak going.
I was taught the synthetic has a smaller molecular structure and that is what would cause the leak. If I also add in what Vlado T said and think about gaskets and seals being made stronger now. That really makes sense why leaks would've happened in the past and dot now
This is the testing we need to see if these products ACTUALLY WORK! Thanks for putting in the time! Love your channel and have for quite some time!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I was a little surprised to see you add that oil additive for compression help, being a self- proclaimed skeptic of products like that, but it made me feel better cuz I do it too. Thanks Todd
Thanks for sharing. You are welcome!
RUclipsrs who test Oil issues in their old tractor by cutting weeds and hay on ~20 acres: Zero
Project Farm: "seemed like a logical, good test". Thanks for your incredible work!
Thank you!!
My experience as a mechanic: Typically, in a well maintained, or newer, or low miles/hours, or engine that started using synthetic oil early in its life, won't leak at all. Older engines, or ones with high mileage and have never used synthetic almost always leak when switching to it. Synthetic oil itself doesn't cause leaks, it simply exposes already bad seals that the conventional oil couldn't sleep through. Once you change the seals, the leaks stop. Great video as always! I especially liked the T4 and T6 comparison, thank you
I agree. It doesn't cause leaks. Makes no sense that it would.
I agree.
The oil must have lower viscocity compared vith any old oils.
That is the reason it will leak easier.
That tractor does not have worn zimmers.
My 1970 Massey 165 69 303 massey oliver super 88 99 silverado john deere 1010 doesn't leak t6 some of this equipment is over 50 years old
Put it this way if the engine has bad leaky seals it gonna leak . I use t6 in almost all my equipment diesel and gasoline aside from my Detroit 2 strokes .
I bought an '05 crown vic that did not leak, i was adamant about no leaks...
Gave it a fully synthetic change with expensive stuff. Wix filter and all..
Within 800-1000 miles she was leaking from the pan gasket half the way aroung plus other areas! SO PISSED!! Its a mint(meh nearly for 150k)
Learning the hard way sure sucks!
At least ill never forget the lesson.omg
Syntetic oil is not the primary cause of leaks. It just wash away slug from the seals and if seal are already old and lost its elasticity or damaged - it will leak. Also modern syntetic engine oils will darken faster than mineral oils, just because they washing better... just my opinion.
Also sorry for broken english and maybe typos.
I’m a little late in viewing this one, awesome video! In my experience , I used to be highly skeptical of synthetic because of this myth. I did have my truck start leaking after synthetic use, however, i believe it already was seeping and the synthetic oil flowed better making it look like a new leak. I have since been running amsoil in all my vehicles, all are older with over 250k miles and none of them leak a drop
Thanks for sharing.
You do an outstanding job on your videos. They are direct, informative and very educational in content. Two thumbs up from Kingsport, Tennessee!
can we all just take a moment to appreciate the farmers of America? the life blood of the country
Thank you!
Canada as well friend.
ANF. America needs farmers
No. All workers matter. And most workers don’t get subsidies like farmers.
Is project farm from Canada? I agree all farmers should be appreciated 👌
I have been using synthetics since I got my drivers licence back in 1976, Back when Mobil 1 was about the only synthetic oil out there. Back then everyone said don't use it your engine will leak oil and your bearings will go bad, well none of that happened. In 79 I was in the U.S.A.F. stationed in northern Main after a blizzard and temps well below -35F my jeep with Mobil 1 in it was the only car in the barracks parking lot that started.
Eugene Tuorto Just a better breed of oil from the beginning. Thanks for sharing this, I didn’t know that we’d had synthetics commercially available since the ‘70s.
@@Cjbarker2 from my research, Mobil1 was the first full synthetic in '74, however a semi-synthetic was first offered by Motul in 1966
Justin Noker Neat! I’ve never thought to research oils like that, but new information is always cool to find. Thank you!
@@Cjbarker2 Mobil 1 used to have a commercial with a famous football player trying to hold the end of a screw driver dipped in Mobil 1 , I will have to see if I can find it on YT.
Good old Loring AFB. I was born in Presque Isle. Great memories even though I was never in the AF.
Regardless of this videos age and the rest, you’re relentless and undervalued. More lay testing like this in more fields is going to revolutionize quality and advertising, expose those with lesser quality products and hide the fact with flashy colors on a bottle.
Thanks!
