synthetic oil question.

[TK-422]

At 10K miles does synthetic oil get black and dirty like conventional oil?

I took my 4Runner in last week for it's 10K service and I can say for sure that they did not change the filter (It is stated and billed to Toyota on the service receipt). The next day I went to install a RCI scid plate and a bunch of dirt and gravel fell down when I unbolted the original one. That and a little mud splashed on the filter housing was like a security seal.

Anyway I checked the bottom of the pan. It was clean and dry so they might have at least changed that. I checked the oil and it looks clean similar to new conventional oil.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

At 10K miles does synthetic oil get black and dirty like conventional oil?

I took my 4Runner in last week for it's 10K service and I can say for sure that they did not change the filter (It is stated and billed to Toyota on the service receipt). The next day I went to install a RCI scid plate and a bunch of dirt and gravel fell down when I unbolted the original one. That and a little mud splashed on the filter housing was like a security seal.

Anyway I checked the bottom of the pan. It was clean and dry so they might have at least changed that. I checked the oil and it looks clean similar to new conventional oil.

My oil was dark when I drained it at 5k. I drove highway and in town during that period.

 

[Johnson51]

All oil looks the same before and after a few thousand miles. The oil picks up or attracts the carbon and other particles produced by all the moving parts (cylinder linings, bearing surfaces...) and holds onto it. Its a lot like that castrol magnatech commercial. You should have no worries as long as you use a full synthetic.

 

[TK-422]

Thank you, that's what I thought but this is my first vehicle with synthetic oil.

So it looks like they changed the oil but not the filter.

 

[Johnson51]

Thank you, that's what I thought but this is my first vehicle with synthetic oil.

So it looks like they changed the oil but not the filter.

Its a good question, just think of synthetics as the same but highly engineered :nerd:

 

[Woz1976-MT]

There are all kinds of discussions you could delve into about synthetic oils (which is Group III, Group IV, or Group V; how much of each is in a particular brand; what the additives are used, etc.). Then there is the synthetic vs. non-synthetic arguments.

Anyhow, I've spent a good deal of time reading about all of them and have used synthetics extensively in the past. Just about any brand name synthetic from Walmart -- other than SuperTech -- is very good and will easily last 10,000 miles.

Even synthetic oil will darken over time -- that means it's doing its job (keeping things clean and neutralizing acids, etc.).

As for your oil filter, this is a case where (in my opinion) the cartridge-type oil filter on 4Runners is a good thing. You can buy a filter, use a short hose and the drain adapter, drain the housing without making a overly big mess, and change the filter. Just be sure to buy a quart of oil too so that you can top it off afterwards.