Synthetic OIl

661 Views 13 Replies 0 Participants Last post by [email protected], Dec 19, 2005

Discussion Starter · Dec 16, 2005

I see the new statement from Toyota Customer Service about using synthetic
oil still states if you switch to synthetic oil, you should not switch back.
I have tried repeatedly to get Toyota to say why this is recommended in
their vehicles. I want to use Mobil 1 in my 2004 Sienna because I change my
own oil most of the time. However, for those times I need an oil change and
have to go to the dealer, they will most likely only use their conventional
oil. I sure would like to know what the problem would be if I did this.
Mobil 1 has long said their oil is compatible with all other conventional
oils, and you can use both from time to time. Charles Ranheim

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Discussion Starter · #2 · Dec 16, 2005

"cranheim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news

[email protected].prodigy.net...
>I see the new statement from Toyota Customer Service about using synthetic
>oil still states if you switch to synthetic oil, you should not switch
>back. I have tried repeatedly to get Toyota to say why this is recommended
>in their vehicles. I want to use Mobil 1 in my 2004 Sienna because I change
>my own oil most of the time. However, for those times I need an oil change
>and have to go to the dealer, they will most likely only use their
>conventional oil. I sure would like to know what the problem would be if I
>did this. Mobil 1 has long said their oil is compatible with all other
>conventional oils, and you can use both from time to time. Charles Ranheim
The statement from Toyota Customer Service about not switching from
synthetic to conventional oil is not new. It has always been there.

I do not know the reason for the recommendation.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

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Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 16, 2005

>I see the new statement from Toyota Customer Service about using synthetic
>oil still states if you switch to synthetic oil, you should not switch
>back.

Doesn't make any sense. It may have been good advice when synthetic oil
first was used for street use in the early 70's but, in 2005? Come on!

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Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 16, 2005

"cranheim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news

[email protected]et...
>I see the new statement from Toyota Customer Service about using synthetic
>oil still states if you switch to synthetic oil, you should not switch
>back. I have tried repeatedly to get Toyota to say why this is recommended
>in their vehicles. I want to use Mobil 1 in my 2004 Sienna because I change
>my own oil most of the time. However, for those times I need an oil change
>and have to go to the dealer, they will most likely only use their
>conventional oil. I sure would like to know what the problem would be if I
>did this. Mobil 1 has long said their oil is compatible with all other
>conventional oils, and you can use both from time to time. Charles Ranheim
>

My dad is a chemist, who helps make some of the synthetics (he is in his mid
60s now). He always laughs when he hears that synthetic and regular oils
should not be mixed, or if you use one, not to use another. It's a bunch of
marketing bs he says.

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Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 16, 2005

Dan J.S. wrote:
> "cranheim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news

[email protected]
>> I see the new statement from Toyota Customer Service about using
>> synthetic oil still states if you switch to synthetic oil, you
>> should not switch back. I have tried repeatedly to get Toyota to say
>> why this is recommended in their vehicles. I want to use Mobil 1 in
>> my 2004 Sienna because I change my own oil most of the time.
>> However, for those times I need an oil change and have to go to the
>> dealer, they will most likely only use their conventional oil. I
>> sure would like to know what the problem would be if I did this.
>> Mobil 1 has long said their oil is compatible with all other
>> conventional oils, and you can use both from time to time. Charles
>> Ranheim
>
> My dad is a chemist, who helps make some of the synthetics (he is in
> his mid 60s now). He always laughs when he hears that synthetic and
> regular oils should not be mixed, or if you use one, not to use
> another. It's a bunch of marketing bs he says.

Many moons ago someone who wrote drivers manuals for Toyota wrote that
clause in just to be safe. Ever since then the younger generation of manual
writers have come across this and thought that it was probably put in for a
reason, although they had no idea why, and thought it probably safer to
leave the advice intact just in case there was a good reason for it.
Strange but possibly near the truth.
Of course it could just be that once a high priced oil has been used then
the benefit [if any] would be partly squandered if the engine was
subsequently relegated to using dyno. Who knows?

Huw

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Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 17, 2005

In article <[email protected]>,
"cranheim" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I see the new statement from Toyota Customer Service about using synthetic
> oil still states if you switch to synthetic oil, you should not switch back.
> I have tried repeatedly to get Toyota to say why this is recommended in
> their vehicles. I want to use Mobil 1 in my 2004 Sienna because I change my
> own oil most of the time. However, for those times I need an oil change and
> have to go to the dealer, they will most likely only use their conventional
> oil. I sure would like to know what the problem would be if I did this.
> Mobil 1 has long said their oil is compatible with all other conventional
> oils, and you can use both from time to time. Charles Ranheim

While it probably doesn't matter if you put in natural oil, your Toyota
dealer should put in the oil you specify. Mind does. My dealer
recommends if you want something other than what they use (Havoline, in
the case of my dealer) that you bring in a jug of the oil you want, as
that will be cheaper than paying the dealer for the oil.