Just discovered your channel. It is first-class in every way. About 18 months ago I bought a project truck 94 F250 with7.3 IDI engine. I bought it because it ran so strong. First I changed all the fluids not knowing what kind of oil was used in it before. From the time I owned it until I got the time to start working on it, I noticed it didn't have a leak of anything. First I changed the oil and went to a synthetic. Since then I have spent $$$ on body and paint. Though not many miles were put on the truck I noticed a small leak in time out of the rear seal. I put a quality stop leak additive in it but it has not stopped the leak. After seeing this video and reading the comments I now understand how the new oil may have created the leak. I've also noticed a small seeping of the valve cover gaskets that wasn't there before. I will have the repairs done because I can't stand any leaks in any of my cars. Now, I'm wondering to avoid any new leaks after the repairs should I go back to conventional oil? I don't want to create any new leaks that are not there now? Your opinion would be greatly appreciated. PS there is no wonder why your channel is doing so well. Your stats are off the hook. Your hard work has really paid off. Good for you.
I am far from a professional, however work in the automotive industry. I like the video. The general consistence on synthetic oils is they do not cause leaks. Leaks observed after switching from a conventional to a synthetic oil are results of the detergents and additive package cleaning up sludge and deposits with in the engine. This added to the fact that synthetic oils are designed to flow better results in existing small leaks to become more obvious.
I think also this issue was a lot more common in the 80s when people were just starting to try synthetic oil, in cars that already had a few miles on them. Back then everything had a rear main seal leak after 75k miles!😂
Yes thank you
Thank you!
Sure, the car had leaks with conventional oil, it's just that it had a lot more deposits that clogged the holes, so you couldn't see the leaks. With syntetic you're just removing those deposits, and then leaks can occur.
That overhead view from drones was AMAZING, awesome time lapse footage and excellent testing setup as usual, you my friend are a RUclips must watch.
Thank you!
You’re videos are always very well done. I know that you don’t get paid by sponsors but you should. I use rotella T6 in my Jeep 4.0 and it works awesome. No leaks and the internals look very clean.
Thanks!
A customer of mine in Owasso, OK, has a Ford Powerstroke Diesel, 7.3L with over 325,000 miles; he began using AMSOIL 100% Synthetic 15w-40 Diesel (DME) at 200,000 miles and still no leaks. Another very happy end-user. Thanks Scott.
So, synthetic motor oils that cause “leaks” are generally from the effectiveness of synthetics cleaning varnish/gel on neglected engines. Any wear or leaks may have just been masked.
Also, still would love to see synthetic show-down on the new 0w-16 Toyota/Honda/Mobil one stuff and same for 0w-20 OEM oil from the Japanese imports compared to each other and high ends like valvoline advanced syn, penzoil ultra platinum, amsoil etc
Correctamundo sir!
I run 0W16 WalMart (Warren) Full Synthetic oil and Wix filter for my Japanese Engine, and it has held up amazingly well. I do 5,000 miles with mine and it is still rather clean for 5k when I change it. It has taken the roughness out of the engine from when I had to run 5W20 in it and my fuel mileage when up to 43mpg avg as my trips are about 75% highway miles.
Did i just watch Farming Simulator? 10:36
He already did the oil challenge.... forgot who the winner was
That is not entirely true. Seal polymers change volume depending on the chemicals that are exposed to. Synthetic oil tend to swell seals less than mineral oil. For this reason some suppliers add "seal swellers" to the oil so the problem is completely gone. This is an issue that was relevant 30 years ago. Modern seals tend to behave better with synthetic oils.
45yr old tractor, in "tractor years" that's about 10yrs.
These oldies are pretty much bullet proof if maintained properly.
Bullet proof? Let me get my AR15
@@Alexander-kz6es I was going to say the same thing, but unfortunately i lost mine in a tragic boating accident....
Yeah the old ones are iron giants. Much better than the new ones.
my father in law still used a 2 cilinder tractor from 1962.
I wonder where the saying - "shoot the shit" originated?
That footage of the tractor in use took me back to my teenage work. Thanks for including that. Pure magic.
You are welcome!
I started using Mobil 1 synthetic oil over 30 years ago. I used it in a '77 Cadillac Seville that had the 350 Oldsmobile engine that had a rear main leak. The leak stopped. Same thing happened to my '75 Blazer. I once read in Popular Mechanics that normal motor motor oil actually hardens seals over time, and that synthetics actually softens them. They said they put an additive in it to reduce the amount of softening it does. Still use it in all my cars, plus the Mobil 1 for diesels in my '14 GMC 2500HD.
Thanks for the feedback.
