I have a few specific questions about switching my truck over to Amsoil synthetic:

1. I now have had the truck for a little over 1 year (about 14 months). I have about 15,500 miles on it. Is it too soon to switch?

2. If it isn't too soon to switch, should I do an engine flush? If yes, where can I have one done?

3. If it is too soon to switch to synthetic. I'm only asking b/c I have heard some people say you need to "break in" your engine for a certain amount of time before switching.

4. Where is the best (cheapest) place to order Amsoil on the net?

Thanks in advance!

 

I don't believe its too soon to switch. On the site http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi? they use Auto-RX to flush before changing to syn. I don't know about the Amsoil questions. These would be good questions to post on the above site also.

 

cybrenergy, Amsoil tech support recommends switching to Amsoil after the first schuduled oil change (5K on my wife's new highlander). Toyota recommends the same. When my Tacoma was new, the engine ran rough until about 5k miles, then is smoothed out. So, if you have 15k, it's time.

With so few miles I doubt if the flush will do much, but it clearly won't hurt. So, if you're making the switch, do it once and do it right. Flush it and get the synthetics installed. From what I read it's best to pick a brand and stick with it.

As for Amsoil, go to the web and become a perferred customer, it cost $10 for 6 months or $20 a year and gets you the dealer price. If you spend $100 a year, the perfered customer charge is more than covered. With the switch to synthetics on 3 vehicles, I get to $100 pretty quick. By the way, I switched over my daughter's 96 Civic over at 95k without problems. That car does lot's of short trips so I thought the synthetic would handle lots of cold starts better. I crossed my fingers on the synthetics starting to leak, no problems almost a year later.

Investing in good lubricants is cheap insurance. I tend to keep a car 10+ years and 150k miles or so, the investment is well worth it!

Also, for the V6s, the SDF-34 filter is a few inches longer, more filter area. A little snug installing, but worth it for the additonal surface area.

 

I switched from Castrol GTX to Mobil 1 at 110,000 on the 4Runner. I'm now at ~150,000 and no signs of problems. I usually change the oil every 4-5K.
I'm experimenting with Castrol Syntec on the pickup. It has 127,000. So far, no leaks.

 

Interesting Mobil 1 synthetic oil study here: http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/s.../oil-life.html

Only problem I've ever had with switching has been leaks, usually on high mileage engines. Damp spots become leaks, leaks become runs, etc. I think you have no concerns about a few tens of thousand miles.