Oil Real vs. Synthetic

[CVsGX470]

OK, I know that many if not all of you have had something to say about oil on this site. How long to wait until changes and what type. I have also searched and found a few complaints about engine knocking and etc. I have found that my engine will ping a little bit (I use 93) when accelerating and it drives me nutts. Do you think that the type of oil that I use (Valvoline 5W30 every 3000) has something to do with it. Should I use/change to a synthetic type? Give me your simple opinions via the poll and a comment. And, do you think that it will help the ping if I change to a synthetic? Thanks people!

CV

 

[iFORCE]

There's been a discussion on this already. Please use the search button.

Engine ping has nothing to do with synthetic or regular oil. What you need is to change your gas station or put in better gas.

I use Mobil1 Full-Synthetic oil as well as 91 octane gas. Never had a problem with ping nor problems with the engine.

"Oil Change, How long?"

"Synthetic Engine Oil"

"Switching Oil - what weight"

"When to start using Synthetic Oil: From Toyota"

"Premium vs. Regular Fuel"

"Synthetic Oil" Search Results

 

[peter78]

There's been a poll on this already. Please use the search button or visit our Poll Section.

I don't remember one. I posted a Poll on how often you change your oil. It would be interesting to see what percentage of us use synthetic. I first changed to synthetic because I planned a long trip, well over 3,000 miles. It turned out to be 5,800 miles. I was so impressied with the sythetic, I decided to keep with sythetic and change every 5,000 miles. One other reason for changing was changing oil in my 4Runner is a pain in the ass and I would rather do it 5,000 instead of 3,000.:arrow:

 

[CVsGX470]

I-Force:

With all due respect, maybe you should read my question a little better before you respond. AS you will notice that Yes, I did make mention that there are a ton of oil posts and YES I am aware that I can use the search button. I was looking for a synopsis on your opinion. I know how to use the search button.

"OK, I know that many, if not all of you have had something to say about oil on this site. How long to wait until changes and what type. I have also searched and found a few complaints about engine knocking and etc."

You should also read further to see that I did post what octane of fuel that I use...

" have found that my engine will ping a little bit (I use 93),"

I understand the idea/premise behind trying to keep the posts together for efficiency purposes but the idea behind a msg board is to post. I didn't ask for a lecture on your idea of what the board is for and the proper way to use it.

I am LOOKING for OPINIONS for my question...Thanks guys!

CV

 

[CVsGX470]

Thanks Peter...I am really contemplating using a synthetic base but I have heard so much conflicting news. Some say it is great while others say it isn't good for your engine. Just wish that I could find a good source for that...

I know, I'll use the search button again!

Thanks again peter,

CV

 

[Koz]

What engine, year, how many miles?

I would suggest using a fuel system cleaning additive that removes carbon build-up (find out which is best). If that doesn't help try a different brand of gas, then try a different brand of oil (make sure you stay within the recommened viscosity). Try this first.

Koz

 

[peter78]

I haven't heard that synthetic is good for your engine. I have read the forums @ bobistheoilguy.com and edmunds.com about oil. Some concerns about synthetic are:

1.) They cost too much.

2.) Amsoil isn't API cert. and Toyota won't honor the 60,000 miles warranty.

3.) Putting sythetic in a older high mileage engine may not be good, the rubber seals will shrink and oil will by-pass the valves, causing the engine to lose oil.

4.) Castrol Syntec is not a "true" sythetic.

If you compare the specs between the two, syntetic is much better. Maybe another concern would be:

5.) People leave the syntetic oil in for long periods of time feel it will last forever. I do know you should not go over your warranty oil scheduled change as Toyota will say ownership abuse since you didn't follow the schedule.

 

[CVsGX470]

2003 V6, 23000 miles

CV

 

[iFORCE]

Here is my OPINION then.

First off...

:bash:

Secondly....

"Engine ping has nothing to do with synthetic or regular oil. What you need is to change your gas station or put in better gas."

"I use Mobil1 Full-Synthetic oil as well as 91 octane gas. Never had a problem with ping nor problems with the engine."

Throw the synthetic in and change it every 8000-10000miles. What gets dirty is the filter.. so change that every 5000miles. The oil takes awhile to breakdown so there's no need to waste all that money and oil.

 

[bulldog-yota]

I have the V8 2003, never had pinging. I use 91 here Cali, I mostly try to get CHevron as much as possible.

Engine Oil has got nothing to do with pinging.

I used dino till 20k miles (changed every 2500 miles), I then switched to M1 and change every 5k miles. Every oil change I get a Toy filter as well. So I effectively doubled my mileage on an oil change with M1 and I know the engine will last a long time. A good syn does a btter job at protecting your engine, and something Like M1 keeps it clean as well.

Your choice, but I'm willing to bet and engine running on M1 will be in a lot better condition than one on dino at 100k.

 

[mikes4runner]

Mobil 1 synthetic/Toyota filters in my Toyota's
Mobil 1 and mobile one filter in my Vette.

Synthetic oil in cars/trucks with oil leaks yes will leak more and with engine problems yes but the synthetic oil has nothing to do with the problems just exposes them sooner.

If you can afford it use it.

 

[Kanab]

Find gas stations that sell Top Tier gasoline, they will clean up your carbon deposits that are causing the pinging. Nothing to do with the type of oil you are using. Some of the stations are Quiktrip, Conoco/Phillips, the website will give you all of the names.

