Testosterone: The New Synthetic Oil

[bronsin]

If you have read my posts you know how big business took oil made for use in turbine engines ("synthetic" oil) and sold it to gullible motorists to use in their cars.

(in all fairness it DOES flow better in really cold temps so it aids starting...but only in like 0 or below)

Now the drug companies are trying to sell medicine used for people with endocrine problems (who have low T because of medical problems) to us regular guys. So they can make big $$$.

Recently the NY Times had an article that its all made up. Testosterone levels vary normally. Just because you have "low T" doesnt mean its a problem. In fact boosting your "T" levels can cause (will cause) all kind of problems in a percentage of men.

Anyway search the NYT and read all about it!

[47_MasoN_47]

I'd be more interested in a way to turn the T levels down. I've got way too much of that junk.

[bronsin]

Maybe nobodies buying the stuff. Theyre having lots of free giveaways...

Still in time maybe people will be convinced they have a problem!

[goliath1812]

Low T can be a real problem, and before all of the advertising many people had no idea about it. What's the problem with informing the masses?

I also still don't understand your hate of synthetic oil. Being able to run it for much longer vs. Dino oil is good enough to make the switch....for me.

[IllusionX]

Low T can be a real problem, and before all of the advertising many people had no idea about it. What's the problem with informing the masses?

I also still don't understand your hate of synthetic oil. Being able to run it for much longer vs. Dino oil is good enough to make the switch....for me.

synthetic oil, although better, doesn't mean you can run it longer. You should still change your oil depending on your driving conditions and MFG schedule.

[Golddeenoh]

synthetic oil, although better, doesn't mean you can run it longer. You should still change your oil depending on your driving conditions and MFG schedule.

^ yea you still need to change it at regular intervals, the oil its self doesn't break down but the additives do. Driving conditions for everyone except interstate only trucks are considered sever driving conditions and need to be changed at the lower end of the change bracket. only BMW and Mercedes make oil that goes for higher mileage(20k) but they have $600 oil changes.

[bronsin]

Low T can be a real problem, and before all of the advertising many people had no idea about it. What's the problem with informing the masses?

I also still don't understand your hate of synthetic oil. Being able to run it for much longer vs. Dino oil is good enough to make the switch....for me.

If you can search the NYT and read the article. I would post it here but I cant figure out how to do it.

Its not the oil its big business thats the culprit!

[goliath1812]

^ yea you still need to change it at regular intervals, the oil its self doesn't break down but the additives do. Driving conditions for everyone except interstate only trucks are considered sever driving conditions and need to be changed at the lower end of the change bracket. only BMW and Mercedes make oil that goes for higher mileage(20k) but they have $600 oil changes.

You're saying that even with synthetic oil, Yaris changes are still required every 5,000 miles? I'm not doing that, my last change was with over 7,000 miles on the oil, and I had plenty of additive left. I definitely wouldn't be trying to go 7,000 miles on dino oil without a change.

[nookandcrannycar]

If you have read my posts you know how big business took oil made for use in turbine engines ("synthetic" oil) and sold it to gullible motorists to use in their cars.

(in all fairness it DOES flow better in really cold temps so it aids starting...but only in like 0 or below)

Now the drug companies are trying to sell medicine used for people with endocrine problems (who have low T because of medical problems) to us regular guys. So they can make big $$$.

Recently the NY Times had an article that its all made up. Testosterone levels vary normally. Just because you have "low T" doesnt mean its a problem. In fact boosting your "T" levels can cause (will cause) all kind of problems in a percentage of men.

Anyway search the NYT and read all about it!

