pruney81

I parked my 86 4runner in the garage indefinitely and bought a 99 3rd gen 2wd automatic. It has 61,000 miles and seems to be pretty powerful for a toyota imho. To anyone with a 3rd gen what kind of oil and filter do you guys use? Right now it seems the dealership has 10w30 quaker state in it. I'd like to use something else I'm just not sure what. Is it okay to switch to synthetic? What are the pros and cons? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Oh yeah it's a 3.4

calrockx

Me? Amsoil and stock toyota filter right now.

Search the "oil" topic and you'll find lots of info on this very topic. Lots of guys here use synthetic oil, and many have made the switch after using dino oil for a while.

I like the amsoil cause it means less frequent oil changes - every 20,000.

DavidA

Stock oil filter and 10w40.

02SE

'97 SR5, V6, 4x4, 5speed, E-locker.

I changed the factory fill, and filter at 1000 miles. With Pennzoil 10w30 dino oil.

At 4000 miles, I changed the oil/filter again, and have been using Mobil 1 10w30 W/ Purolator Pure One filter ever since.

Go ahead and change to synthetic oil if you want to.

Con?, synthetic oil is more expensive.

However, it doesn't need to be changed as often either, and is generally superior to dino oil in all aspects of engine lubrication.

bamachem

I use:

Napa Gold filter for a 95 Ford Taurus 3.0 (Napa Part # FIL 1516) - fits perfectly and has 40% more filter media

4.5 quarts of Mobil 1 Extended Drain 5W30
1.0 quart of Royal Purple 5W30

I can go 15,000 miles between changes...

pruney81

So, should I just drain it and refill with synthetic or should I do some kind of an engine flush? I was thinking just drain and refill with mobil 1 10w30 or havoline maybe.

nakman

Just drain & fill.. do it twice in a short time period if you want. I use Mobil1 5w30, great oil for the 3.4. Also toyota filter 08922-02011.

99_Runner

I take mine to the dealership and let them change it. The only reason I don't change it is because when I bought it they said that I was getting 5 years or free oil changes. All I do is pull up, give them some number, they change the oil and I leave. Pretty good setup.

But if I wasn't getting free oil changes I would probably be running 10W30, possibly synthetic and a stock Toyota filter.

habanero

Oem or Wix filter, 5w30 Penzoil every 3,000 mi.
It's individual choice and you're going to get a ton of different answers.

rimpainter.com

Why do you guys run 10W-30? Just curious. 5W-30 covers pretty much the entire temperature range according to the Toyota manual, including the hellish summers of Phoenix, and the icy winters up north. It should also net you slightly better performance and mpg.

I run Mobil 1 5W-30 synthetic with a Toyota filter. My change interval is 6.5K miles, so the time extension more than pays for itself in the long run. And I get the benefits of running synthetic.

Godzilla

I agree with the 5W-30. I have never figured out why everyone changes their oil types when it recommends 5W-30 in the book and even on the oil fill lid.

Intrepid

Why has the '86 been retired? Trail rig?

I think anytime you go from a 22re to a 2.7L or 3.4L you will love the difference. Which engine do you have? Did you already post that and I missed it?

X-AWDriver

Down south in the heat a thicker oil is what I would use but 5w30 is fine for what Colorado throws at us.

rimpainter.com

But even "down south" 5W-30 is more than adequate according to Toyota. I can't imagine it getting any worse than Phoenix in the summer, except for maybe Death Valley...

X-AWDriver

But what is the coldest temp you'll see in Phoenix? I'd still use an oil designed a little more for the high end of the the thermometer instead of the low end.

rimpainter.com

It was 37 at my house this morning, and 34 the other day. To each his own though. I just don't understand the logic behind it if the temperature range is clearly listed in the manual and 5W-30 is recommended.

No big deal.

pruney81

To answer your question Intrepid, my 86 4runner has a rebuilt 22re with a 5 spd HD Marlin Crawler transmission, the front axle leaks really bad and I think the fuel pump is bad, it's a constant work in progress, I just needed a good daily driver.

pruney81

I'm in Texas, and it does have 61,000 miles so I think I'm going to go with Mobil 1 10w30 and see how that goes. Im definitely going to use a stock Toyota filter. Even with synthetic I still think I'll change it every 3-4k miles.

Fink

Mobil 1 5w30 Toyota filter change every 5k.

Fink