Synthetic Oil - Now Certified (2010)

[Pipemajor]

Sorry for the cross post (originally posted in the Camry Hybrid section) but this also pertains to ALL 2010 Camrys.

When we purchased our 2007 TCH I made the decision to switch to a fully synthetic oil with hopes it could make a few tenths mpg improvement and keep the sludge down for our limited driving schedule. Our '92 Camry (original owners) shows quite a bit of sludge despite religious oil changes per recommended intervals.

Today comes a notice from Toyota labeled Maintenance Schedule Update boldly printed on the envelope. I open it up to read Toyota has completed a long term study and is transitioning to a SAE 0W-20 lubrication standard. The 2010 Camry is the first Toyota model to achieve this certification.

Timely notice since I've just scheduled the initial oil change for our 2010 TCH later this month and was planning to ask for the synthetic service. We'll see if it affects the price at all now that it has become "standard".

They've also upped the service interval to an 10,000 mile or 1 year interval from the former 5,000 / 6 month interval for NORMAL operating conditions.

We border on the severe service since 90% of our use is short, in-town trips so barely rack up 10,000 miles per year. I'll probably stick with the 2x per year interval.

They also note the Maintenance Required indicator will continue to trigger at the 5k mile interval.

[njerald]

Originally Posted by Pipemajor

Sorry for the cross post (originally posted in the Camry Hybrid section) but this also pertains to ALL 2010 Camrys.

When we purchased our 2007 TCH I made the decision to switch to a fully synthetic oil with hopes it could make a few tenths mpg improvement and keep the sludge for our limited driving schedule. Our '92 Camry (original owners) shows quite a bit of sludge despite religious oil changes per recommended intervals.

Today comes a notice from Toyota labeled Maintenance Schedule Update boldly printed on the envelope. I open it up to read Toyota has completed a long term study and is transitioning to a SAE 0W-20 lubrication standard. The 2010 Camry is the first Toyota model to achieve this certification.

Timely notice since I've just scheduled the initial oil change for our 2010 TCH later this month and was planning to ask for the synthetic service. We'll see if it affects the price at all now that it has become "standard".

They've also upped the service interval to an 10,000 mile or 1 year interval from the former 5,000 / 6 month interval for NORMAL operating conditions.

We border on the severe service since 90% of our use is short, in-town trips so barely rack up 10,000 miles per year. I'll probably stick with the 2x per year interval.

They also note the Maintenance Required indicator will continue to trigger at the 5k mile interval.

Not all Camrys are I4s...................

[laphan]

Originally Posted by Pipemajor

Sorry for the cross post (originally posted in the Camry Hybrid section) but this also pertains to ALL 2010 Camrys.

When we purchased our 2007 TCH I made the decision to switch to a fully synthetic oil with hopes it could make a few tenths mpg improvement and keep the sludge down for our limited driving schedule. Our '92 Camry (original owners) shows quite a bit of sludge despite religious oil changes per recommended intervals.

Today comes a notice from Toyota labeled Maintenance Schedule Update boldly printed on the envelope. I open it up to read Toyota has completed a long term study and is transitioning to a SAE 0W-20 lubrication standard. The 2010 Camry is the first Toyota model to achieve this certification.

Timely notice since I've just scheduled the initial oil change for our 2010 TCH later this month and was planning to ask for the synthetic service. We'll see if it affects the price at all now that it has become "standard".

They've also upped the service interval to an 10,000 mile or 1 year interval from the former 5,000 / 6 month interval for NORMAL operating conditions.

We border on the severe service since 90% of our use is short, in-town trips so barely rack up 10,000 miles per year. I'll probably stick with the 2x per year interval.

They also note the Maintenance Required indicator will continue to trigger at the 5k mile interval.

I have been using mobil1 0W20 full synthetic since we got the car new (started when it had 5000 miles). We have 46K miles and so far the car runs as good as new with no single repair needed since it left the dealer floor. The only thing I did was replace transmission fluid and coolant at 30K miles (not bad for $50 and 1 hr of my time).
I changed the oil every 5K miles because I hate the engine vibrations if I have more than 5K miles on the oil (you are going to notice more vibration when the engine turning on and off after the oil gets to 4K miles - you really have to pay detail attention on your engine sound/vibration to feel it).
Because of that, Toyota can say whatever they want to say about 10K oil change interval but I will stick to my 5K OCI. Also toyota can say that the transmission fluid is "LIFETIME" but it was DARK when I drained it at 30K miles. I DON'T trust toyota with their service interval (especially after the oil sludge fiasco).
Same thing with solara, I can feel the difference in engine vibration if the oil has more than 4K miles (not smooth at higher RPM) even with mobil1 full synthetic oil.

[Pipemajor]

Originally Posted by laphan

Same thing with solara, I can feel the difference in engine vibration if the oil has more than 4K miles (not smooth at higher RPM) even with mobil1 full synthetic oil.

Is that just with an oil change or with filters? I know a clean air filter made a big difference in carburated engines but not so much a difference in FI engines.

Oil doesn't wear out. It simply picks up more contaminants and therefore, must be changed at regular intervals.

[laphan]

Originally Posted by Pipemajor

Is that just with an oil change or with filters? I know a clean air filter made a big difference in carburated engines but not so much a difference in FI engines.

Oil doesn't wear out. It simply picks up more contaminants and therefore, must be changed at regular intervals.

It is with filter change.
Oil does not wear out,but the additives will. With non synthetic oil, I can start to feel the engine vibrations change normally at around 2-3K miles.


Here is some FAQ from Mboil1 website:

Explain 'Time Release Additives' in Motor OilsI've read a lot in the last few weeks regarding 'time release additives' in motor oils that suggest that some oil components only become active due to use, thus maintaining the engine protection for longer periods. Is there any truth in these claims? Does Mobil 1 contain such additives that only release their benefits after use/time in an engine? I noticed that Pennzoil Platinum has a 'Time release formula' and claims that certain anti-wear additives are activated as the oil ages. I'm obviously not asking for details on specific additives, just a general ideas as to if/how this process works. Many thanks.-- Rich Price, Oahu, HIAnswer: Yes, almost all engine oils contain additives that could be described as time-release. This is clever advertising that highlights one of the properties that common antiwear additives exhibit. The antiwear additive ZDDP (Zinc DialkylDithioPhosphate) activates as it decomposes at hot metal surfaces and forms a glass-like protective layer on the metallic surface. There are also other additives such as viscosity modifiers which change their physical structure under certain condition in the engine and then go back to an earlier structure when the stress is removed from the molecule. There are also cleaning agents which can be released over time. And yes, Mobil 1 has all these “time released” additives as part of its additive package.
Over time, oil and the additives used in the oil break down and thermally degrade. And because the circulating oil picks up debris and other contaminants of combustion, it must be eventually changed to get rid of these contaminants. Higher quality oils like Mobil 1 that contain higher quality base oils and additional additives last longer and are able to hold more contaminants than lower quality oils. This is why synthetic oils can allow longer times between oil changes as compared to conventional motor oil.