Semi-synthetic vs. full synthetic

snowdance

snowdance

Member
Picked up some Mystic Sea and Snow today and noticed they also have JT-4. The difference is that the Sea and Snow is Semi-Synthetic and JT-4 is fully synthetic. Any opinions on which is best to use? To be clear this shouldn't turn into an oil debate. But maybe a semi-Synthetic VS. full synthetic. :)
 
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anonomoose

New member
Part of the reason I use full synthetic is to go longer between oil changes. While this can be done with full, semi-syn has dino oil and should not be used anywhere near as long as you can go with full syn.
 
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woodi

New member
Irun sea and snow in both my etics we have never had aproblem with these oils even though we only use semi sinthe.i rembember when years ago dad would go to fleet farm and by the cheapest valvolin 2 strok u could and after 8 yrs sled had9800 miles and still running good
 
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eao

Active member
The amount of synthetic motor oil content in synthetic blend motor oil can be as little 10 percent or less. There are no specifications that cover what amount can be used to call it a semi-synthetic or synthetic blend.

Synthetic blend motor oils do not offer much to the consumer, and are marketed because they are extremely cheap for manufacturers to produce.
 
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snowdance

snowdance

Member
I'm asking based on a 2-stroke. I've heard the argument that fully Synthetic doesn't stick/cling as well, so when the machine sits, there is no lube on the parts and you start off with little lubrication? Is there truth to this?
 
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eao

Active member
No truth, its BS.

As it turns out synthetic oils do cling to parts better as they have higher film strength than mineral oils.
 
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hudman

New member
I like semi-synthetics for 2-stroke motors. Been running Sea/Snow for 4 years, no problems. However, I'd never had any problems with the Amsoil Interceptor I ran for many years, except the price of it.
 
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sixball

New member
snowdance said:
I'm asking based on a 2-stroke. I've heard the argument that fully Synthetic doesn't stick/cling as well, so when the machine sits, there is no lube on the parts and you start off with little lubrication? Is there truth to this?
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I have also read two articles this year that said the very same. Less coarsen and less long term cling. Eao is correct as far as having higher film strength than mineral oils but from what I have seen less cling. I would not use old sled engines as a good baseline for what is out today as we are running at far leaner mixtures today.
 
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eao

Active member
As in all things there are varying degrees of quality. You can buy a $300 computer or a $3,000 computer, a $3 bottle of wine or a $30 bottle of wine, a $5 bottle of vitamins or a $25 bottle of vitamins and you get exactly what you pay for. Both may “do the job” but how good of a job do they do, how long can they do the job and with what level of quality?<O:p</O:p

Fact is the majority of the motor oil buyers are price driven and not willing to pay for performance they cannot perceive.
 
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stormbringr1

New member
eao is correct. Semi-syn is primarily a marketing-driven product that does little more than fill the void in the consumer's mind between dino and synthetic. Here's the directive from Marketing to Product Development:

Memo:

We are preparing to launch a new product line of "Semi-Synthetic" motor oils to appeal to the shifting mass of market becoming educated to and finding value in the performance characteristics of synthetic lubes--but whom, however, avoid the product due to its premium cost. Blend 10% synthetic into bulk dino oil for packaging as "High-Performance Premium Semi-Synthetic" at a price point of 220% the cost of regular dino oil. ;)
 
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woodi

New member
I always liked Boones Farm wine and I never had to pay $3 for as bottle and I got my vitamins right with it. Thats what you call killing two birds with one stone.
 
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snoluver1

Active member
I'll chime in on this one once, and then I'll move on and let everyone else argue about it.:)

I have spent a silly amount of time researching this subject, and have formulated my own "opinion", (they're like a-holes, don't ya know) based on what I have found, read , heard and seen.
I have read a ton of literature, studied MSDS sheets, looked up definitions of words above my head, I have talked with engine builders, factory engineers from several different product lines, and even had the opportunity to bend the ear of an oil company engineer.

It is of my "opinion" the development of fully synthetic 2 stroke oils came about for one reason and one reason only. The EPA! They were formulated as a way to help meet emission standards. They do nothing to make your engine run better or last longer. (four stoke is a completely different story!) Yes they leave less carbon behind on your power valves, but they also do not completely combust, and leave behind other chemical deposits aside from carbon. They are also less than desirable for ANY engine break in period.

Go ahead and pay $50 a gallon for synthetic coolaid, you won't harm anything. I'll stick with dead dino oil as I have done for years without issue, and I will clean my power valves once a season like I have always done.
 
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hudman

New member
I have also found that my power valves are much cleaner burning Sea and Snow, then running Amsoil Interceptor.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
eao said:
As in all things there are varying degrees of quality. You can buy a $300 computer or a $3,000 computer, a $3 bottle of wine or a $30 bottle of wine, a $5 bottle of vitamins or a $25 bottle of vitamins and you get exactly what you pay for. Both may “do the job” but how good of a job do they do, how long can they do the job and with what level of quality?<O:p</O:p

Fact is the majority of the motor oil buyers are price driven and not willing to pay for performance they cannot perceive.
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I got a bridge wanna buy it?
 
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Woodtic

Active member
Depends what brand the bridge is. Does it come with stickers? Are matching panties available ? You are leaving the important details out.
 
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Hoosier

Well-known member
Woodtic said:
Depends what brand the bridge is. Does it come with stickers? Are matching panties available ? You are leaving the important details out.
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Thats why i buy amsoil. I like the stickers. Really though because the rest of my group uses it. Hows that for science.
 
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