First world problem, IMO :rolleyes:.I imagine you might have been to an HEB here with your mom and or sibling. HEB has a type of store called 'Central Market'. The idea = to compete with Whole Foods. The only full/dedicated Central Market in the Houston area is inside the I-610 Loop on Westheimer. There is a 'hybrid version' (not a full Central Market) at 'Market Street' in The Woodlands. I have an account with TD Ameritrade. They opened an office in a small building near the HEB 'hybrid Central Market' (separated by a driveway and a few parking spaces). After a couple of years (?), they moved to the opposite end of the Market Street complex to be near a Wells Fargo Bank, a few other banks, and (I imagine) to get more foot traffic, rather than car traffic. Their original location near the HEB was taken over by a private LOW-T CENTER :rolleyes:. I would imagine that the people who own the Low-T center figure that men who pamper themselves at the 'hybrid Central Market' will also likely seek knowledge, and possible treatment, re a low T-level. That end of 'Market Street' is a few blocks from Lake Woodlands, and the neighborhood on the other side of the lake is one of the Higley 1000 (the 1000 wealthiest neighborhoods in the U.S.). I imagine their market research identified this and, while weighing other factors, they decided this would be a good place for a Low-T center. Some 50+ comedian (Bill Maher ?) said he's glad his T-level decreased, as HE is now in CONTROL of his libido.

Tomball Dodge (on State Hwy 249) has a new offer (BIG sign...to get people to pull off of SH 249 --- those heading south toward Houston). The offer: up to 5 quart oil and filter change for $19.99 (+ tax and disposal fee, I imagine). That is the cheapest I think I've ever seen for an oil and filter change using synthetic.

[nookandcrannycar]

$600 oil changes.

SMH. A fool and his (or her :biggrin:) money are soon parted.........But then I think renting exotics to drive on a track (isn't this still available in Las Vegas?) is a good idea :biggrin:. To each his/her own re what is foolish, I guess.

[IllusionX]

You're saying that even with synthetic oil, Yaris changes are still required every 5,000 miles? I'm not doing that, my last change was with over 7,000 miles on the oil, and I had plenty of additive left. I definitely wouldn't be trying to go 7,000 miles on dino oil without a change.

Your filter wasn't designed to hold that much junk before it's filled. I'm not sure how it'd be with extended run filters.

I did a 10k KM run with my RoyalPurple oil and either toyota filter or fram extended filter i forgot which. The car really felt heavy and didn't want to move by the time i hit 10k (that's about 6200mi)

Anyways.. I have company cars (mazda 2 and mazda 3) that hit 15k km.. 9k miles before oil changes and still doesn't show any apparent problems. no oil consumption after 4years and 100000k km

[goliath1812]

It is easy enough to change the filter without doing a complete oil change, if that's something to be worried about. However, I also am using Royal Purple synthetic filters that are also rated for extended periods. My oil analysis also came back fine, showing the filter working well after the 7000 miles. In fact, this has been a regular thing for me, I just haven't had an oil analysis done until my last change. With the car being 6 years old, and over 120,000 miles I have seen nothing but good coming from the oil I use, the way I have been using it. Would the analysis show the same if I had been using dino oil with Frame filters? Maybe, but I sure wouldn't want to try going 7,000 - 8,000 miles on them without a change.

[goliath1812]

But back to Low T....there are advertisements for Cialis, multiple statins, blood pressure, insulin, dysrythmia meds.....that's become the American way, if something is different, take medicine. Many times problems can be fixed by diet and exercise, or even diet alone, but that's not what people want to hear. They want to stay the same and take a drug to mask the problem. If it's OK for all the other drugs to be advertised, why should Testosterone (or AndroGel, or whatever else they want to use) be any different?

[fnkngrv]

Bronsin and I have gone round and round about the synth oil debate. I have not used conventional oil for a VERY long time. There is a reason for example AMSOIL has its guarantees on their products...its because the stuff works that long. One of the biggest mistakes that uninformed folks make is that they don't get the filter combo to go with it. Let's take a look at Mobil1 for example. There is no filter out there designed for it. The 1nz is designated with signature series oil to go up to 15k miles or 1 year with the EA filter from AMSOIL. There is a reason for this. One of the biggest things that pisses me off about mainstream stores that sell AMSOIL is that they sell the oil only and not the filter so honestly if you were to go the 15k miles on say a Fram filter and something happens you will have no recourse. Also poor uninformed folks pay through the nose for AMSOIL oil at that same store for no reason then. AMSOIL is the only company that I am aware of that is constantly looking for new ingredients the strengthened their formulas. The 5-20 you buy today is NOT the same product that you bought even a few years ago. Either way you look at it as well if at the very least you take into consideration labor time involved for an oil change having the interval every 10-15k miles compared to 3-5k is a nobrainer. Personal experience is where it counts and no matter if I used Mobil1, RP, or AMSOIL I have NEVER NEVER NEVER had my motors run as well and efficient when I used dino oil....period.


