Engine oil question

[Herculean T4R]

I am thinking of switching to Mobil 1 Synthetic high mileage. Currently I use valvoline synthetic blend high mileage. My 4runner has 170k on the odo. No leaks.

Can mobil 1 synthetic cause leaks? Since it is for high mileage cars, I am guessing it has seal conditioners and won’t cause any leaks. Or, should I keep using valvoline synthetic blend and not take any chances since it's proven and works well. Just trying to reduce how many oil changes i do per year. With mobil 1 I can change oil every 5k or 6 months. With valvoline I change my oil every 3.5 to 4k.

Thanks

 

[alumarine]

Use whatever makes you happy.
It's all going to work fine.

 

[LeeMajors]

I am thinking of switching to Mobil 1 Synthetic high mileage. Currently I use valvoline synthetic blend high mileage. My 4runner has 170k on the odo. No leaks.

Can mobil 1 synthetic cause leaks? Since it is for high mileage cars, I am guessing it has seal conditioners and won’t cause any leaks. Or, should I keep using valvoline synthetic blend and not take any chances since it's proven and works well. Just trying to reduce how many oil changes i do per year. With mobil 1 I can change oil every 5k or 6 months. With valvoline I change my oil every 3.5 to 4k.

Thanks

Theoretically it may expose a leak you already have that has been obscured by sludge or carbon deposits because of the additive packages cleaning up the engine, but it will not cause a leak.

 

[Herculean T4R]

Theoretically it may expose a leak you already have that has been obscured by sludge or carbon deposits because of the additive packages cleaning up the engine, but it will not cause a leak.

That's what I am worried about.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I use the Maxlife for usually 12 to 14 months or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first. Great oil.

Valvoline MaxlIfe High Mileage 5W30 Motor Oil 5 Quart - Walmart.com

 

[nissanh]

I'd do frequent oil changes approx 2500 miles with a factory oil filter, you should be good regardless of the oil (I am referring to name brand oils).

Make sure you use a factory air filter and DOUBLE check it is installed in the proper direction. Many oil changing shops install it in the opposite direction (god knows why) giving dirt to reach the cylinder without filtering at the air filter.

 

[jgue467]

I am thinking of switching to Mobil 1 Synthetic high mileage. Currently I use valvoline synthetic blend high mileage. ...
Can mobil 1 synthetic cause leaks? Since it is for high mileage cars, I am guessing it has seal conditioners ...

Well to me you're just about already using the same basic oil including high mileage additives.

I recently looked at valvolines full synthetics, both 'regular' and 'high mileage' in 'regualr' full synth and 'maxlife' versions studying their PI sheets. Look for yourselves, not alot of differences. Most significant difference is sulphated ash being about 20% lower on non-maxlife. If there are conditioners or other additives it doesn't show up on the PI sheets.

Despite this, I'm gonna start use full synth maxlife. I have been using rotella t6 and think its a great oil Except i did find on rotella's site they don't recommend it for vehicles with converters so now I only use it on small engines - my quads absolutely love that oil!

Valvoline® Full Synthetic with MaxLife Technology Motor Oil : Product Catalog - Valvoline ®

 

[LeeMajors]

That's what I am worried about.

My point is that it won't cause anything, just expose preexisting stuff.

It makes you feel any better mine had been run on Pennzoil Dino for the life of the engine prior to my purchasing it, and I swapped to M1 HM for like 15k then subsequently to Rotella T6 and haven't had any exacerbated oil leaks (outside of a faulty front crank seal I'm having fixed).

 

[AZBub]

I am thinking of switching to Mobil 1 Synthetic high mileage. Currently I use valvoline synthetic blend high mileage. My 4runner has 170k on the odo. No leaks.



Can mobil 1 synthetic cause leaks? Since it is for high mileage cars, I am guessing it has seal conditioners and won’t cause any leaks. Or, should I keep using valvoline synthetic blend and not take any chances since it's proven and works well. Just trying to reduce how many oil changes i do per year. With mobil 1 I can change oil every 5k or 6 months. With valvoline I change my oil every 3.5 to 4k.



