Brakes Plus- Supervisor put oil in a mercedes benz that takes synthetic! Westminster Colorado

"Viscosity is a measure of the "flowability" of an oil. More specifically, it is the property of an oil to develop and maintain a certain amount of shearing stress dependent on flow, and then to offer continued resistance to flow. Thicker oils generally have a higher viscosity, and thinner oils a lower viscosity. This is the most important property for an engine. An oil with too low a viscosity can shear and lose film strength at high temperatures."-SAE

In other words, viscosity and shear strength is the same thing. I failed to mention the "higher temperature" aspect of the oil viscosity because the engine is running at a "higher temperature" when it is being used.

"Multi viscosity oils work like this: Polymers are added to a light base (5W, 10W, 20W), which prevent the oil from thinning as much as it warms up. At cold temperatures the polymers are coiled up and allow the oil to flow as their low numbers indicate. As the oil warms up the polymers begin to unwind into long chains that prevent the oil from thinning as much as it normally would. The result is that at 100 degrees C the oil has thinned only as much as the higher viscosity number indicates. Another way of looking at multi-vis oils is to think of a 20W-50 as a 20 weight oil that will not thin more than a 50 weight would when hot."-SAE

As I said, the 10W30 is a 10 weight oil with the shear strength of a 30 weight.

"Drawing upon our knowledge gained from pioneering alpha olefins, Chevron Phillips Chemical leads the industry in developing high-quality polyalphaolefins (PAOs). PAOs are used in many synthetic products such as lubricants, greases and fluids, and have emerged as essential components in many industries and applications.

PAOs are specially designed chemicals that are uniquely made from alpha olefins. These stable molecules are produced by:

Steam cracking hydrocarbons to produce ultra high-purity ethylene
Ethylene oligomerization to develop 1-decene and 1-dodecene
Decene or dodecene oligomerization to form a mixture of dimers, trimers, tetramers and higher oligomers
PAOs have many advantages over mineral oils:

Greater oxidative stability
Superior volatility
Excellent low-temperature viscosities
Consistent, quality basestock
Extremely high viscosity index
Excellent pour points
Freedom from impurities"-Phillips/Conoco

Ahem...Synthetics are produced by further refining crude oil base stock into a more reliable fluid than conventional oil. Ethylene can be obtained from any hydrocarbon source, such as fruit(it's what makes fruit ripen naturally). Can you picture an oil company doing that instead of using the billions of gallons of readily available crude oil they have in their holding tanks? I cannot, and nether do they.

I hope that answers your questions.

Robert,

Actually there are two types of synthetic oil.

One is formulated from a base stock that is petroleum based, and is not a TRUE synthetic.

The other is a TRUE synthetic oil which is NOT made from a petroleum base stock. It is 100% synthetic, from synthetic base stocks.

And, the lower number in the viscosity index such as the 5 in 5w30 is the flow characteristic.

The shear strength is not indicated by either number.

A true synthetic from synthetic base stocks will always have a higher shear strength than any conventional oil, regardless of viscosity.

Thank you for putting my mind to rest.. Reading your post has helped me understand that I need not worry as much as I am. I appriciate the information you have provided me:)

Synthetic oil is simply conventional oil that has been further refined so that all of the molecules are the same. The typical multigrade oil is just that...multiple grades of oil combined to give an average viscosity.

A 10W30 will have 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, etc weight molecules in it, averaging out to equal a 10Weight oil with an average shear strength of a 30Weight oil. A Synthetic 10W30 will have all the same 10Weight molecules with a uniform shear strength of 30Weight.

It is this reason that Synthetics flow better both cold and hot, and also last longer than conventional oils. It used to be claimed by the "shadetrees" that Synthetics will cause damage in an engine that was ran using conventional oils. Apparently now it's the opposite. Both are myths perpetrated by people who know absolutely nothing about engines, oil, and cars in general. All oils must pass certain tests to be sold for automotive use. A conventional oil and a synthetic oil with the same SAE rating both passed the same test.

Here's a test. Are oil filters really needed? Answer...NO! What is the one part on an engine that never fails due to itself? It's the one part that is built to the closest tolerances of any part. It's also the one part that gets 100% unfiltered oil for it's entire lifespan, and outlasts every other part in an engine. It's known as an oil pump. The only cause of failure for this part is either the pickup tube gets clogged(due to sludge from lack of oil changes), or the shaft driving it breaks(in this case, the part recieving filtered oil is to blame). In fact, the typical oil filter goes into bypass mode(100% unfiltered oil to the engine parts) soon after you start the engine. The typical bypass valve is set for about 3-7psi. Your typical engine idles at over 15psi.

Get it? The filter is just a waste of money. You will find people wanting to argue about it, but that's how reality works. The only reason to change an oil filter is to eliminate the broken down oil inside it. Oil doesn't get dirty. It breaks down. That's why it gets dark. Race cars don't use them at all. They use screens. I don't remember seeing one on a jet engine. Ever notive the owner's manual does not say to change the filter every oil change? The factories know the truth about them.

Your friend may be a great guy, I do not know. I do know he should not be imparting his "wisdom" upon others in regards to automobiles.

Synthetic oil is simply conventional oil that has been further refined so that all of the molecules are the same. The typical multigrade oil is just that...multiple grades of oil combined to give an average viscosity.

A 10W30 will have 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, etc weight molecules in it, averaging out to equal a 10Weight oil with an average shear strength of a 30Weight oil. A Synthetic 10W30 will have all the same 10Weight molecules with a uniform shear strength of 30Weight.

