Time to Decide - Synthetic or Conventional Oil For My Driving Conditions/Economics

[2CamryFan]

Please read carefully. Not your typical synthetic vs. conventional oil questions.

I became the lube tech for my '02 and '06 Camrys after one of the cars was overfilled with oil at the last dealership oil change. Both cars have just over 30K miles. I'm trying to decide which oil to use.

I've been using Mobil 1 in my full-size Dodge truck for the last 4 years. I used Mobil 1 in a Ford Windstar van we had as well. The valves were clean as new even after 60K+ miles. I haven't noticed any other benefit of using synthetic. Perhaps I've gotten slightly better gas mileage.

The Camrys have only had conventional oil to this point. The owner's manuals say you can go 5K miles between oil changes. Consumer Reports concluded several years ago that unless you normally drive under harsh conditions you can go use the maximum interval recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. I've always felt better using synthetic oil when using longer intervals.

Should I pay extra for synthetic oil or just use a high quality conventional oil and change every 5K miles as recommended by Toyota. I rarely keep a car past 100k miles. Conventional oil is half the cost. I live in Central Texas where the summers are pretty hot but the rest of the year is mild. Can conventional 5w30 handle our Texas summers when changed every 5k miles?

[TRD VVTi]

I would use synthetic.

If you decide to use conventional make sure it matches Toyota's minimum standards. Most conventional oils DO NOT.

Toyota uses a semi synthetic.

I use Mobil 1 in everything I own and so does my entire family.

[marc780]

Since you are not planning to keep it after 100 000 miles save yourself the money and use dino.
If you are not sure if you may be keeping them longer, do use Mobil 1. If you trade them in at 100k though i dont see any point in this - as you say synthetic is way way more expensive and at your trade in time it becomes somebody elses problem.
Im keeping mine 2002 V6 til the wheels fall off. I change my oil ever 2,000 - 3,000 and use dino on sale by the case. Ive always over maintained all my cars, not knowing what my world's gonna be like when replacement time comes, and assuming im not gonna hit the lotto between now and then -

[gdanaher]

First, get a Toyota definition of what severe service is compared to normal service and see if you qualify for normal service. I don't. I live 5 miles from work, and everywhere I need to normally go during the week is 1-8 miles. The car doesn't get hot, accumulates moisture and gunk. Toyota calls that severe service. I tend to change my oil at 2500 miles and let the dealer do it at 5000 miles because I have a tire warranty I have to monitor. Now, I also live in Texas and know of the summers. I would trust Mobil 1 at the correct viscosity but it is costly and if you really need to change oil more frequently, then it is uneconomic. Changing at 2500 miles, I doubt the engine is going to know the difference between synthetic and dyno. At 5000 miles, it might. Your call.

[NCCamry95]

Not to get to far off point, I once owned a new 1986 Deville Touring Coupe with the famous 4100 V8 that was known for sludge and throwing its pistons out of the block. The SM at the dealer told me about how good synthetic oil was. Long story short, Caddy had 195,000 miles when hit by a semi and totaled.
I have used synthetic oil in every motor that I have owned since then including my 21yr old Honda lawn mower which is still running strong .

[TRD VVTi]

I can't see how changing your oil with conventional every 2,500 to 3,000 makes more sense than using synthetic and changing it every 5,000.

If you look at using the correct oil that meets Toyota's specifications there isn't much extra money spent using synthetic.

One little internal engine problem would by far cost more than any extra money saved by not using synthetic.

That's my opinion AND experience owning 28 cars and driving several well past the 200,000 mile mark.

[yeuemhoai]

I used to use dino Castrols when they are about $1 per quart and replace every 3K. Now they are almost $2.5 per quart I switch over Mobil 1 or Amsoil at $5 per quart for every 5K. The costs should be really comparable.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by JJJJJJ

Complete and patently false.

Toyota in fact does not recommend synthetic or semi-synthetic and specifically tells customers to not extend drain intervals if in fact they do use synthetic. The dealer is probably pushing synthetic for bigger margins.

If you look at thermo and fluid dynamics, conventional oil has a better heat transfer rate.


Maybe you put Mobil 1 in your salad.

Actually, most Toyota dealers DO use semi synthetic oil. That's a FACT!

Also, I am not aware of ANY manufacturer that recommends extending oil change intervals because synthetic is used, and neither do I.

Maybe you should remove your head from your ass before you make up facts to reply about. Damn, that's one of the dumbest posts I've ever seen.

