2006 Avalon Touring - Synthetic vs. Conventional

Hey folks, this is my first port & my first toyota. My father is a die-hard toyota owner(88 Cressida, 94 Camry, 2003 Camry). I recently purchase my first new car ever, 2006 Avalon Touring edition, I love it. I want to follow the maintenance to the tee because I plan on having this vehicle for at leat 8 years. I still drive my previous vehicle a 1996 Chrysler Concorde with 194,000 mile to work 3 - 4 times a week. OK, back to the question. I have 3,500 mile on my Avalon and Totota recommends oil changes at 5,000 miles. I'm used to changing my oil at 3,000 with my Chrysler but I know with new technology, 5,000 may be acceptable. I'm think at the first oil change at the dealer tha I may switch to synthetic oil, I've heard great things about it and again I would like to have my Avalon for at least 8 years. I appreciate any feedback you all can give me as I'm not very car saavy, so it will be services at the dealer.

Thanks again.

WAT

[bluesman]

Save your money. Buy regular oil and change it at the recommended intervals and you'll be fine.

[MHACHTEL]

I have an 06 and wondered the same thing, since my 2000 Avalon was sludge prone. I ask a friend who is a high level Porsch/Audi tech, and he suggested using dino oil for the first oil change (I completed that one about 2,500 miles) for break-in reasons, then switched to Mobile 1 at about 6,000 miles.

Living in Denver, the extremes in temperature (-10 to 105F) can be rough on oil, and synthetic is supposed to maintain its performance better when cold or hot. I buy Mobile 1 by the case at Sam's Club, about $30, and have the dealer do the work, about $20. It's more expensive, but for our tempurature extremes and my desire to keep this car for a long time, I think it's worth it. Also, according to some, you can run Mobile 1 (and other synthetics) for longer, up to 10,000 miles.

BTW, I've heard that most of the high-end German makes install synthetic at the factory.

For more than you ever wanted to know about oil go here: Bob Is The Oil Guy

[jim256]

BTW, I've heard that most of the high-end German makes install synthetic at the factory.

But the high-end Germans are going 10,000-15,000 miles between changes with an oil profile computer system calling the change interval, not 5,000 like Toyota. With the quality of oil now, and 5,000 mile changes, it's hard to justify extra cost but it can be peace of mind if it is of concern to you.

[Thrlls]

I use synthetic oil in my '06 Avalon as well as in my German car. In both vehicles I change out my oil at 5K miles. I could go longer, but I feel safer at 5K miles.
If you really want to get into your oil analysis, when you change out your oil send a sample to Blackstone Laboratories and they will analyze your oil for you and send you a full report on their findings. By their findings you will know if your oil is holding up or not and if your bearings or other internal components are wearing out.
Do a google search on Blackstone and you'll get their website, then follow the directions to get a kit.
It's worth the piece of mind.

Thanks for all of your feedback...Question: Is it just ok to take car to dealer & have them perform the oil change with synthetic oil. I'm going to assume that you can tell them you want synthetic and they will put that in your car. Also, does anyone know the type of synthetic oil they use at most Toyota dealerships.....Also, can you bring your own oil to dealership or is that frowned upon....If I can bring my own oil, what is the preferred brand..I keep hearing people talk about Mobil1.

Thanks again.

WAT

[jim256]

You can take your own oil to the dealer, and you have to change at the 5000 mile increments to keep your warranty obligations until that's over. Each dealer will likely have it's own oil brand supplier based on cost. I have used Mobil 1 and Castrol. Either is normally available at WalMart in a 5 qt cannister to save you a little. MB recommends Mobil, BMW/MINI the Castrol--probably any name brand is fine. There are now blend synthetics which have a little lower cost but have many of the synthetic attributes.

I recently had my 06 Avalon serviced for the first time. I listened to the earlier post and took my on Mobil1 to the dealer. The best thing I've ever done, paid $15 for the oil change with tax athe dealer. The oil cost me $32 at Walmart, the dealer here in GA charges $11 per quart...WOW! I will go to Sam's Club and buy my oil in bulk from now on. Thx again for all of your feedback.

[Mike Murrell]

Originally Posted by justwat

I recently had my 06 Avalon serviced for the first time. I listened to the earlier post and took my on Mobil1 to the dealer. The best thing I've ever done, paid $15 for the oil change with tax athe dealer. The oil cost me $32 at Walmart, the dealer here in GA charges $11 per quart...WOW! I will go to Sam's Club and buy my oil in bulk from now on. Thx again for all of your feedback.

Unless you were in the service bay watching, your high $$$ synthetic oil went in the techs own car and the dealers conventional Quaker State or whatever they use went into your car.

I get a kick out of reading web tech forums(techs talking to one another) about customers bringing in the own "Royal Purple" or "Mobil 1" synthetic and how it never makes it to the customers crankcase. They simply use what's in stock @ the dealership and keep your syn. oil for themselves. It goes on all the time.

[MHACHTEL]

Originally Posted by Mike Murrell

Unless you were in the service bay watching, your high $$$ synthetic oil went in the techs own car and the dealers conventional Quaker State or whatever they use went into your car.

I get a kick out of reading web tech forums(techs talking to one another) about customers bringing in the own "Royal Purple" or "Mobil 1" synthetic and how it never makes it to the customers crankcase. They simply use what's in stock @ the dealership and keep your syn. oil for themselves. It goes on all the time.

You're so cynical...but I thought about the same thing, so I watch them. The waiting room at my dealer has windows that look out on the quick lube bays, so I spy on them just to keep them honest.

[moreMPG]

Originally Posted by Mike Murrell

Unless you were in the service bay watching, your high $$$ synthetic oil went in the techs own car and the dealers conventional Quaker State or whatever they use went into your car.

I get a kick out of reading web tech forums(techs talking to one another) about customers bringing in the own "Royal Purple" or "Mobil 1" synthetic and how it never makes it to the customers crankcase. They simply use what's in stock @ the dealership and keep your syn. oil for themselves. It goes on all the time.

Right on, Bro! The dealer bays are full of "rip-off" artists! All of 'em! Regardless of what anyone says! IMHO, anyhow! -moreMPG, MD (motor doctor)

[davison.rj]

Originally Posted by bluesman

Save your money. Buy regular oil and change it at the recommended intervals and you'll be fine.

I used regular oil in my '95 Avalon from new to 215,000 miles, changed every 3,000. No sludge, no problems. I intend to follow the same schedule with my 2006 Avalon. My guess (hope) is that my car will do fine.

My local dealer here in GA uses Mobil1 synthetic...11,600 miles and counting...

[Mike Murrell]

Originally Posted by justwat

I'm going to assume that you can tell them you want synthetic and they will put that in your car. Also, does anyone know the type of synthetic oil they use at most Toyota dealerships.....Also, can you bring your own oil to dealership or is that frowned upon....If I can bring my own oil, what is the preferred brand..I keep hearing people talk about Mobil1.

Thanks again.

WAT

It may vary from region to region, but where I live, none of the Toyota dealer use synthetic.

Most "real" shops will not install customer provided parts. In the automotive service world, parts mark-up pays the labor.

If they agree to install your $5 a qt. oil, you can bet it will end up in one of their cars and not yours. How would you know for sure they used your oil?

[bugmenot]

Used regular Castrol - every 5000 miles. 180K miles on 96 Avalon, ZERO problems.

Thanks
Bug