Your dealer doesn't put Mobil 1 in your engine w/o you asking for it, and then I wouldn't trust them to do it. If your dealer is like mine, which uses Shell 10-30, last month it was Havoline 10-30, they will put whatever they can get away with that is cheap and bulk.

 

I run dino oil in mine (havoline, valvoline, castrol.. 10w30 in winter and 10w40 in the summer) but usually change it every three months or 3k miles, which ever comes first. lately I haven't been driving it much though (2 times a week around 10 miles give or take a trip) so my question to you guys is: do you think the additives break down to the point that it should still be changed every 3 months with that little bit of mileage? I was thinking of letting it go 4 to 4 and 1/2 months max, what do you all think?

 

I think Cabbage just switched to synthetic on his 1st gen and is liking it last I heard.

If you don't drive much, I thought 6 months was the recommended oil change interval.

I use Mobil 1 and will change about every 10K miles, sooner if I go off road alot.

 

AmsOil Series 2000 0W/30
I run either Bosch oil filters (from Autozone) or the Toyota filter. I'll probably run the Toyota filter from now until I get the AmsOil dual filter unit.

I change the filter partway through the drain interval. I change the oil somewhere around 12000-15000 miles.

Changing synthetic oil in a properly sealed and properly running engine is a total waste of money. Running synthetic oil in a leaky (fuel or coolant leaking in) engine is also a waste of money.

-S

 

Useing Mobile 1 syn and i love it.

 

First oil change swithched to M1.

Wifes 1990 4Runner gets decent on sale stuff. Right now it's running the FREE Valvoline MaxLife.

 

Just switched over to M1 also and will be switching my gear boxes over to Redline syn soon.

 

Wow, maybe I should try Valvoline 5w-30 in my 3rd Generation '96 4Runner instead of the Castrol 5w-30 I've been using.
Is changing the oil every 2k miles overkill? Been doing this religiously since new.

 

Yeah,that's a bit overkill especially if you use synthetic. The only time I would change the oil (dino version) every 2k would be if if I: a) off roaded ALOT b) pulled a loaded trailer everyday c)drag raced every weekend.

My previous car was turboed and drag raced alot for 6 months of the year and I changed my synthetic oil every 3k miles but turbo engine's oil gets dirty quickly and with a turbo I didn't take chances.

Now with synthetic in my Runner my plan is to change oil about every 7k miles.

 

I see. Well, I should've mentioned I haven't been using synthetic though. Just dino-based Castrol GTX 5w-30. Hence why I feel the need to change oil often (every 2k miles) and filter too. I mean, it's easy enough to do it so why not? I know, I'm stubborn...but these 4Runners are so reliable, gotta have somethin' to do!
But it seems like people really like the Valvoline 5w-30 which I'll probably start using from now on.

 

Changing your oil that often is still a bit over kill even with dino oil but it's better than forgetting and waiting till 4000 miles or so;if you can afford it every 2k then continue to do so but you could go another 1000 with no ill effects just make sure you use a good filter since that can be almost as important.

 

Thanks X-AWDriver.
Just finished driving my 4Runner to work. Man, I love this truck and this is a great forum. Thanks for your replies. Good to see others lovin' this truck as much as I am.

 

Hey, X-AWDriver, I love to know where you got that avatar!

 

I read some info that says changing your oil too often causes more wear than if you just left it alone and changed it at the factory recommended intervals.

The reason is because oil improves it's lubrication properties with a bit of age. Changing it too often doesn't give the oil a chance to "break in" and do it's job.

It was a study conducted by Ford and some oil company or something like that. I forget the link, sorry.

 

From one of those cartoon sites but definetly not for the kiddies if you know what I mean.

Who doesn't think Judy Jetson is hot??

 

I must admit that I'd not quite noticed the abundance of trunk junk on the Jetson ladies before.

I shan't sleep in the future....

 

Dont laugh but im poor so i use that mistik kind in the 5 gallon bucket from farm and fleet. Its cheap and works good enough for me

 

oil? what you're supposed to change it?

Factoid: oil is pronounced "AWL" in someplaces and "EARL" in brooklyn.

 

This kid that comes in to the casino I work at was telling me that the Royal Purple oil improves horsepower in his rice rocket honda car. Is that true that a synthetic oil as he says it is can help that much? Whats the stoory on this stuff? Blue

 

I saw a test using Royal Purple in a MR2 and with just the oil change gained 4-6whp;is it worth it? IMO no,unless you're running some serious machinery (turbo,SCs) and you got the $$$ to spend.

If I remember right the purple stuff cost almost $2 more than Mobile 1.