As for the OP's original post does deal with the bulk of the issues with the American healthcare system and the FDA....you can't tell the tree from the forest most times. The FDA is just as corrupt as any other entity in a Capitalist environment. Anywho, this could turn political quicker than you can blink so I have said my piece.


/out

[nookandcrannycar]

But back to Low T....there are advertisements for Cialis, multiple statins, blood pressure, insulin, dysrythmia meds.....that's become the American way, if something is different, take medicine. Many times problems can be fixed by diet and exercise, or even diet alone, but that's not what people want to hear. They want to stay the same and take a drug to mask the problem. If it's OK for all the other drugs to be advertised, why should Testosterone (or AndroGel, or whatever else they want to use) be any different?

I think the promotion is actually kind of humorous. Unfortunately, what you write about 'the American way' is too often the case. I originally got cellulitis when my leg was taking way too long to heal after an operation where I had 8 pieces of steel/aluminum/whatever it is put in my leg after a fall (tripping in the dark) on my own property in California in the late 1990s. The operation was after being rushed to the hospital after the fall (medical science is amazing, as my walk/gait/etc is as it was before the fall). The problem was with an infection, not what they did orthopedically. The doctor approved me (in a medical sense) to go to Europe for a friend's Med School graduation, but when I returned, I was in worse condition. The doctor put me in the hospital. After 4 days my 'team' said 'we can tell you this now (that you've 'turned the corner')....if you hadn't 'turned the corner', you might have lost your leg or died. I was told that one of the best things that had (and continued to be) in my favor was that I didn't have any tolerance built up to any drugs (no prescriptions, and I live a clean life). That was 15 years ago, and that 'revelation' has stayed in the forefront of my consciousness ever since.....taking every avenue I can (good nutrition, etc) to keep that 'fighting profile' (for lack of a better term) so that, when I get cellulitis, I have the best chance of the antibiotics being effective......so I am the opposite of what you mention about that part of 'the American way', but I often see what you mention in others. I think many people don't realize how helpful even a few proactive steps can be re their health.

[nookandcrannycar]

It is easy enough to change the filter without doing a complete oil change, if that's something to be worried about. However, I also am using Royal Purple synthetic filters that are also rated for extended periods. My oil analysis also came back fine, showing the filter working well after the 7000 miles. In fact, this has been a regular thing for me, I just haven't had an oil analysis done until my last change. With the car being 6 years old, and over 120,000 miles I have seen nothing but good coming from the oil I use, the way I have been using it. Would the analysis show the same if I had been using dino oil with Frame filters? Maybe, but I sure wouldn't want to try going 7,000 - 8,000 miles on them without a change.

Perhaps I am just lucky. I've only done 17 oil and filter changes (IIRC) in almost 270k miles, all dino oil. I had my plugs changed at about 208k. The dealership tried to find other things to recommend to me to have done, but didn't find anything (except the air filter, which I was already planning to change myself later that day) and said my engine looked great. I'm not 'burning oil' either.

[goliath1812]

Perhaps I am just lucky. I've only done 17 oil and filter changes (IIRC) in almost 270k miles, all dino oil. I had my plugs changed at about 208k. The dealership tried to find other things to recommend to me to have done, but didn't find anything (except the air filter, which I was already planning to change myself later that day) and said my engine looked great. I'm not 'burning oil' either.

That is fantastic if you can (and obviously have) get away with it. If I were to use dino oil, I would not feel comfortable going more than 5k per change, and remember it wasnt too long ago that it was every 3k was recommended. So to feel confident that I can run a few thousand more miles on synthetic, thats what I'll do.

