semi-synthetic oil and changeover

I have an 88 toyota pickup and am thinking to switch over to
semi-synthetic oil. I am thinking of doing an engine flush first and
then going semi-synthetic.
It has 190000 Km and loses a bit of oil in the summer, no burning of
oil though

Any web resources, information would be greatly appreciated.

I am curious about the following:

Is it a good idea?
Should I go full synthetic?
Do I need a special Filter?
Do I need to do an Engine Flush?
Once I switch over, can you go back to regular oil --I imagine one
should stay semi synthetic.

Any current oil leaks will be exacerbate. Mine didn't leak before I tried
full synthetic but sure did after it. I went back to Dino oil and leaks
subsided. On older vehicles with higher mileages, I like to use heavier oil
in summer 10W40 or even 20W50 - ya can't do that with synthetics! I'd stick
with dino after all those miles and years --- and save $$$. .

"gp" <gpagmail-news@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1142438695.809258.64330@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I have an 88 toyota pickup and am thinking to switch over to
> semi-synthetic oil. I am thinking of doing an engine flush first and
> then going semi-synthetic.
> It has 190000 Km and loses a bit of oil in the summer, no burning of
> oil though
>
> Any web resources, information would be greatly appreciated.
>
> I am curious about the following:
>
> Is it a good idea?
> Should I go full synthetic?
> Do I need a special Filter?
> Do I need to do an Engine Flush?
> Once I switch over, can you go back to regular oil --I imagine one
> should stay semi synthetic.
>[/color]

On 15 Mar 2006 08:04:55 -0800, "gp" <gpagmail-news@yahoo.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I have an 88 toyota pickup and am thinking to switch over to
>semi-synthetic oil. I am thinking of doing an engine flush first and
>then going semi-synthetic.
>It has 190000 Km and loses a bit of oil in the summer, no burning of
>oil though
>
>Any web resources, information would be greatly appreciated.
>
>I am curious about the following:
>
>Is it a good idea?
>Should I go full synthetic?
>Do I need a special Filter?
>Do I need to do an Engine Flush?
>Once I switch over, can you go back to regular oil --I imagine one
>should stay semi synthetic.[/color]

If you do mean Km and not KiloMiles then I'd wouldn't be afraid to
switch. I had an '88 that I bought with 124K miles and eventally
went to 50% synthetic. Oil consumption actually went down, I can
only guess it freed a sticky ring or something. I *wouldn't* do an
engine flush, usually disaster on an older engine. Standard filters
work fine. I sold the truck with 200K + miles on it and I still see
the guy driving it around town for as a hard working painter's
truck 3 years later.