Thinking of running Synthetic oil? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Damage82 · 08-24-2005, 09:11 PM

I am debating on changing to Valvoline synthetic on my wife's 200 echo sedan. she drives lsot and i'm looking to prolong the oil and make less oil changes. She drives upwards to 2 hours a day, has 129 000kms on her car already. Just wondering if anyone else has done the same and what were the results. Thanks

jlift · 08-25-2005, 09:41 AM

If you get regular oil changes (around 3-5K miles) there's really no need to. Just keep the oil clean. The synthetic vs. non synthetic debates rage all over the newsgroups. I considered this for many of my vehicles. At worst, it can swell your engine seals and actually cause it to leak. I get coupons in the junk mail each week advertising oil change for $9.99 + $2 disposal fee. I never pay more than that for an oil change. I just can't see paying $29 or so that some of these "drive thru" places charge. I wouldn't take the chance. But, that's just my opinion.

jack.

Damage82 · 08-26-2005, 01:32 PM

cool cool, Anyone else have any opinions? i'm open to all suggestions

rated_w · 08-27-2005, 01:34 AM

I run mobil 1 full synthetic on my corolla

.. really pleased. oil is still very clean when I change it every 8k km (or 6 months) .. that's what the dealer recommends.. I wouldn't put it that long for normal Dyno oil

Damage82 · 09-01-2005, 04:14 PM

What oil does eveyone use and what filters?

RedAE102 · 09-02-2005, 02:00 AM

Mobil 1 Extended Performance 10W-30 every 15,000 miles. Prior to that, I ran regular Mobil 1 and changed every 10,000-12,000 miles. My car is approaching 160,000 miles, and oil consumption past the valve stem seals has held steady at 1 quart every 5,000 miles over the last 50,000 miles. No oil leaks then or now. Ran Mobil 1 filters exclusively. Won't touch any other kind of oil. My mum's '96 LS400 also runs Mobil 1 EP every 15,000 miles, and my father's '01 F-350 runs Mobil Delvac 1 15W-40 synthetic diesel oil every 10,000 miles (when it takes 15 quarts to fill it, every little bit helps!).

If a car develops leaks after switching to synthetic, it's only because it had a preexisting problem. The synthetic doesn't cause leaks, it simply doesn't mask them like dino oil does.

On a quick cost analysis, at $10 per oil change, assuming changes every 3,000 miles, that's $50 for 15,000 miles. By comparison, at $6 per quart for the Mobil 1 EP, accounting for an extra two quarts for top-ups and $11 for a Mobil 1 oil filter, running the Mobil 1 EP costs $46 for 15,000 miles. How many reasons does one need to switch to synthetic? It costs less, it's better for your engine, and it's better for the environment. Over that 15,000 miles, the car on synthetic will put one-fifth as much waste oil back into the environment as the car running the conventional 3,000 mile dino intervals.

jambo101 · 09-20-2005, 02:05 PM

http://63.240.161.99/motoroil/ Makes for some informative reading..

390FE · 09-20-2005, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedAE102

If a car develops leaks after switching to synthetic, it's only because it had a preexisting problem. The synthetic doesn't cause leaks, it simply doesn't mask them like dino oil does.

I agree with that.

I am using Amsoil 0W30 in my car now but will be switching over to there Heavy Duty 5w30 at the next change. A little better for the same price. I only drive my car in the summer (5-10K) and change it once a year every spring or fall depending on free time. I swited the car over to Amsoil at just under 10K and no problems at 33K now. Will be running the truck on Amsoil also after I make sure there are no leakes (still working on the motor).