people think synthetic oil is thinner i think because it is slightly lighter in color, but it's really not any thinner. it has smaller particles in it that get into places that conventional oils don't but as a whole, it should still be as viscous as conventionals. i'm not exactly sure how the synthetic oil helped with the lifters, but my guess is that there was less carbon and soot building up around the valves and such, maybe making it that much smoother of an operation. same with the higher grade fuel, but i don't know for sure as i'm not that good with engine internals. but it seems to happen mostly with lower grade oil and fuel and when the engine is either hot or was driven a long distance at highway speeds and then shut off and left until morning, because mine did it this morning and i just got back from a 100 mile trip to go 4 wheeling and building some trails. but after i drove it around a bit, parked it and went to start it again later, it didn't do it anymore, but then again, it may not have done it at all if i had changed my oil a couple weeks ago like i was supposed to.

dave <img border="0" alt="[Shiner]" title="" src="graemlins/shiner.gif" />