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Engine & DrivetrainDiscussions about the engine and drivetrain of your vehicle.
This is a discussion thread titled "Synthetic Oil - TBM", within the Engine & Drivetrain forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
I'm sure there is a thread on this but I couldn't find one. I currently put Castrol 5-30 in my 2003 Limited (2 w/drive). Is the synthetic worth the cost and can the interval between be increased. If it could, it may just be worth it. I change my own oil and filter so I don't have the issue with the dealer overcharging.
Mobil 1 is probably the best over-the-counter synthetic oil you can get. The Castrol synthetic 0W-30 that's imported from Germany, not the U. S. stuff, is also excellent.
Synthetic oil has an advantage in very cold climates, in very hot conditions, and for extended drain intervals. Any synthetic will be good for the full drain interval shown in your owner's manual. You can extend the drain interval beyond that and protect your warranty if you have an oil analysis at the required mileages and the analysis shows life remaining in the oil. I don't think I'd run conventional oil for the 7500 miles without an analysis...I think 5000 is about max even in good conditions.
If you bought a service contract, a so-called extended warranty, check the fine print in that about what service you're required to do (and document) in order to keep this contract in force.
In you're climate, I'd run 10W-30 oil...less chance of the oil shearing to a lower viscosity after a few thousand miles due to a lower quantity of viscosity index improver polymers in oil with a smaller viscosity range.
Ken
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I wouldnt look at going to synthetic to save money because you wont. It costs 4x as much and I wouldnt extend the interval that far unless an oil analysis tells you it is safe to. I use Mobil 1 for peace of mind. I also swear that at 5k miles, it comes out much cleaner than conventional. I like the idea that if I blow a cooling hose, that the oil wont breakdown and cause a major failure as quickly as conventional oil would. It might be overkill on a street car, but I've owned a few cars and have put 120k miles with no trouble. Then again, so has my dad who buys the cheapest stuff he can find. Oh well.
When I bought my first new car, a '91 Probe, I went the synthetic route thinking that nothing was too good for my car. I changed it every 3000 to 5000 miles and never had any problems with the engine. I finally donated it at about 130,000 miles, still going strong.
In '96, after getting married and having children, we bought a Dodge minivan. Times were tough so I went with regular oil, buying whatever name brand was on sale. I still changed it every 3k to 5k and now, at 140,000 miles, the engine is still going strong.
Comparing my experiences using or not using synthetic, I see no difference. In fact, I know of no one that has ever had a engine problem related to what type oil they used.
Regardless of what oil I used, I'd still change it every 3 to 5k, so for my '03 Sequoia, I'm going with regular oil.
I tend to agree. While there are probably some benefits to using Synthetic's in extreme conditions......Regular Dino oil changed on a regular interval will always suffice.
I have had multiple Toyota's, all with well over 100k and all ran on Dino. Always used Pennzoil or Castrol in them as well.
Now that I am older and have less time I let the dealer do it. They use what they call a "multi synthetic" oil. Who knows, but it stays clean and I change it every 3k anyway.
I have yet to see any real data supporting the assertion that synthetic is any better than any other motor oil. Lots of hype, lots of fabricated reasoning, but no data. People who change their oil regularly, using synthetic or not, have longer lasting engines.
"Synthetic oil 'soaks into' the cylinder walls!"
No it doesn't. Please.
What I have seen is people thinking synthetic means they can wait 10,000 miles between changes and then having valve damage. A local head shop said that most of his work is on heads that were using 100% synthetic.
Use plain old motor oil, change it regularly. Put that saved money into some BG 44K periodicially.
Originally posted by m0000 Use plain old motor oil, change it regularly. Put that saved money into some BG 44K periodicially.
Not to start anything here, but I work for a competitor of BG. While BG is better than what you can buy over the counter, it's not that great. I assume you are getting the BG from your dealer? I've run comparisons between BG and my product (Protec) and the Protec is far superior in terms of cleaning ability and the fact that it absorbs the water that builds up in the tank and turns it into one combustible liquid. I would say get some Protec, but it hasn't been around as long in this country as BG and I'm not sure if we have a distributor in Colorado yet. Sorry to get off topic, just had to say something about that.
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Originally posted by gpatkins1111 I'm sure there is a thread on this but I couldn't find one. I currently put Castrol 5-30 in my 2003 Limited (2 w/drive). Is the synthetic worth the cost and can the interval between be increased. If it could, it may just be worth it. I change my own oil and filter so I don't have the issue with the dealer overcharging.
Which brand is best? I've heard Mobile 1.
It really depends on whether you're going to keep your truck "forever" or for only 150,000 miles. While you can definitely go 200,000 miles on regular oil, you're much more likely to do it with synthetic and 5,000 to 7,000 mile oil changes. You can even go much further on the miles between changes if you're willing to do some oil sampling.
There are (and I *don't* recommend this interval) some people who have changed their synthetic oil every 25,000 miles with synthetic and still went way over 250,000 miles. That was only with normal filters and not bypass filters where you almost don't ever change the oil.
I personally run synthetic, but if you change the oil every 5,000 miles and plan to keep your vehicle for only 10 years it's fine to user regular oil. The difference between the two is that with synthetic even at 150,000 miles it's like a new engine vs "in good condition". So when you go beyond that you're ahead with synthetic.
I use Mobil 1 because it makes my vehicles run smoother and quieter and I believe (no evidence) that if you plan to keep a vehicle for a really, really, long time (200K+), your chances are better with synthetic. Some also say it improves gas mileage--I've only seen a very slight improvement.
My dealer has been reasonable (and quick) with oil changes so this is the first car I have owned that I am letting the dealer do it. I see less of an argument on other warrenty items I go in for when they have me in the database as a regualr customer with regular maintenance. I will probably switch to synthetic and do it myself when it hits 3/36.
I have been running Mobil 1 5w30 in my Civic Si since 1992, and it now has 249,000 miles. I still do not have to add oil between my 4000 mile oil changes.
Likewise, my brother has a Acura Legend with 240,000 and it too still runs strong. He has been running Amsoil, and has been running 10K between oil changes.
I have been running Mobil 1 5w30 in my Civic Si since 1992, and it now has 249,000 miles. I still do not have to add oil between my 4000 mile oil changes.
Likewise, my brother has a Acura Legend with 240,000 and it too still runs strong. He has been running Amsoil, and has been running 10K between oil changes.
It's in this range that synthetic really shines over conventional oil. You can do this on normal oil too, but the engine definitely won't be as clean (which is what makes it last so long) or within new engine specs on a lot (or even most) of its parts.
If you extend the interval, then synthetic becomes a LOT more price competive and sometimes can actually be cheaper.
I'm curious DouglasDavies, did you only change your filters with oil changes or do you do it more often?
For those of you who have a Walmart in your area, they will do Mobile 1 with a filter for about $28 or Dino Oil for about $15. You can't buy the Mobile 1 and a filter for what they charge to change it. The one in my area uses Fram Filters. With the local dealer charging $56 with a tire rotation (that I found out they install the wheels with an impact gun only...not on my truck!). So I'm off to Wally World from now on.
Synthetic Oil
