Those who use synthetic motor oil, have you increased time between changes??

[Jeff T]

As I just changed the transfer case and diferential to synthetic and really like the change I'm contemplating changing the engine oil to synthetic as well.

With my job I will drive 1000-1250 a week when busy and a good 90% of that is highway miles cruising. I would change my oil and filter every 5k.

So I'm curious what intervals folks are using for synthetic?

Are you using a special filter as well?

Thanks from the synthetic rookie!

 

[DC Dude]

Synthetic is touted as better for the engine, but from my experience, I've had engines leak where I've used 100% synthetic (Mobil 1).

Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

 

[sportv8]

On my 07 v6 that i bought new, i waited until the first 3k passed, and switched over to full synthetic, changing it every 5k miles...no problems at all up to 70k, I'm confident that it wouldnt be an issue. I just sold that one with 70k and picked up a 08 sport v8 with 15k, and plan on using synthetic in that vehicle as well.

 

[DC Dude]

On my 07 v6 that i bought new, i waited until the first 3k passed, and switched over to full synthetic, changing it every 5k miles...no problems at all up to 70k, I'm confident that it wouldnt be an issue. I just sold that one with 70k and picked up a 08 sport v8 with 15k, and plan on using synthetic in that vehicle as well.

What do you think you gained from using synthetic?

 

[gm350reratliff]

As I just changed the transfer case and diferential to synthetic and really like the change I'm contemplating changing the engine oil to synthetic as well.

With my job I will drive 1000-1250 a week when busy and a good 90% of that is highway miles cruising. I would change my oil and filter every 5k.

So I'm curious what intervals folks are using for synthetic?

Are you using a special filter as well?

Thanks from the synthetic rookie!

I have been using Mobil 1 since 10k miles with the toyota filter. 5k mile oil and filter changes. 67k miles, no issues yet. Mostly hiway driving. I just wish I had more time to do more offroad driving with it.

I also own a '04 silverado Z71 that has 120k miles that I have been using Mobil 1 since 5k miles with 5k oil changes. AC delco filters. It sees more offroad and towing and I'm generally just harder on this truck for no reason. No leaks or issues yet.

 

[eskimochaos]

10k on M1 is fine on the V8. I use it and go 7500 due to very aggressive driving.

You should be fine going 7.5-10k on M1.

 

[sportv8]

What do you think you gained from using synthetic?

I didnt notice the engine running smoother if thats what your asking. I did it basically because synthetics are supposed to be a higher quality lubricant than regular oil. And since we all spend thousands on our vehicles why not an extra few bucks for something as basic as engine oil.

 

[camdz]

If you have no intentions of going past 5k on your oil change interval there is really no reason to spend the extra money. A regular oil will go 5k and offer plenty of protection.

Personally I use synthetic and usually go 8-9k between changes. I like to say 10k but I usually get antsy and do it a bit early. I use either Mobil 1 or Castrol Edge with a Mobil 1, K&N, Pure One or Wix filter(whichever I can find on a special). This is my first interval with the Castrol Edge. Prior to that I used either Mobil 1 EP or German Castrol Syntec in the 4runner, and my last two vehicles (G35 coupe and 99 Z28).

Edit-If you keep an eye out for sales at advanced auto or auto zone you can get 5 quarts of quality synthetic and a high dollar filter for $25-28. By the time you pick up the 6th quart its a little less than $35 but this will last you 7,500-10k miles.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I've been using M1 for almost 17 years and never had any engine issues associated with the oil. On my 4Runner I switched over when I bought it with 95k miles on it and it's now got just over 163k and no leaks at all. I use either an M1 filter or a Puralator PureOne filter and I go about 8000 (sometimes a little more) or 10-11 months between changes but never go past a year with the same oil in the crankcase. I usually buy a 5qt jug at Wal-mart and an extra qt and filter and like camdz said it cost about $35 and it's a once a year job so IMO it's worth it.

 

[brettmc]

What do you do about the oil change light that will come on at 4500 miles?

 

[scottm]

I change the engine oil & filter every 5k, running Shell Rotella T6 synthetic 5W-40 from Wal-Mart and either Toyota filters or NAPA gold filters. I'm sure I could go 10k between oil changes, but not filters. I can change the oil in my garage in less than half an hour including cleanup, and it gets me under the hood for a good look at everything.

Synthetic is touted as better for the engine, but from my experience, I've had engines leak where I've used 100% synthetic (Mobil 1).

My old Land Cruisers leaked so much I epoxied my garage floor to ease cleanup. Then I switched from Mobil 1 Extended Performance to Shell synthetic, and the leaks stopped. I've heard the same story from others. The Shell is as good as M1 EP, better than regular M1.

