"Magnetic V Synthetic engine oil

[BrizXJ]

An age old argument, the new generation 'magnetic' engine oils against the Synthetics. The ads for the magnetic stuff are pretty convincing, I do know that most engine wear occurs when you cold start, if your engine was always warm it would last forever (ie Taxi's).
The ads for the Synthetics are no less convincing!!!...they offer 'ultimate' protection as well as long life.
I have been using Mobil One (Synthetic) for about 70k in my petrol Cherokee and to tell the truth I dont notice any difference to that of any of my previous cars using ordinary oils. I admit that when asked I will say that Mobil One is the best thing since sliced bread....I am justifying the extra expense!!

One would think that under extreme driving conditions, driving for 30 km down 90mile beach on Fraser Island at high tide up in the loose sand, would really test an oil...would a synthetic shine here or would Castrol GTX be just as good, at half the price?

[Le0n]

I've got 250000 k's on my little 1.6 Feroza and have used synthetic oil for the last 200000 k's. It's going to get to 400000 k's. Motor still as good as new and dosn't look like giving problems. Mind you I change the oil every 5000 k. I rekon it's cheap when compared to a rebuild and it's got to give a bit better mileage.

[murcod]

For a comparison my Feroza (with dubious service history) has covered 165000km- I've owned it for 4000km. It uses oil, around 0.5l/2000km.

I like Mobil 1 and have used it for the last 12 years in various cars- including high boost modded turbos. The "magnetic" oils don't actually use magnetism- it's just a catch phrase to say they stick to metal like a magnet. They wouldn't be much use in modern alloy engines if they did rely on magnetism!