It is this reason that Synthetics flow better both cold and hot, and also last longer than conventional oils. It used to be claimed by the "shadetrees" that Synthetics will cause damage in an engine that was ran using conventional oils. Apparently now it's the opposite. Both are myths perpetrated by people who know absolutely nothing about engines, oil, and cars in general. All oils must pass certain tests to be sold for automotive use. A conventional oil and a synthetic oil with the same SAE rating both passed the same test.

Here's a test. Are oil filters really needed? Answer...NO! What is the one part on an engine that never fails due to itself? It's the one part that is built to the closest tolerances of any part. It's also the one part that gets 100% unfiltered oil for it's entire lifespan, and outlasts every other part in an engine. It's known as an oil pump. The only cause of failure for this part is either the pickup tube gets clogged(due to sludge from lack of oil changes), or the shaft driving it breaks(in this case, the part recieving filtered oil is to blame). In fact, the typical oil filter goes into bypass mode(100% unfiltered oil to the engine parts) soon after you start the engine. The typical bypass valve is set for about 3-7psi. Your typical engine idles at over 15psi.

Get it? The filter is just a waste of money. You will find people wanting to argue about it, but that's how reality works. The only reason to change an oil filter is to eliminate the broken down oil inside it. Oil doesn't get dirty. It breaks down. That's why it gets dark. Race cars don't use them at all. They use screens. I don't remember seeing one on a jet engine. Ever notive the owner's manual does not say to change the filter every oil change? The factories know the truth about them.

Your friend may be a great guy, I do not know. I do know he should not be imparting his "wisdom" upon others in regards to automobiles.

Synthetic oil is simply conventional oil that has been further refined so that all of the molecules are the same. The typical multigrade oil is just that...multiple grades of oil combined to give an average viscosity.

A 10W30 will have 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, etc weight molecules in it, averaging out to equal a 10Weight oil with an average shear strength of a 30Weight oil. A Synthetic 10W30 will have all the same 10Weight molecules with a uniform shear strength of 30Weight.

It is this reason that Synthetics flow better both cold and hot, and also last longer than conventional oils. It used to be claimed by the "shadetrees" that Synthetics will cause damage in an engine that was ran using conventional oils. Apparently now it's the opposite. Both are myths perpetrated by people who know absolutely nothing about engines, oil, and cars in general. All oils must pass certain tests to be sold for automotive use. A conventional oil and a synthetic oil with the same SAE rating both passed the same test.

Here's a test. Are oil filters really needed? Answer...NO! What is the one part on an engine that never fails due to itself? It's the one part that is built to the closest tolerances of any part. It's also the one part that gets 100% unfiltered oil for it's entire lifespan, and outlasts every other part in an engine. It's known as an oil pump. The only cause of failure for this part is either the pickup tube gets clogged(due to sludge from lack of oil changes), or the shaft driving it breaks(in this case, the part recieving filtered oil is to blame). In fact, the typical oil filter goes into bypass mode(100% unfiltered oil to the engine parts) soon after you start the engine. The typical bypass valve is set for about 3-7psi. Your typical engine idles at over 15psi.

Get it? The filter is just a waste of money. You will find people wanting to argue about it, but that's how reality works. The only reason to change an oil filter is to eliminate the broken down oil inside it. Oil doesn't get dirty. It breaks down. That's why it gets dark. Race cars don't use them at all. They use screens. I don't remember seeing one on a jet engine. Ever notive the owner's manual does not say to change the filter every oil change? The factories know the truth about them.

Your friend may be a great guy, I do not know. I do know he should not be imparting his "wisdom" upon others in regards to automobiles.

OK so sputtering may have not been the best thing to say. From what I understand the change in oil could cause the rubber seals to warp and cause leaks. I am trying to avoid that.

You claim he told you the conventional oil will cause your engine to "sputter". It has no effect whatsoever on how the engine will run. If he had any knowledge at all about engine performance, or oil, he would know this.

He is clueless, and therefore you should not ask him about cars.

Next time do not take your Mercedes for any type of work to a repair shop such as this one.Take it to a qualified repair shop that is used to working on Mercedes. You should have walked when they did not know what type of oil your car took. I drive over 60,000 miles a year. I've learned things the hard way over the years. As frustrating as it is, you have learned a huge lesson. These so called cheaper brake shops are in the long run are not cheaper.

What kind of comment is that? I am sure if you encounter an issue you will ask the best person on how to deal with it. I asked the best person I know to protect my car and you say he should not tell me stuff? What the heck kind of comment is that? I am sure if your car had an issue, you would ask someone you know who knows about the subject their best direction so that comment was completely uncalled for!

If you have a car and a concern, I would imagine you would ask the best person in your circle for direction. What kind of comment is that? I asked because he knows cars and what should be done to protect my investment. Your comment was completely ignorant.

Oil does not make an engine sputter. It lubricates the parts. Synthetic oil starts out as base crude, just like all oil does. The only difference is the Synthetics are refines more so that all the molecules are the same.

Tell your daughter-in-law's father to be quiet...he is clueless.

Oil does not make an engine sputter. It lubricates the parts. Synthetic oil starts out as base crude, just like all oil does. The only difference is the Synthetics are refines more so that all the molecules are the same.

Tell your daughter-in-law's father to be quiet...he is clueless.

Oil does not make an engine sputter. It lubricates the parts. Synthetic oil starts out as base crude, just like all oil does. The only difference is the Synthetics are refines more so that all the molecules are the same.

Tell your daughter-in-law's father to be quiet...he is clueless.

Oil does not make an engine sputter. It lubricates the parts. Synthetic oil starts out as base crude, just like all oil does. The only difference is the Synthetics are refines more so that all the molecules are the same.

Tell your daughter-in-law's father to be quiet...he is clueless.