oil/synthetic oil

[guyaverage]

Originally Posted by kathyricks

As a long time travelling salesman, I have lots of real world experience with synthetics as well - 477,777 miles worth as a matter of fact: http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k75/4af/477.jpg But the rate my synthetic running engine is burning oil after 477,000 miles (2500 miles per quart) is about the same as other Toyota owners who have been using conventional oil for a similar amount of miles.

I find it interesting that someone who continually downplays the use of synthetics (on many threads here at TS) that you admit to using synthetic oil.

So, why do YOU use it?

And may I slightly drift off topic and ask what exactly it is you sell? Is it an automotive lubrication product?

[kathyricks]

Originally Posted by guyaverage

I find it interesting that someone who continually downplays the use of synthetics (on many threads here at TS) that you admit to using synthetic oil.

So, why do YOU use it? And may I slightly drift off topic and ask what exactly it is you sell? Is it an automotive lubrication product?

I was once young myself so I bought into all the marketing hype (e.g. "saves wear, like liquid ball bearings, increases fuel economy", etc) about synthetic oil and used it in new cars I purchased new cars in the 70's, 80's and early 90's. Back then I had no idea that Toyota engines could run 600,000 - 1,000,000 miles on conventional oil and I was too naive to realize that neither Mobil nor Amsoil would ever be willing to educate me about that critical fact either.

I sell industrial chemicals and sometimes drive 40-50K miles a year making sales calls on clients such as food processing plants and grocery warehouses. This gives me an opportunity to talk to the semi-truck fleet managers of these big companies and that's partly how I learned that most fleet managers choose conventional motor oils because synthetics don't extend engine life or fuel economy by a noticable amount.

[gpatkins1111]

Reading all the posts I'm totally confused. I've been putting 10-30 Castrol in my Toyota trucks and Sequoia for almost 20 years and have had no problems. My wife recently bought a 2008 Solara and I put Mobil 1 in for it's first oil change. I assumed it would be better, but now I'm not so sure. Oh well, I got 4 cases of Mobil 1 on sale a Costco so I'll use them up at anywhere from 3 to 15 thousand mile depending on whom you believe.

gpa

[akauth]

I'd keep using the synthetic.

Look at this way,

You could either use regular (assuming you get it for $3 a quart for 7 quarts) for 5,000 miles for 238 miles per dollar of oil or you could use mobil1 at ($6 a quart for 7 quarts) and change it 15,000 miles for 357 miles per dollar of oil. (I actually use 8 quarts on my tundra with an oversize filter.)

Now you can tweak these numbers, more miles for regular oil before you change (7,500) results in 357 miles per dolllar of oil. If you don't extend the oil intervals, synthetic doesn't make economic sense for ONLY the oil costs. You can run it because you want the extra performance/safety.

With synthetic you change once a year, the other route it's 3 times a year. And I didn't factor into the costs labor or filters - which offsets the "cheapness" of petrol.

Now if you top off and replace filters and check your oil with analysis you could extend these out further, but you get the gist.

One of the guys mentioned getting (I'm assuming quality oil) for $1/quart during sales/clearances. It's hard to beat the economics of that with anything.

With synthetic, you know you can abuse it and you'll probably be okay no matter what.


Alan

Originally Posted by gpatkins1111

Reading all the posts I'm totally confused. I've been putting 10-30 Castrol in my Toyota trucks and Sequoia for almost 20 years and have had no problems. My wife recently bought a 2008 Solara and I put Mobil 1 in for it's first oil change. I assumed it would be better, but now I'm not so sure. Oh well, I got 4 cases of Mobil 1 on sale a Costco so I'll use them up at anywhere from 3 to 15 thousand mile depending on whom you believe.

gpa