From digest.v7.n1082 Thu Feb 5 23:10:28 1998
From: Marshall Goldberg <mgoldberg_at_sdesigns.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Feb 1998 19:30:11 -0800
Subject: RE: Mobile 1 Oil

>> As far as waiting until a certain number of miles before using
synthetic oils, consider the fact that all brand new Porsches come standard with Mobil 1 synthetic oil as do new Corvettes. In other words, there is no reason why you cannot add it from the very beginning.<<

I've read from several sources that an engine should be "properly" broken in before introducing synthetic, which I think is in order to prevent the cylinder walls from "glazing". But Mobil contradicts this and states that you can use Mobil 1 on a brand-new engine, and no break-in is necessary.

Here are some URL's I've found on the subject: www.vtr.org/maintain/lubricants-redline.html www.redlineoil.com.
www.mobil.com/consumer/mobil1/mobil1/generalfaq.html www.mobil.com/consumer/mobil1/mobil1/mobil1faq.html "Mobil 1 is compatible with conventional oil should it be necessary to mix the two. However, the superior performance characteristics of Mobil 1 will be reduced by diluting it with conventional oil." ...and on the same page, they mention that no engine break-in is necessary with new engines.

>From what I've read, I'm going to go 100% synthetic in my 20,000 mile
328i at the next change. Now I just have to figure out which weight to use. Mobil 1 comes in four weights: 0W-30, 5W-30, 10W-30 and 15W-50. Based on the Mobil recommendations, and since I live in the San Francisco area, I think I'll use 10W-30 year-round.

Marshall Goldberg