For example, I use Mobil 1, which I buy at Walmart for about $4 a quart
($20 for a five-quart jug). The dealer would charge me $7 a quart to put
in Mobil 1, if they provided the oil.

Merritt

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Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 17, 2005

Is Wal-Mart a good place to get oil changes? I used
to get my Tercel changed there before the Wyman'ing.

Now that I'm going to buy a Camry, though, I would like
to be sure Wal-Mart gets the okay sign.

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Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 17, 2005

> "cranheim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news

[email protected]
>>I see the new statement from Toyota Customer Service about using synthetic
>>oil still states if you switch to synthetic oil, you should not switch
>>back. I have tried repeatedly to get Toyota to say why this is recommended
>>in their vehicles. I want to use Mobil 1 in my 2004 Sienna because I
>>change my own oil most of the time. However, for those times I need an oil
>>change and have to go to the dealer, they will most likely only use their
>>conventional oil. I sure would like to know what the problem would be if I
>>did this. Mobil 1 has long said their oil is compatible with all other
>>conventional oils, and you can use both from time to time. Charles
>>Ranheim

I would suspect that just about all dealers stock synthetic oil and will use
that if you pay extra for the oil change.

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Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 17, 2005

cranheim, 12/16/2005,11:44:19 AM, wrote:

> I see the new statement from Toyota Customer Service about using
> synthetic oil still states if you switch to synthetic oil, you should
> not switch back. I have tried repeatedly to get Toyota to say why
> this is recommended in their vehicles. I want to use Mobil 1 in my
> 2004 Sienna because I change my own oil most of the time. However,
> for those times I need an oil change and have to go to the dealer,
> they will most likely only use their conventional oil. I sure would
> like to know what the problem would be if I did this. Mobil 1 has
> long said their oil is compatible with all other conventional oils,
> and you can use both from time to time. Charles Ranheim

I don't have an answer to your question, but I wonder if it has
anything to do with the seals and how they would react to different
formulations or chemicals between the oils. This is just a guess.

--
"A zebra does not change its spots." ~ Al Gore

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Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 17, 2005

> Is Wal-Mart a good place to get oil changes? I used
> to get my Tercel changed there before the Wyman'ing.

Changing the oil is not rocket science. If they put a good quality oil and a
good oil filter and put the drain nut back on tight, it doesn't make a
difference where you have it done, IMHO, of course.
If they put some kind of house brand oil and filter, I'd run to a good
garage instead.

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Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 17, 2005

snip

> I don't have an answer to your question, but I wonder if it has
> anything to do with the seals and how they would react to different
> formulations or chemicals between the oils. This is just a guess.

Although it was the case in early 70's, synthetic oils contain seal swelling
additives.

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Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 17, 2005

Bassplayer12, 12/16/2005,11:00:06 PM, wrote:

> snip
>
> > I don't have an answer to your question, but I wonder if it has
> > anything to do with the seals and how they would react to different
> > formulations or chemicals between the oils. This is just a guess.
>
> Although it was the case in early 70's, synthetic oils contain seal
> swelling additives.

If this is true, then what happens when you switch back to conventional
oils? Does the seal lose some of its elastic properties and shrink a
bit? Then if you use synthetic again the seal may not be so pliant? I
don't know, just conjecture.

--
"I have often wanted to drown my troubles, but I can't get my wife to
go swimming." ~ Jimmy Carter

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Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 17, 2005

snip

> If this is true, then what happens when you switch back to conventional
> oils? Does the seal lose some of its elastic properties and shrink a
> bit? Then if you use synthetic again the seal may not be so pliant? I
> don't know, just conjecture.

As far as I know, it shouldn't be a concern since synthetics and dino are
compatible.

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Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 19, 2005

Bassplayer12 <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Is Wal-Mart a good place to get oil changes? I used
> > to get my Tercel changed there before the Wyman'ing.

> Changing the oil is not rocket science. If they put a good quality oil and a
> good oil filter and put the drain nut back on tight, it doesn't make a
> difference where you have it done, IMHO, of course.
> If they put some kind of house brand oil and filter, I'd run to a good
> garage instead.

I normally change my own oil and use Walmart house brand oil filters with
the cheapest name brand (usually Mobil, Texaco, or Penzoil) oil. When
on the opposite coast I needed an oil change and had it done at Walmart.
They used a Fram filter which is more expensive and not as good as their
house brand filters. However, they did use their house brand oil.

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