[goliath1812]

And Nook, congrats with your recovery, when i say "the american way", it is of course not intended for every single american out there. There are a lot of people adopting a healthy lifestyle. But when the majority of doctors find a problem, they throw a script at you instead of trying to fix the underlying problem, and most people are happy with that. Give me drugs so i get "better". I think it's wrong, and kudos to you as well, but it just keeps happening. As long as doctors keep the perscription pads flowing, and the people are happy going to the pharmacy, nothing is going to change.

[bronsin]

Also I think its pretty clear a lot of the drugs dont work.

Lets take cancer for instance.

In 1950 the survival rate for cancers of all kinds was 50%.

Today, quoting medicine, its "as much as 60%."

Note "as much as" doesnt mean its 60%. Those are weasel words in other words.

Considering the billions (trillions?) of dollars spent on cancer "research" a 10% rate of improvement (and clearly its not 10%, its less than that. Probably a LOT less!) is failure.

But dont take my word for it that is also in the NYT.

[goliath1812]

I hate cancer, and yes it should of course be beaten by now with all of the fundraising. I don't believe that much of the money raised even goes towards finding a cure though, I believe most of it goes towards advertising and making more (newer) drugs to sell back to the patients. Unfortunately.

Sad how people have beaten cancer by changing their diet, yet something that simple doesn't get looked at by medical professionals because it wont make them any money.

I did however just read about new research that shows some promise. They are testing giving a strain of HIV to terminal cancer patients, which actually seems so far to fight the cancer cells pretty well.

[nookandcrannycar]

And Nook, congrats with your recovery, when i say "the american way", it is of course not intended for every single american out there. There are a lot of people adopting a healthy lifestyle. But when the majority of doctors find a problem, they throw a script at you instead of trying to fix the underlying problem, and most people are happy with that. Give me drugs so i get "better". I think it's wrong, and kudos to you as well, but it just keeps happening. As long as doctors keep the perscription pads flowing, and the people are happy going to the pharmacy, nothing is going to change.

I agree with you...and just losing weight would help with a lot of the things people take scripts to 'help' with.....but taking the script is easier :rolleyes:. IMO, in an overall sense, the only beneficial 'side effect/consequence' of 'Obamacare' is that some people (who need to) are 'waking up' re costs and care.

[nookandcrannycar]

Also I think its pretty clear a lot of the drugs dont work.

Lets take cancer for instance.

In 1950 the survival rate for cancers of all kinds was 50%.

Today, quoting medicine, its "as much as 60%."

Note "as much as" doesnt mean its 60%. Those are weasel words in other words.

Considering the billions (trillions?) of dollars spent on cancer "research" a 10% rate of improvement (and clearly its not 10%, its less than that. Probably a LOT less!) is failure.

But dont take my word for it that is also in the NYT.

Still, in the past, one might go bankrupt re the bills but would still have the best chance of surviving in the United States. Will this still be the case in the future? If things continue to go in the direction Ezekiel Emanuel wants them to, I doubt the U.S. will be the 'best hope'.

[bronsin]

I hate cancer, and yes it should of course be beaten by now with all of the fundraising. I don't believe that much of the money raised even goes towards finding a cure though, I believe most of it goes towards advertising and making more (newer) drugs to sell back to the patients. Unfortunately.



And to paying peoples salaries for doing those things....

[nookandcrannycar]

And to paying peoples salaries for doing those things....

....somewhat along this same vein.....I don't like it when CVS, Safeway, etc are soliciting customers for charitable donations. They don't do it out of any altruism (at least Safeway doesn't,as they have had conflicts with unions over this). They do it because they take the tax deduction, a revenue driver for them. Sometimes when I say no, I explain that if I'm going to make a donation, I want undisputed rights to the tax deduction. I've actually had a few cashiers tell me that I can take the tax deduction. When I tell them that the IRS doesn't allow the same deduction to be claimed twice and that I don't want any conflict, I usually get a look that tells me I might as well be speaking Hungarian or Finnish :biggrin: I especially don't like an electronic record (that can be sold) of my 'saying' no to the donation.