 

[405HP_Z06]

Synthetic with Lube Control LC20 (http://www.lubecontrol.com/) at 10,000 mile intervals ONLY if you perform a used oil analysis with quality interpretation. Change the oil filter at 5,000 miles. The Toyota oil filters don't filter past there.

Use Fuel Power FC60 to clean up the fuel system and combustion chambers (http://www.lubecontrol.com/)

 

[CVsGX470]

Thanks for the input!
CV

 

[Hitman]

Throw the synthetic in and change it every 8000-10000miles. What gets dirty is the filter.. so change that every 5000miles. The oil takes awhile to breakdown so there's no need to waste all that money and oil.

So you don't think your synthetic oil gets contaminated at the same rate that convential oil does??????

I can't understand how so many people have this misconception. Sorry, but there's nothing magical about synthetic that prevents it from getting contaminated less than conventionall motor oil.

If you were selling your 4Runner at 50,000 miles and you told me that you only changed the oil 5 times since you've had it, I'd tell you that I'm not interested....

 

[Hitman]

Synthetic oil in cars/trucks with oil leaks yes will leak more and with engine problems yes but the synthetic oil has nothing to do with the problems just exposes them sooner.

Not true.

Synthetic oil is more slippery than convential oil. Therefore, by changing from conventional oil to synethic, you can CAUSE oil leaks that would have never happened if you stuck with the conventional oil.

 

[405HP_Z06]

Not true.

Synthetic oil is more slippery than convential oil. Therefore, by changing from conventional oil to synethic, you can CAUSE oil leaks that would have never happened if you stuck with the conventional oil.

It's not the 'slipperieness' of synthetic oil that causes higher mileage engines to leak. That's another one of those synthetic oil old wives tales. :bash: It's the varnish that has built on the seals over time and the resulting detergent action from the synthetic oil that 'causes' the seals to leak. I put the 'causes' in quotes because it's not the synthetic oil causing the seal to leak. If synthetic oil would have been used from the beginning, leaks would not be an issue.

I have never had this problem on any car that I've owned in the last 10 years and I've used nothing but synthetic oil.

If this was to happen to me, I would use a cycle of Auto-RX to clean up the engine and help reseal any leaks.

 

[405HP_Z06]

So you don't think your synthetic oil gets contaminated at the same rate that convential oil does??????

I can't understand how so many people have this misconception. Sorry, but there's nothing magical about synthetic that prevents it from getting contaminated less than conventionall motor oil.

If you were selling your 4Runner at 50,000 miles and you told me that you only changed the oil 5 times since you've had it, I'd tell you that I'm not interested....

You are correct that synthetic oil isn't magical, but the base stocks and add packs of most synthetics are much better than conventional oils. Synthetics have a much more robust add pack to reduce engine wear and help in extended drain intervals. It's all in the formulation, and most synthetics will support an extended drain intervel if you choose.

I do not advocate extended drain intervals unless you monitor oil life and engine wear through used oil analyis and quality intrepretation. There are reason's other than lubrication failure that contribute to engine failure. Coolant leaks being one of the main contributors. Without UOA and quality intrepretation, there is no way to know the actual life of the engine oil, wear rate of an engine, or any pending problem that may cause engine failure.

What about filters? Think one filter is different from another? Does the filter contribute to the rate of oil contamination and reduce the oil change interval?

If you were selling your 4Runner at 50,000 miles and you told me that you only changed the oil 5 times since you've had it, I'd tell you that I'm not interested....

If there were UOA's to support the extended drain intervals and they were satisfactory, I would buy the above 4Runner in a second. Anyone can choose to buy what they want, but how could you factually state or prove that the vehicle in the above scenario had a higher wear rate than another similar vehicle?

A vehicle's maintenance schelule depends on how anal a person is about their vehicle and the length of time a person plans to own a vehicle. For example, if I was a person to buy a new car every 2 years, I wouldn't care what I ran in it because it would last at least the time I would own it. However, if I was a person that purchased a vehicle and kept it for 5+ years, than I would absolutely care what I ran in the vehicle.

Do you have any used oil analysis to support any of your claims concerning conventional and synthetic oils?

Here are my last 4 UOA's on my '04 Sport Edition V6: http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=002280

 

[Bluto]

What about filters? Think one filter is different from another? Does the filter contribute to the rate of oil contamination and reduce the oil change interval?

Don't forget air filters.

When do you switch to synthetic in your vehicles? It looks like 8000? Does it matter? My last car I waited till 7500. I was thinking 10-12k for my V8 (iron block). I've been running Castrol GTX 5w-30, was going to switch to Red Line at 12k.

I switched from the Toyota Filter to Wix. The Wix is smaller, not sure what to make of it. It may be better quality, but smaller?

 

[mikes4runner]

It's not the 'slipperieness' of synthetic oil that causes higher mileage engines to leak. That's another one of those synthetic oil old wives tales. :bash: It's the varnish that has built on the seals over time and the resulting detergent action from the synthetic oil that 'causes' the seals to leak. I put the 'causes' in quotes because it's not the synthetic oil causing the seal to leak. If synthetic oil would have been used from the beginning, leaks would not be an issue.

I have never had this problem on any car that I've owned in the last 10 years and I've used nothing but synthetic oil.

If this was to happen to me, I would use a cycle of Auto-RX to clean up the engine and help reseal any leaks.

Right