Hi everyone. I dont use my 4runner very much, maybe once a week if that. My wife and I work together and have a 6 mile round trip. We use our other car. My question is, I am using Mobil1 Synthetic. Is synthetic ok for an engine not used very much? Or should I go back to regular oil.

 

I don't think that it will really hurt to keep using the Mobile1. You just won't be changing it as often due to fewer miles between oil changes.

/my .02

 

My personal decision to use synthetic has to do with the amount of driving I do and to lessen the frequency of oil changes. As far as sitting, I don't think there's any advantage to synthetic over dino and there is a definate financial disadvantage that you'll be changing your oil due to the time that it sits in the crankcase. Those short trips compound matters by not burning the moisture out of your engine. The acids that build up don't give a hoot which oil is in your crankcase.

 

Once a week we take it food shopping, about 26 miles round trip. Other than that it sits unless we need to go on a long trip. I love this truck and use the best for it. I didnt know if synthetic would be ok for long periods of sitting.

 

synthetic is fine for long periods of sitting... it doesnt break down like a regular dino oil will,,, however breakdown is usually caused by viscosity breakdown due to too much stress.

i would at least closely monitor the level and hte ground... synthetic oil will be mroe prone to leak sitting than being used, here is my reasoning for that..... synthetic is more pure... and sitting, doesnt allow lubrication the seals of the engine need, if they startto dry out, syn oil might be mroe prone to leaking out quciker due to dried seals