Switching to full synthetic from full conventional.

[TOYLUVA]

Ok guys I know how this goes. This is not to start a brand war as a matter of fact leave the brands out and lets talk about oil and there ingredients.

I have a 2007 v6 that has treated me well. I want to switch to synthetic. I have been using 5w-30 conventional. I am at 60k miles. Having said that the warranty just expired. I use synthetic in my '97 gm 350 vortec with good results and I beat on the truck hard fishing the beach and hunting the woods. Lots of sand and mud and the truck is usually loaded down. I call it my "support vehicle". When I bought it I asked the PO if he used syntheitc and he said yes. Just so you know, I did NOT ask the PO's of the 2 GM's before this one{both chevys with 5.7s vortecs} and I brought them home and filled with conventional and 2 weeks later in both cases I had a bearing knocking. First hand experience. Cost me two engines{ + - 3k$} this is why I am concerened. I believe with all my heart that once you go to full syntheic you can NOT go back.

Back to the the 4.0l v6. All I really want to know is first had 4runner experience.
Is 60k miles a good time to change to full synthetic? What ingredients and certifications should I look for? And yes I know what the owners manual calls for, not always the best. A lot of choices available.

A link to info would be great if you dont have first hand knowledge. If you do have first hand knowledge, please share. Yes I have searched this site and the web and have some knowledge about oil. Looking for 4.0l v6 oil knowledge from the guys and gals that own them. Thanks for your help. <NO BRAND WAR>

 

[MikeInNH]

You can switch to full synthetic or semi-synthetic or back to conventional at anytime. Won't hurt a thing.

The only think you have to worry about is that the oil is for gas engines and not diesel.

As for brand...doesn't matter. I buy what ever is on sale....as long as it meets the specs.

 

[Doozi]

I switched to Mobil 1 5W-30 at about 70k miles without concern. I buy it at Costco when they have a coupon... I think it works out to be about $4.90 a quart.

 

[Koz]

How often do you change your oil?

Koz

 

[chris360hawks]

Modern oils are so advanced now you are able to switch freely between synthetic or conventional without hurting anything. Not being able to switch is really just a old mechanics tale.

 

[zonianbrat]

I switched to synthetic at 140K miles. No problems so far. I check my oil regularly. After 3k miles it was still so clear it was hard to see the level on the dipstick. At 5K it was starting to get a little darker so that is when I decided I would change it out. I think next time at 5K I will change it and send off a sample to be analyzed.

 

[shootersanks]

When I bought my 4runner used at 53,xxx I changed the oil right away to full synthetic and it hasn't hurt a thing. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about it and make the switch.

 

[Glock_19]

As everyone else mentioned you can pretty freely switch between conventional and full synthetic. I normally put full synthetic in but during the last service at the dealer they put in conventional, no biggie.

Only real difference I see is in the change intervals. If you want the ability to go past 3,000 miles between changes I would go full synthetic.

 

[MikeInNH]

The oil change interval for the 4runner with conventional oil is 5k miles.

Toyota (or any other manufacturer) doesn't specify a different oil change interval for conventional or synthetic.

 

[Glock_19]

The oil change interval for the 4runner with conventional oil is 5k miles.

Toyota (or any other manufacturer) doesn't specify a different oil change interval for conventional or synthetic.

I suppose you could run 5,000 on conventional...

Personally, I run 3,000 on conventional and 5,000 on synthetic for piece of mind.

 

[TOYLUVA]

Thanks for all the fast responses. KOZ, I change it when the light comes on. I think I should change sooner but oil stayes pretty clean. Mostly highway use, not much dust or abuse if any.

I will change to full synthetic this weekend this weekend since it fits my changeing schedule better

 

[Atlanta_man]

It's fun to compare the three types of Mobil I (all synthetics of one sort or another)

 

[JohnnyT]

I thought full synthetic could go 8-10k miles. No?

 

[bvc]

I thought full synthetic could go 8-10k miles. No?

Usually 15,000 or one year, but most don't trust it to go that far.

 

[MikeInNH]

Are you trying to see how long you can get out of your oil...or out of your engine????

15k miles....I've yet to see the long term study that shows that 15k mile oil change interval will keep an engine running good beyond 300k miles. I know that 5k oil change interval will.

 

[ChaosStarter]

I thought full synthetic could go 8-10k miles. No?

It can on newer engines. On older ones, I personally feel that it's not the oil I don't trust going that long, but the oil filter.

 

[Gerdo]

I thought full synthetic could go 8-10k miles. No?

You will find that if you are driving on lots of dirty roads, this dirt will find it's way into the oil (ingestion).

Synthetic oils don't break down like a conventional oil. Conventional oils start breaking down once they are brought up to operating temperature (hence the 3 month change).

 

[ridefast]

Heres my experience with Toyota and synthetic
2003 tacoma switched to synthetic at 20k miles drove it to 90k with no problems
1998 tacoma 4 cyl ran synthetic to 160k miles no problems
2002 tacoma ran synthetic for 20k no problems
2006 4runner synthetic since 40k and now have 68k no problems

I do all my own oil changes and use a toyota filter, i posted a thread on a breakdown of different filters and toyotas are the best!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

It can on newer engines. On older ones, I personally feel that it's not the oil I don't trust going that long, but the oil filter.

Depends on the oil and condition of the engine. I warn everyone about using modern oils in older engines. The SAPs content is far lower than older oils and the composition is somewhat different. In newer engines its not an issues since they have such tight clearances and better oiling systems. But on older engines the sacrifical layer is important. I've seen a 22RE Camshaft on a rebuilt engine with all the lobes turned into circles after only 50k because the customer used high quality synthetic oil. (He was, it was great oil no argument there.) but he needed a camshaft additive package to provide a sacrifical layer to protect the components.

The oil change interval for the 4runner with conventional oil is 5k miles.

Toyota (or any other manufacturer) doesn't specify a different oil change interval for conventional or synthetic.

Toyota technically does specify a synthetic oil change interval. All our newer models use 0-20 synthetic which we advertise as being able to sustain 10k oil change periods. One of our upsell gimmicks is to offer the 0-20 to olders models that could take both 5-10 & 0-20 to get that "longer oil change interval."

That being said, the best way to find your oil change interval is to sample it and send it out and find out what the engine is doing to the oil. Modern oils are much more complex and better formulated than older oil, most conventional oil these days performs as good as synthetics did a decade ago. Mixing the two is no longer an issue.

 

[JohnnyT]

When I had a BMW 328, BMW would change the synthetic oil at 15k. Is there a reason why that might be fine for a BMW but not a 4runner that is not taken Offroad and is not subjected to dusty conditions?