Hi, ive decided to do my oil change this time instead of taking it in, I am wondering what you think the best synthetic oil is and also the best filter i can get?

mobile 1 and a oem filter or a napa gold or get a bigger filter clicky

First, let me say, you pick a tough car to change the oil on your own. It is a true pain in the ass.

As far as what is the best oil, I guess Red Line or Amsoil mgiht be the best synthetic oil. I know Amsoil also makes a great filter. For me, I went with Mobil 1, not because it is the best, but it is a good synthetic oil, a good price and readily available. Amsoil is pushing you to go a long time between oil changes. For me, buying a good synthetic at a reasonable price and changing more often makes sense. I also deciced to use the Toyota filter. Mobil 1 also sells good filters, but the cost is also up.

I usually change regular oil at 3,000 miles so I went with using synthetic oil and changing every 5,000 miles. For me a good fit. I am a firm beliver changing oil as often as you can is a good thing. Be careful out there in the synthetic oil world, some oils can claim to be synthetic and don't use PAO base (Castrol Syntec) and some use regualr oil as fillers when they add additives, this includes Mobil 1.

Any top brand of syn will be fine and use a good filter like an OEM one or a Puralator or the like but avoid Fram since their internal contruction blows.

I use M1 or Castrol Syntec and do changes every 8-9k which is about every 9-10 months for me. IMO and in some studies it appears to be how long syntheitc is in your engine versus how many miles you put on it. Some say they change every 15k miles which might be fine if you put 2k miles on your truck a month but for me to rack up 15k would take well over a year before I'd change my oil and I just can't do that. IMO 5k is even to early unless you take a year to rack up 5k miles,you should go at least another 2k and make it more worth your $$$ but to each his own and your oil is your engines lifeblood.

Go to www.bobistheoilguy.com and ask these questions on their forum. Most of the answers will come from people who have actually done Used Oil Analysis on their engines with different oil/filter combo's as well as different OCI mileage. Asking here is like asking who makes the best tires.

And there are heaps of 3.4 liter UOA's on Bob's so search their first.

thanks for the help, i might just take it to our friend who owns a shop and have him do it with the mobil 1 oil and OEM filter

Just do it yourself, it's not that hard. Use Mobil 1 and a quality filter, I like the Mobil 1 filter and it is a bit bigger so I can fit a little more oil. Draining and filling the oil is easy, though I recomend removing the skid plate or it will get covered by dripping oil. The filter is the PIA, remove the driver side front wheel and unclip all the plastic guards. The filter is towards the bottom front of the motor. You will need the type of tool that goes onto a ratchet as there is no room to work, a rubber piece for grip works as well.

"There is no room to work" and "removing the skid plate" is not considered a pain in the ass to you?

i dont remove my skid plate and the pita part is getting at the filter its not that bad just place a few rags under it so oil dont run down the side of the block

Actually, I don't remove the skid plate either. To me the hard part is getting to that filter. Sometimes it is fairly easy and sometimes, for some reason I have the hardest time. I think my point is there is very little room around that filter.

Mobile 1 SUV and purolator filter

I was merely voicing my opinion after several oil changes on my 3.4. Is it a bit more of a PIA to access the filter than my 2.7, yes, but on the inverse the easiest way on the 2.7 was to crawl under the truck and go around the steering rack, on the 3.4 it is easy to reach through the wheel well. For me that is better as I have a bad back. I was simply giving another view, not trying to discredit anyone elses opinion.