Thanks

If it ain't broke don't fix it. I would stick with what you have been using.

 

[RS Dude]

If you don't use Amzoil your engine will seize immediately, and the world will come to an end!:banana:

 

[Herculean T4R]

If you don't use Amzoil your engine will seize immediately, and the world will come to an end!:banana:

haha...

I use amsoil diff oil. Never used Amsoil 5w-30.

 

[thinblue148]

I switched to Mobil 1 HM at 204k. Have no idea what was in it before. I'm currently at 208k with no leaks or problems.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Key to oils is consistency. If the reason for the switch is to go full synthetic, then get Valvoline Max Life Full Synthetic 5W30. That way to stay with the same brand, same detergents etc.

 

[gamefreakgc]

haha...

I use amsoil diff oil. Never used Amsoil 5w-30.

I switched to Amsoil performance line. For $40 in oil and a filter I do one oil change per 10,000 miles, or about a year.

 

[GangsterOfLove]

My point is that it won't cause anyone I swapped to M1 HM for like 15k then subsequently to Rotella T6 and haven't had any exacerbated oil leaks (outside of a faulty front crank seal I'm having fixed).

What caused the crank seal failure?

 

[AZBub]

What caused the crank seal failure?

Before conspirators unite I'm positive it WAS NOT due to the use of T6. Don't go there.

 

[Lug1]

You're throwing money to the wind, only to make yourself feel better.

The people who built your car tell you 5W30 conventional is what you should be filling it with, do that.

AFAIK, Toyota's frequency of changes does not go up when you use synthetic or blend, still 5K. Only for newer models that came out of the assembly line with 0W20 full synthetic - the frequency changes to every 10K miles.

I never switched to syn' on my 4Runner, but for a brief period i switched to syn' on my wife's 4 cyl', then I learned that I'm just being a try hard and throwing money. Toyota engines are well capable for 250K+ without touching more then a valve cover gasket, without a drop of syn' oil.

 

[LeeMajors]

What caused the crank seal failure?

Not sure. Its been going on for months (TB/WP/seal replacement was about 8mo ago), and has only seeped out far enough to be visible over the past month or so.

Its small, but I can have it repaired under labor warranty so I may as well.

I'm still not adding oil between changes.

 

[AZPartsGuy]

Use the cheapest oil you feel comfortable using that complies with the API ratings specified by Toyota.

 

[TheDurk]

You're throwing money to the wind, only to make yourself feel better.

The people who built your car tell you 5W30 conventional is what you should be filling it with, do that.

AFAIK, Toyota's frequency of changes does not go up when you use synthetic or blend, still 5K. Only for newer models that came out of the assembly line with 0W20 full synthetic - the frequency changes to every 10K miles.

I never switched to syn' on my 4Runner, but for a brief period i switched to syn' on my wife's 4 cyl', then I learned that I'm just being a try hard and throwing money. Toyota engines are well capable for 250K+ without touching more then a valve cover gasket, without a drop of syn' oil.

I respectfully disagree. I have been running an OCI of 7500 using synthetic oil and an oversized premium filter (the NAPA Platinum PFL 41516) and I get regular UOAs from Blackstone Laboratories. The feedback is that I could go longer if I chose to but I prefer not. The characteristics of that oil at the end of its run is just as good as the dino oil on Day 1 and a whole lot better than dino at 5k. . Toyota never tested this approach on these engines and has no interest in doing so. Why should they? That doesn't mean it doesn't work. I'm at 180k and switched to full synthetic @7500OCI from a blend @5kOCI at 60k when synthetic prices dropped enough to make it financially interesting.

Sure, you'll do fine with dino and a 5k OCI, but you are throwing money and effort away and you're really not doing your engine any favors.