On my 36+ years old Audi the synthetic oil didn't start a leak, also when switching from partially to 100% synthetic on my 15 years old BMW it didn't start any leaks!
Keep the good video coming mate, I love your videos.
Thank you!
Your BMW doesn't leak? I don't buy it... lol
Both cars are way to young. "Old" means in regards to possible sealing issues due to synthetic oil - pre WWII ans slightly after... till the 1960s max.
@@Slazlo-Brovnik 30 years is considered antique in the car world. Different engine compression and material plus different seals are used since the 80s - 90s and up to 2000 cars have changed alot. For this type of test it doesn't need to be an engine from the 60s-
@@fragglefknrock7568 Sorry - but ... no.
The question is not if a car of this and that age is considered "antique" or not, this is just a word. The question is why exactly synthetic oil might be a problem. And that is the case because of some seal-materials used in older cars. These seals can be damaged by synthetic oil. I could go a bit more in the details here but unfortunately I do not know the english technical terms for the materials etc. in question (I am German).
Basically the design features in question have been in use prior WWII and maybe a bit after that. More or less those seals (and some other design aspects such as the absence of an oil-filter) are not in use anymore since the early 60s. Of course stuff changed from 80s -90s to today, but for the question at hand that does not matter - the important change was done way before that.
So again: Regarding the question "How old must an engine be, so that synthetic oil may be harmful to it" the answer is: It must be build prior ca. 1965.
Okay, there is ONE possible issue with that statement, and that is: I am talking about European engines. It may be that in the US those older designs where used longer. But I doubt that. And even if: Not into the 80s.
And BTW: Project Farms test just kinda supports my statement, don't you think?
Can we all take a moment to appreciate the fact that this guy can operate a tractor and fly a drone at the same time! Lol 👍
Thank you for the video idea!
@@ProjectFarm lol wut
@@ProjectFarm bot mode activated
Welker Farms does it all the time :P
You can set up a flight plan for the drone or a follow me as well.
I have learned so much from this badass dude... I am 63 and trust me I have been around the block.....
Thanks!
Synthetic oils are not only lubricants, but they do a great job at dissolving and suspending carbon deposits and sludge that may be present in the crankcase otherwise when using a conventional oil. Switching from a conventional to a group 3 semi synthetic (what the US market calls a fully synthetic oil) in a car with leaky seals may cause those leaky seals to reveal themselves. Although some people may think that means it is better to stick to a conventional oil (as you may leak less), I advise against leaving the engine in such a state of neglect, as you will eventually clog and oil passage and starve components of oil. Synthetic oil is always worth the money in my book, especially in a turbocharged or high performance application.
the horse race like announcing for the cold oil race was perfect.
Thank you!
Horse races start after 7:05
I liked his expensive and highly technical press that he used on the oil filter pleats.
lol. Thank you!
I just learned in school about why synthetic oil can cause leaks in older engines:
It containes a lot of detergents and "cleaning" agents and this might cause old tiny gaps or cracks that where already present but sealed off by years of grime and dirt to suddenly become exposed. Combine that with how insanely thin this oil can be to reduce the load in certain temperature conditions and you might risk a leak. If an engine was made to run on mineral oil, keep it that way. Just use what the manufacturer recommends.
Thanks for sharing.
Hate to tell you, man: nobody is on this channel to hear what can theoretically happen or what the manufacturer recommendation is. We've all heard both of those things a million times and learned that both are unreliable in real world testing.
We're here to see the results of TESTING what the manufacturer recommends and learn from actual examples of how often the theory becomes reality.
So the question becomes: when you learned about what could happen in school, did they cite a paper where we could see the actual data? Because the people watching this channel aren't interested in the abstract section of the paper. They want the data.
Great video! I buy all kinds of old vehicles that have been sitting and I revive them and keep them going. I always change oil as a start to any of them and usually run a cheaper conventional oil first then switch to a good quality synthetic after a few hundred miles. I've never seen a leak start from synthetic oil. Even the other day I asked for an oil change kit as my local parts store and the guy behind the counter asked if I'd always used synthetic in it. First time I was ever asked that. He said they can cause leaks and honestly I'd never heard that before. I told him I'll take the risk based on my years of the same routine! Thanks for this video!
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Sleep or watch a oil for tractors comparison?!?
Ahh... who needs to sleep!
Thank you!
@@43mackmobile Not true.
This was very interesting. I just watched this with our mobile 1 engineer and reliability department at a gold mine in northern Ontario. We thought it was great, thanks
Thank you very much!
