'05 Highlander Synthetic or Conventional??

[LifeTech]

Dino is adequate...Syn goes that extra mile. Is it worth the extra money?

That's a very subjective and personal call. If yu go with with syn ...yu can't go wrong.

It's up to yu. Your engine doesn't know how much money yu pay for Oil ! Only your wallet knows for sure.
But I would say that the syn benefits are much more accumulative over the life of the engine from day one . Especially if yu plan on driving your new car vehicle up to 200k before selling/trading in for another.
Rarely does a second prospective owner/dealer absolutely care what kind of oil was used in a preowned vehicle.
On-time OCI intervals/records will be more important.
And if yu buy a used vehicle that's well broken-in, having close to 6 digits in miles that used Dino only or assume so not having OCI records, the additional price of Syn may or may not truly benefit wear for the extra cost involved. Cost to benefit may be a moot point in this case. Dino may be more practical.
Other factors are more important to overall engine life when it is mature and high in miles.

In the end...lubricants are key. But one might be splitting hairs at some point in a mature engines life.

Did I make sense?

Hope this helps.

I like M1 for it's high detergency/additive package. So I use it. But all my vehicles are purchased new and raised on Syn.
I feel that if yu can truly determine that a preowned vehicle no matter what amount of miles it has was in fact raised with Syn...then stick with it for sure.

LT

[bruns09]

Synthetic vs Convetional savings= About $250($6 per change at every 3k miles) using convetional plus I use the so called "craptacular" fram filter vs. the Mobile 1($4 per change) which saved me about $190. Now, I went with the cheaper Havoline oil vs. the more costly conv. oil brands(Penzoil/fillin the blank). (Savings of $4 per change) which is another $190. So in all, my savings with running the "run of the mill" type products is close to $650. Was it worth it? Well, My '99 Camry w/240k miles purrs like a kitten and all I have ever used was conventional since owning the car at 97k . Now, I just bought a Highlander w/104k and considering, do I go with a synthetic? I don't know, I guess it's like saying is Organic Apples better for you than the non-organic ones? Probably but I'm still fine with the lateer, plus I can splurge a bit more with the savings.

[bepperb]

Bruns, I don't understand your comparison. You'll use the craptastic Fram filter either way, no? So that's a red herring. From what I understand, you'd use Halvoline at $11 for 5qts every 3000 miles, or a quality syn for $23 every 6000 miles. So it's a difference of 33 cents every 1000 miles, or 33 bucks every 100,000 miles. Not 650 bucks.

Personally, I would recommend changing the oil every 5000 with conventional oil, or 7500 with synthetic. Still less than 100 bucks over 100,000 miles. If you're changing syn out as often as conventional, you're missing out on it's biggest strength.

Also, it's worth pointing out that you can buy a purolator, wix, or napa filter that will run circles around the base-level frams for about $2.50~3.00.

And in all fairness, I change the Syn on ours every 5000. But I readily admit that's overkill, and only done because I'm obsessive compulsive about auto maitenance. I've even seen used oil analysises at 10,000 miles that looked good (though nearing the usefull life of the oil), on the 2.4 liter engine. Edit: I've also seen some UOA's that look absolutely horrible at 12~13,000 miles, please don't take my comment as an excuse to go that far.

[bruns09]

None taken....I guess I didn't factor in the 6000 miles vs. the 3000. I'm a product of pubic education Seriously I considered using the synthetic, as I do know this much, It's better for Wisc. cold winter start ups. So, at this stage in my Highlanders life, I can start using synthetic when I'm gussing all it has tasted was conv.?

[LifeTech]

>Cold weather startups are superb with Syn. Cold starting an engine is where most engine wear occurs.

>Syn. also reduces the Cold cranking Amperage demand on the battery at cold start.

These have always been the Key benefits of Syn. oil.
Syn oil has been a prerequisite in Alaska for years.