Originally posted by Offshore24
[br]I know this has gone around before, but I love the idea of a "good conversation". If you really believe a synthetic oil won't allow rings to set properly, why would auto manufacturer's put synthetic oil in $100,000, 300+ HP automobiles straight from the factory?
Another thing to consider, when I bought my F150, back in 1998, I monitored gas mileage for every tank of gas for the first couple of years. I figured that when gas mileage plateaued, the engine was fully broken in and that would be a good time to switch to synthetic oil. It took 15,000 miles for gas mileage to plateau.
So if it takes that long to break in an engine, I would think just passing a tank or two of mineral oil before switching to synthetic would be inssuficient.
FWIW, I started out using synth because that's what Doo said to do. They changed their minds a year later and now I use a blend. I also used synth in my 600xc and Indy 500. More because i could get it from a friend for dealer cost than anything else. Other than the possibility of fouling plugs and cleaning valves, it's not a subject I get too excited about.
You are correct, they come with rings that are supposedly able to break in with Synthetic. As long as the rings are lapped they can be run with synthetic.
However, being that I have no idea what kind of sled Brendan has and not real sure if sled rings come even come lapped, figured play it safe and run regular at first. This is what I would do anyways.
As for the break in period. When you buy a new sled from the factory they say to run one tank of gas through it before running them hard to allow break in. Rings don't take as long to break in as the bearings.
For vehicles, it is recommended to run regular oil until the first oil change to allow piston rings to break in, not full break in. Unless of course they have lapped rings.
Ever wonder why Doo changed their mind? I doubt it was for the hell of it.
*edit* - I should add that a few years back now, a company made rings that supposedly were able to break in without honing the cylinders...didn't work so well. They may have saved some money from not having to hone, but think of the cost from the rings not breaking in.
So you save a little in gas, you pay a little more for synthetic, but why risk not breaking in the rings to get a little better gas mileage...Just doesn't pay off IMO.