SHANEMAN

Gents-
So far this web site has helped me out imensely. After reading many threads, i am now thinking about changing over to a syn, oil. Possibly Amsoil or Mobil !. Now i have 52,000 on my tacoma. Questions:

1. how often do these oils need to be changed?
2. Do you have to use a special oil filter with these products
3. Can I change over with 50k plus?

X-AWDriver

I was wondering about switching over with 87k on mine but 50k should be no problem since that was when I switched over on my Eclipse.
You don't need any special filter but I did have really good results with a PureOne by Puralator.

I know of people going to 15k or even more with synthetic but personally I would change it around 6k since the oil is the blood of your engine and I wouldn't take a chance since their is still dirt floating in the oil and going even longer will accumulate even more dirt and reduce the effectiveness of even synthetic oil.
In my Eclipse I changed it every 3000 miles but with a turbo I didn't take any chances and really believed in clean oil.

It's all just up to you but my mechanic even says to never push even synthetic oil past 10,000 miles.

scott.475

I am switching to synthetics in all my autos. Still, I'm not going to go too far past 3k between changes. Fram makes a filter now for synthetic oils, designed to go to 6k.

rimpainter.com

I run synthetic Mobil 1 5 - 30 in both our vehicles (Runner + Accord). I change the oil and OEM filter every 5K miles or 5 months.

My .02.

X-AWDriver

I figure I'll do mine at every 5k but never 15k;maybe the oil can go that long but the filter?!!

rimpainter.com

Yeah, I wouldnt go that long unless I could have the oil analyzed. Some guys on here just change out their filter and keep the same oil for that long. I think it's Amsoil that they are using. Crazy stuff.

Bob_98SR5

Shaneman,

Upfront, I'm an Amsoil dealer and I'll pass along what I know to you from the literature and with speaking with their representatives.

To answer, questions 1 and 2, "it depends". Question #3, I don't personally know of anyone whose switched over to synthetics at any mileage that has had problems switching over to synthetics. I know there is some anecdotal stories all over the internet and i'm sure from "friends of friends" but i dont know anyone who has ever had a problem switching over. I myself have switched over all my fluids to synthetics at 65K-70K.

Re Q1 and Q2, there are synthetic oils that have a short service life of 7,500 miles, and there there are some synthetics that last all the way up to 35,000 (or one year, whichever comes first).

Filters for these synthetic oils are definitely different from your stock filter. Amsoil's oil filter for example, can last up to 7,500 miles or 6 months (whichever comes first).

Typically its a good idea to clean out your engine with an engine flush to purge your engine of the previous dino-oil deposits, etc (cleansing the system, so to speak) too.

In anycase, if you need more info or advice, PM me or email me.

Thanks,
Bob

rah1420

Technically, oil is the snot. Well, sort of. The mucus and water in your body lubricates it.

To take nothing away from your argument that you should take very good care of your oil, mind you.

rimpainter.com

So the real question is:

How often do you blow your nose?

CLin9383

1. I change every 5000 miles, oil and filter
2. I use the OEM yota filter. it's $5.99
3. I changed over at 98,000 and it's running smoother.

by the way, i'm running mobile 1 5w-30..you can get it at walmart for 18.99 for 5 quarts!

hope that helps! good luck

DuB

I plan to change every 4-5K, oil and filter. I use Mobile 5w30 synth and a yota filter. And I switched at 82K with no problems. No leaks, or oil burning.