This channel should have 5 million subs. These are the most controlled test of consumer products on the market. You've saved everyone a ton of money over the years on buying snake oil.
Thanks for the positive comment!
A truly honest youtuber. There is a reason why his channel is so big.
I love how much thought you put into the process and how much work you do for just a 12 min video. This video must of tool weeks to make
Thank you very much!
You're the only youtuber I turn my adblocker off for. Thank you for all you do! I know this takes a lot of time and money and I appreciate it. I dont have any video recommendations because you've been so good at picking up the ones I would want to see but didn't even realize I wanted to see it until you did it!
Thank you very much! It helps! I've got some very high cost videos on the way. Thanks again!
Keep your adblocker on and support him directly through Patreon. He'll make a buck a month that way instead of a few cents.
@@evilutionltd well said
@@evilutionltd I have reasons not to use patreon. However, if everyone switched to brave browser we could avoid this whole conversation.
I don’t own a tractor, but somehow you kept interested in information I have no use for. Thank you. Great video.
Thanks 👍
I have a 20 yr old truck Chevy 2500 HD ive owned since new w/ 178k mi. and used synthetic the last 10 yrs, no new leaks but it has been weeping from rear seal for also about 10 yrs, but doesn't leak enough to even leave a drop on the ground. I am hooked on these videos. Thank you.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Man, I’ve always appreciated this channel for the large amount of unbiased detailed information. But after watching this, there is even MORE detailed information and facts that I have never considered. Project Farm has been and always will be the most awesome RUclips channels out there. Thank you.
Thank you very much!
@@ProjectFarm , I couldn't agree more with Jimmy. I don't know if you follow Shanna Simmons ( research engineer for Shell Oil) on RUclips. I think you will find her results pretty close to yours.
Oh man during the mowing montage I could feel my sinuses closing up and eyes watering Lol
Lol
I feel you bro... Project Farm you're so Lucky you don't have allergies.
Great video testing as usual. Have a 96 exmark mower, 2004 Kubota L48 TLB and a 2011 F250 diesel. All after breaking used mobile one syn, 2 years ago switched to T-6 have had no problems. The backhoe is a bit quieter. The Ford runs about 4 degrees cooler and also use it in my snowblower and stand by generator. No complaints. Thx, your very informative.
PF, I can honestly recommend your vids to ANYONE who loves Science. Thanks for all you do here. Can I ask, while you were out doing the fieldwork, who was it that was operating the drone? And some of those shots really made me smile too!
I really love how utilitarian your channel is, and it’s filmed very well too. I must admit I’ve taken inspiration from you while getting my own channel going. Thanks for your awesome content!
Thank you very much!!
When you opened that oil filter I saw a large chunk of metal, thought "Oh Man your tractor is toast!" Turned out to be a chunk of dust on my laptop screen. Please keep these great videos coming!
Thank you for the feedback
Old radial aircraft engines were expected to have chunks every oil change. 1-2mm isn't uncommon.
Granted, those have a stack of mesh screens, not actual paper material.
That's just the screen filter doing it's job.
Excellent video, I believe this theory about synthetic oil came from someone who already had an oil leak but didn't know it due to old thick oil. After putting in a lower viscosity synthetic the small leak became significantly more noticable
Thanks!
Anytime i want to know something.. i check to see if project farm has a video on it first.. i trust this man
Thank you very much!
I love this channel. Thanks for the tip on "Engine Restore." My 25 year old Kubota is now starting up almost immediately. I've also been running T-6 in it for a couple of years with no leaks.
Glad to help!
@@ProjectFarm there is no way synthetic oil can cause a leak. Maybe its cleaning out the dirt then it starts leaking but not on a good engine. I only use synthetic. I put it in lawn mower, car. Motor bike, honda gx engine, it dosnt have anything in it to damage seals or any other parts but it is moor resistant to heating and takes longer to break down. Anyway great video as usual i love what your doing keep using synthetic in that tractor👍 big thumbs up👍
@@ProjectFarm your work is valuable.👍
that overhead view of the hay field getting mowed was really cool!
Thank you! I love baling hay.
You even make mowing look cool on RUclips! I switched from dyno oil to T6 in my 7.3L international motor years ago with no issues.
Thanks for sharing.
