Oil switch help?

[swampy_swimmer]

Hi, I think that I made a mistake.
I just bought 2002 4Runner with 95K on it. First thing off course after register it I changed the oil, and I decided to pour pure synthetic oil in it.
Now I came across some information that switching from conventional oil to synthetic may (or not?) cause gasket shrinkage that will result in leaking.
I need an advise, should I drain it and put regular stuff in it (I didn't drive that much yet) or is it really ok to swithc to syntethics on milage that high?
I really wish I did my research first...

Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[A.Wilson013]

You should be fine man... I switched to synthetic on my 87 at about 250k miles.

 

[awdjunkies]

lol yep, I switched to Syntec on my 2nd gen at 299k as well.

 

[swampy_swimmer]

Really? Thanks, I hope I won't have problems later on.

 

[Brutus]

I switched to Syntec at 200k and did notice a little leakage. I'm now at 251k and they have never got bigger or caused a problem.

 

[swampy_swimmer]

I switched to Syntec at 200k and did notice a little leakage. I'm now at 251k and they have never got bigger or caused a problem.

Did you get them fixed or is it still leaking? Or did it stop by itself?

 

[Nunyabiz]

Hi, I think that I made a mistake.
I just bought 2002 4Runner with 95K on it. First thing off course after register it I changed the oil, and I decided to pour pure synthetic oil in it.
Now I came across some information that switching from conventional oil to synthetic may (or not?) cause gasket shrinkage that will result in leaking.
I need an advise, should I drain it and put regular stuff in it (I didn't drive that much yet) or is it really ok to swithc to syntethics on milage that high?
I really wish I did my research first...

Any input is greatly appreciated.

That is complete nonsense, don't worry about it.
Synthetic oil does NOT "cause gasket shrinkage" in fact exactly the opposite if anything.
Many times petroleum oil can sludge up and cause your gaskets to "dry out", synthetic is more likely to clean the engine and swell the gaskets again.

When I bought my 4 Runner several months ago it had 159xxx on it and the FIRST thing I did was change not only the engine oil to Synthetic but also ALL of the oil and lube and trans fluid to all 100% synthetic. I have not leaked a single drop of anything.

The ONLY time synthetic oil can cause a leak is if you already have a leak because of over heating your seals and the sludge from the petroleum oil is the only thing keeping the engine from leaking. Synthetic will likely clean the engine after awhile and once the sludge is gone could theoretically start leaking because the synthetic cleaned it, but that is about it.

I would change to synthetic if I bought a 4 Runner with 300K on it.

 

[Brutus]

Did you get them fixed or is it still leaking? Or did it stop by itself?

I've never had a drop under my truck, There was just some noticable leakage around the valve covers and they have never gotten any worse.

I think Nunyabiz is right about the synthetic oil cleaning out the sludge and maybe a little leak could occur.


I think you're sweatin this a bit too much.