Should i use Synthetic oil?

[slimgoodie_5]

I have approx. 168k miles on my 2000 Camry. I was wondering if i should be using Synthetic oil or coven. oil?? i normally use coven. oil but i was reading online. that it is good to use it and i also read that its not good to use it if you havent been using it. please let me know what cha think.

[Chris Crash]

Stick with the conventional oil.

[JohnGD]

I'd primarily stay with a short oil change interval. The 2000 Gen 4 is a sludge maker. Not all of them do of course, like not all cost-cutting ES with the same transmission will lurch and run over pedestrians.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...134,full.story

What's your current oil change interval? 3000 miles? Why not give synthetic blends a try. Autozone has Castrol GTX blends on sale now for $19.99 5qt jug w/ Bosch filter (check local availability). Castrol Syntec package is $7 more (but most Syntec are Group III hydrocracked, not truly synthetic by European standards).

Or try Walmart's Motorcraft syn-blend at $2.77/qt. And if you need Castrol Import Multi-vehicle synthetic blend ATF, Pep Boys is running deals, 2 for $5.

Personally I rather go dino with a short OCI than syn with a long OCI. But a blend for in between should be a good compromise.

Originally Posted by slimgoodie_5

I have approx. 168k miles on my 2000 Camry. I was wondering if i should be using Synthetic oil or coven. oil?? i normally use coven. oil but i was reading online. that it is good to use it and i also read that its not good to use it if you havent been using it. please let me know what cha think.

[71Corolla]

IMO the only reason not to run a quality synthetic is fear of leaks, costs aside. If your seals are marginal they could very well start leaking when you switch to synthetic. I've run all my cars on synthetic and the engine stays spotless. I've read that synthetic causes seals to degrade over time, but my 87 Camry has been on synthetic since the very beginning and it leaks almost no oil, only the valve cover gasket is starting to leak but it is original, never replaced in 420,000 kilometers. (#1 spark plug seal is beginning to leak)

And it really matters how long you plan on keeping your car.