I used to take care of a fleet of buses. We used Shell Rotella 15w40. One day the powers to be ordered synthetic oil that was supposed to be the equivalent to the Rotella. I said we don't want to go there. They said to use it. Well we did. Lost one engine and three others took up smoking. Needless to say the powers to be decided that I was right. Synthetic has its place but there are some applications that it doesn't fit. I use the T4 in everything, and I mean everything. From my tractor to the riding mower. Some have argued with me but, seeing is believing. Seen synthetics used in the wrong application and the damage done. Never seen one cause seals to leak though. Great videos. Thanks for sharing.
No wonder he has a life supply of lawnmowers, Dude has got lot of grass to cut!
lol. Great point!
As they say.... the more the merrier!
@@raybin6873 you mean to say ..... the mow the merrier!
@@VerifyVeracity - har har har! I stand updated!!! 🇺🇲
That's a biiiiiiiiggggg lawn!!! Huge! Massive!
This “myth” has never stopped me from using synthetic in anything. Synthetic is pretty much always better than regular oil so I try to take advantage of that
Thank you!
Always go synthetic it makes a huge difference. I even use synthetic in my commercial lawn mowers and snowblowers, it’s amazing how much longer the oil stays a light amber color. When I would use conventional sae 30 it would turn black in 1 day or less.
Also much easier cold starts when the temps are low in spring and fall on the larger engines on the zero turns. Used to kill batteries cranking in the morning start at least once a week on something, now never.
It lasts longer thats it.if you change your oil often there is no need for it.you can change the oil on 12k km intervals with syntetic.
I use both depending on the budget.you can switch from syntetic to regular without any harm to an engine..i tested it since 25yrs allways done it on all of my engines
@@Alex-us2vw for the cold starts being easier its about the grade of oil not syntetic vs regular.
The oil only lasts longer
While synthetic oil won't create a leak, it will find one. That being said, additives can help with leaks. A temporary solution for minor leaks.
Hands down best videos on RUclips!! Tells u exactly what you want to hear every time!! Not about what is going on with the cat and dog and every body else that walks in the videos thanks for that 100% 👍
Thanks so much!
Need a diesel oil showdown!! Only channel I trust when looking at products! Thank you!
You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
I always like your testing, very impressive and thoughtful.
I started using synthetic oils in the late '70s, Mobil 1. That was because of military experience with them in jets.
The "leaks" are generally from older motors, that have used conventional oils and there is "sludge" build up. This generally collects in recessed areas of seals. Due to the improved detergent action of syn-oils, and ability to flow freely, the gunk that was actually acting like a plug gets cleaned out and that is the leak source.
Mobil had a great series of informative articles that compared natural and syn oils after very high mileage and hard service uses (taxis) and compared cleaning actions. You may be able to find those.
Didn't expect tractor to leak, however get an old Ford with 300k on it and try the same test with a normal 3000 mile test, you may see something there
Keep up the tests, really enjoyable, like AvE and Big Clive
Thank you
This is exactly what I was going to say! GMTA!
Ah great I tried T6 in a 150k 5.8L Windsor engine and it runs good but burns a bit. Back to the Motorcraft semi-synthetic 5w-30 I reckon, hopefully that'll pack some sludge back in there
That's what I've always heard but I don't buy it. Anyway, gunk plugging up holes means gunk messing with the rest of the engine too.
@@KingAdrock420 I am thinking back a long time ago, cork gaskets and Permatex, and Pennzoil.
Lots of build up. Mobil did tests and synthetic oil had superior cleaning and they did not reccomend on high time motors. They even advertised you could run that oil for a year, just replace the filter at recommended intervals and top up the oil. I did that on my Toyota , a 1977 Corolla and drove the snot out of it. I had an oil temp gauge too and it ran cooler, lower friction?
I've never actually heard this before, thanks for the insight
Thank you!
I changed the oil in my 1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo to Amsoil Signature 10W-30. The car started leaking a significant amount of oil after about 1000 miles of driving. What a mechanic told me is older cars can start leaks converting to full synthetic usually because of the better cleaning provided by synthetic. (old oil deposits being removed that were preventing the leaks). interesting to see it had no effect on your tractor.
Thanks for sharing.
To the point no UNBOXING no GIBBERISH TALKING, refreshing !!
Thanks!
I like the little splash cover you added to the bearing test device !
Thank you!
Outstanding I have heard this for years.
Thanks Mr Project Farm.
Indeed
Thank you!!
You maintain that much land and STILL find time to thoroughly scientifically test these products for us? You're the man!
Thanks!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this video,.. or any of Project Farm's videos.
If you want facts, ( bear in mind that 'facts' by definition, are self evident truths ) on the products you use, then this channel is the one to subscribe to.
Thanks!