[secrecyguy]

Originally Posted by 2CamryFan

Please read carefully. Not your typical synthetic vs. conventional oil questions.

I became the lube tech for my '02 and '06 Camrys after one of the cars was overfilled with oil at the last dealership oil change. Both cars have just over 30K miles. I'm trying to decide which oil to use.

I've been using Mobil 1 in my full-size Dodge truck for the last 4 years. I used Mobil 1 in a Ford Windstar van we had as well. The valves were clean as new even after 60K+ miles. I haven't noticed any other benefit of using synthetic. Perhaps I've gotten slightly better gas mileage.

The Camrys have only had conventional oil to this point. The owner's manuals say you can go 5K miles between oil changes. Consumer Reports concluded several years ago that unless you normally drive under harsh conditions you can go use the maximum interval recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. I've always felt better using synthetic oil when using longer intervals.

Should I pay extra for synthetic oil or just use a high quality conventional oil and change every 5K miles as recommended by Toyota. I rarely keep a car past 100k miles. Conventional oil is half the cost. I live in Central Texas where the summers are pretty hot but the rest of the year is mild. Can conventional 5w30 handle our Texas summers when changed every 5k miles?

Well, since you put it that way, I will say just use conventional oil since you don't keep cars past 100,000 miles.

I personally use Mobil One Synthetic Oil.

[2CamryFan]

Thanks for all the comments!

I think I've settled on Mobil 1 5w30 and a Wix filter. I've had good luck with Mobil 1 and trust it for the 5,000 mile oil changes in my sometimes severe driving conditions. It is better than conventional oil. I can change my own oil using Mobil 1 and a premium filter for the price of an oil change at a quick place or dealership service department.

BTW, beware of the difference between the economy size jug of Mobil 1 at Walmart and the one sold at auto parts stores. The one at Walmart is 5 Qts for the same price as 4 Qts at the auto parts stores.

Reason I know: I usually buy the economy 5 Qt jug at Walmart for my Dodge truck but recently bought one at an auto parts store because it had a rebate. I thought they were the same size until my dipstick came up a quart short. I thought I was losing my mind until I discovered they were different sizes. I confirmed it at my next visit to the auto parts store and Walmart.

[secrecyguy]

Originally Posted by 2CamryFan

Thanks for all the comments!

I think I've settled on Mobil 1 5w30 and a Wix filter. I've had good luck with Mobil 1 and trust it for the 5,000 mile oil changes in my sometimes severe driving conditions. It is better than conventional oil. I can change my own oil using Mobil 1 and a premium filter for the price of an oil change at a quick place or dealership service department.

BTW, beware of the difference between the economy size jug of Mobil 1 at Walmart and the one sold at auto parts stores. The one at Walmart is 5 Qts for the same price as 4 Qts at the auto parts stores.

Reason I know: I usually buy the economy 5 Qt jug at Walmart for my Dodge truck but recently bought one at an auto parts store because it had a rebate. I thought they were the same size until my dipstick came up a quart short. I thought I was losing my mind until I discovered they were different sizes. I confirmed it at my next visit to the auto parts store and Walmart.

Good to know! Thanks!

Since you brought this up, if you going to have the dealership or your auto mechanic to do the oil change for you, they may pour the entire bottle in without realizing that it is a 5 qt and not a 4 qt bottle. It happen to me twice on my other car that I used to have.

[marc780]

Actually, most Toyota dealers DO use semi synthetic oil. That's a FACT!

Are you sure about that - my guess is they use the cheapest 50 gallon drum of 5-30 that says SI on it.
If youre really curious, i submit that next time you're at the dealer, poke your nose in the shop, make a pest of yourself for a minute and ask them to show you where they get their oil for the changes.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by marc780

Are you sure about that - my guess is they use the cheapest 50 gallon drum of 5-30 that says SI on it.
If youre really curious, i submit that next time you're at the dealer, poke your nose in the shop, make a pest of yourself for a minute and ask them to show you where they get their oil for the changes.

Sure about it? Yes. I've seen the oil personally. I've seen the invoices personally. And watched the oil get pumped into the cars personally.

So I submit that the next time you're at the dealer to ask them what kind and grade of oil they are using. I doubt that anyone would lie.

[toyomoho]

If your driving is a combo city/why, change the oil and filter every 5K and don’t plan to keep the car longer then 100K. Purchase the cheapest name brand oil you can find when its on sale.