I mainly posted to say that you can get 6 qts of Mobil 1 Synth at Costco for $22 Does anyone know a cheaper place?

playswithfire

I bought a used 4runner with 106,000 miles, so the first thing I did was change the oil using Mobil 1 5w/30. I plan to change every 5000 miles with Mobil 1 and Toyota oil filters. Hope this helps.

mike_d

i've changed vehicles over as high as 160K with no problems.

as far as changing oil, i change the oil once a year, and change the filter every 3K miles. even if i didn't change the oil every year, with the amount i have to put in to top off after the 3K filter change, the oil wouldn't be in the car for more than 15-20K miles. that may sound like a lot, but if you buy a new audi, mercedes, or bimmer, they give you "free" oil changes every once a year or 12-15K miles. they're using synthetic (i'm pretty sure mercedes uses mobil 1) and they don't even change the filter every 3K miles. so i figure if it's good enough for the germans, it's good enough for me. (one caveat - mercedes, at least, has an 8qt sump, so dirt is more dilute in the oil than in typical cars).

i have a saab 900 with 185K miles that i've used this oil change schedule on, and it doesn't loose or burn one drop of oil, and it only has a 4qt sump.

X-AWDriver

I'll be switching to Mobile 1 shortly along with RedLine synthetics in the gear boxes.

Victor

For about $20 you can do an oil analysis and find out exactly how long the oil in your engine is good for. Most manufacturers are recommending longer drain intervals as newer synthetics have great wear tolerance. I change my filter every 5000 miles and keep the oil in 10000. Oil analysis said I could leave the oil in another 5000 or possibly 10000 but I'm not that frugal. Someone posted a link to a site where a guy put synthetic Mobil 1 in an LS1 Camaro and did oil analysis every 1000 miles and only changed the filters and topped off the oil. I believe he went somewhere around 25000 miles before the oil was changed and according to analysis it may have gone longer.

Avoid Fram filters like the plague. Lot of information on the web about that one - inferior one way valve, filtering media isn't as good. Wix, Purolator, and genuine Toyota are the way to go. You can get Wix at Napa - they make the filters for them. Toyota filters have the best antidrain valves and it is a small investment in the life of your vehicle.

I'm a huge believer in long intervals before oil changes. Synthetic oil saves wear and tear and not using less resources is easier on mother nature in the long run. After the next change I'm thinking of going 10k, sending an oil analysis, and then another analysis at 15k.

Highland Runner

1. I change oil at 7000 miles.
2. Use a good filter Mobil 1, Wix, Pure One, Amsoil etc. (see http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?) for more.
3. I changed over at 200,000 with no problems at all.

HBoss

While skeptical at first, I put Amsoil to the test for one year in my 4Runner w/3 Amsoil filter changes during that time.

I had the oil tested at the end of the year (having gone 12,500 mi. during that year) and it checked out fine and was "technically still usable". You can find my report somewhere on YotaTech if you search for it.

So from an actual user of Amsoil through hot summers & cold winters...it works and it lasts. So if you have any doubts about trying it for extended intervals, there's your proof it works. I mean, it was a bit dirty obviously, but tested, it held up just fine.

I'll probably switch to changing it out every 6 months with no filter change in between and engine flush it once a year just so it stays relatively clean in there. Speaking of which, I'm coming up on 6 months...almost time for an oil change.

SLC Punk

I am running Mobil 1 5w 30 with a Toyota oil filter (if I remember to pick one up from the dealer) other wise I use a Mobil 1 filter. I change it every 4 months or 4,000 miles. I am going to change to Amsoil next spring.

I am running Valvoline synthetic blend in my Celica. I change it every 3 months or 2,500 miles. Because I don't want to risk burning out my turbo.

hypnotoad

I just put in Mobil 1 5w30 with OEM filter. I drive about 10K a year, and plan to change the filter in April and oil/filter next Oct.

I've read enough techy stuff and personal anecdotes that I'm comfortable with this schedule.

JSharp

I've run Mobil 1 5W-30 in my truck since about 30K miles, changing it every 10K miles. Analysis has shown it's still working OK at that mileage with my truck and the way I drive it.

The last change I only went 7.5K and I sent it off for analysis to see if the wear numbers are any lower by changing it sooner. I also refilled the truck with some German Castrol Syntec 0W-30 and I'm going to run it 7500 miles and check it to see how it compares to the Mobil 1.

If the wear numbers aren't a lot better I'll go back to Mobil 1 since I don't trust Castrol at all...