[xoxoxoBruce]

That's true, and I mentioned it's a last resort. But on a 13/14 year old engine with what I presume has mucho mileage, that he's trying to keep going a while longer, it might help. Of course that's if it's a rear(side?) main, or something majorly expensive to fix.

Your newish V-6, adhering to the manufacturer's spec is a very good idea. Btw, isn't there something about replacing two O-rings when you change the filter on that V-6? Long gone are the winter 20w, summer 30w, days.

I don't see an advantage to synthetic other than it won't coke(burn) if the engine overheats. I gets contaminated, and the additives dissipate, at the same rate as regular oil, so there's no extended use advantage, I use it in one of my vehicles because that engine runs very close to too hot by design, with very little cushion for an aw-shit.