 

[Nuke]

I began using synthetic motor oil in my T4R's and most of my other vehicles beginning 1998. The SOLE reason was for extending oil change frequencies. I've had plenty of vehicles go well beyond 200,000 miles on dino oil changed at 3,000 mile frequencies with no issues so engine longevity was NOT the basis.

With that said, I change the M1 oil and filter in my 4th gen at 8,000 miles ONLY because it's my tow vehicle and sees more towing duty than my previous 2nd and 3rd gen T4Rs which were also on M1 but changed at 10,000-12,000 miles. My '07 Mustang GT is on Amsoil changed at 10,000 miles.

With dino, I was under the T4R every 6 weeks or so. With synthetic it's now about every 4 months or so.

 

[eskimochaos]

What do you do about the oil change light that will come on at 4500 miles?

You can turn it off yourself. Search, there is a thread - I forget the exact procedure.

I change the engine oil & filter every 5k, running Shell Rotella T6 synthetic 5W-40 from Wal-Mart and either Toyota filters or NAPA gold filters. I'm sure I could go 10k between oil changes, but not filters. I can change the oil in my garage in less than half an hour including cleanup, and it gets me under the hood for a good look at everything.



My old Land Cruisers leaked so much I epoxied my garage floor to ease cleanup. Then I switched from Mobil 1 Extended Performance to Shell synthetic, and the leaks stopped. I've heard the same story from others. The Shell is as good as M1 EP, better than regular M1.

I thought cars leaked with synthetic after switching at a certain amount of miles. The oil "destroyed" the dino seal that was left on mating surfaces.

I switched at 50k and have 0 issues and no leaks.

 

[Nuke]

On rare occasions, synthetic may dissolve some "crud" left behind by dino that functions as a seal. If this occurs, you can always switch back to dino and usually the crud will begin building up again and all will be well.

I had a '97 Camry that had some minor puff of smoke on cold startup after changing to full syn at about 38,000 miles due to a bit of oil leaking past the valve seals. My son went back to using dino and the issue went away in a few thousand miles. But I believe that to be very rare.

 

[Climb14er]

Been running synthetics in engine and drive train for eighteen years. Never a problem.

In the 4.7 V8, the Pennzoil Platinum Plus 5W-30 is changed in the spring and late fall/early winter with either Toyota OEM filter, Bosch premium filter or Purolator Pure One.

Since the 2007 Sport is on extended warranty, I change 2x a year.

If it wasn't on warranty, I'd probably change the oil 1x a year with a super high quality synthetic extended oil and super top of the line oil filter.

The 4.7 V8 is very easy on oil from what I've experienced. :

 

[scottm]

I thought cars leaked with synthetic after switching at a certain amount of miles. The oil "destroyed" the dino seal that was left on mating surfaces.

I switched at 50k and have 0 issues and no leaks.

Mobil 1 is a high-detergent oil, is said to remove the waxy buildup on seals, which then reveals seals that have been bad for some time. I know it cleans up sludge on old engines over time, I've purchased many cars at around 100k and watched the buildup in the valve cover gradually dissolve away. Switching to Shell certainly didn't replenish the waxy buildup so quickly, so I'm not sure why the leaks stopped on my two Land Cruisers.

 

[DC Dude]

I change the engine oil & filter every 5k, running Shell Rotella T6 synthetic 5W-40 from Wal-Mart and either Toyota filters or NAPA gold filters. I'm sure I could go 10k between oil changes, but not filters. I can change the oil in my garage in less than half an hour including cleanup, and it gets me under the hood for a good look at everything.



My old Land Cruisers leaked so much I epoxied my garage floor to ease cleanup. Then I switched from Mobil 1 Extended Performance to Shell synthetic, and the leaks stopped. I've heard the same story from others. The Shell is as good as M1 EP, better than regular M1.

Have you ever tried Castrol Syntech?

 

[Bossman]

I started using Mobil 1 5W30 synthetic oil in my Lexus and have continued that practice with my T4R. I change out my oil and Toyota filter at about 6 month intervals (fall and spring).

Big selling feature for me with the synthetic oil is the ease of cold temperature starting. Comes in handy during our cold Canadian winters.

 

[MikesToy]

I use Valvoline SynPower 5W-30 every 5K miles.

 

[JMST4R]

I think the moral of this story/thread is simply that if you're using synthetic, and you change your oil more frequently than 10k miles, you're wasting your money. The whole point of it is that lasts longer, stays viscous at cold temperatures, and cleans the engine better. If you're using ANY synthetic oil, and you change it more frequently than 10k miles, you're wasting money, and lots of it. Wouldn't be a bad idea to change the filter at 5k, then top off what was lost, but a straight change at 5k is beyond dumb. My dino oil looks brand new at my 5k change intervals (@ 80k miles). I can't imagine anyone else has a problem either.