What Do You Use...and Why?

[cmj685]

Happened to spend some considerable time yesterday on "Bob is the Oil Guy" website (I guess I need a life), and it got me thinking about some simple maintenance like oil and oil filters. Wondered what my manual might say about synthetic oil, for example, so I looked it up. Nothing, nada, not a word. Today I took a look at the Toyota website to see if I could find further elaboration on important matters like that...again nothing so far as I could find. I guess I am surprised--when I had my lousy American car it had a wonderful website devoted to things like maintenance and towing and ....
So, I thought I might just throw it out there to this group of very informed 4Runner owners. Which oil and filter do you use...and just as important, why? Got any good reason, or is it just because that's what you always used? Give up some good reasons to switch to your maintenance regiment!

 

[Koz]

All full synthetic oils are far superior to petroleum based oils. So, pick your favorite brand. Besides providing better lubricating protection, synthetics also can last longer. Based on lab tests you can safely run the better full synthetics for one year or 10K miles whichever comes first. If you don't have a favorite brand, Mobil 1 and Amsoil usually rank at the top, in tests. I would personally recommend using the lowest viscosity that Toyota recommends. I use 0w-30 for better start-up protection/flow. There are several motor oil treads that can provide GREAT info on oils.

Koz

 

[Bluto]

I'm using Castrol GTX 10W-30. Will switch to AMSOil 0W-30 at 10k miles. Any synthetic is good. I prefer AMSOil. I like the product and company.

 

[leftyrb]

My dealer informs me that even with synthetic oil, you must maintaio the manufactured scheduled maintenance, to provide for warranty coverage. Here in Canada, Toyota dealers offer synthetic oil as an option when they change the oil.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Amsoil is good stuff but it is not a synthetic and I don't see the benefits for me using Amsoil over Mobile 1 syn since it costs more too.

 

[cpayne5]

I switched my 4R to Amsoil Series 2000 0w-30 at 5k miles (800 mi ago).

I plan to switch my Civic and Scion tC over to the same oil at their next changes.

 

[TeryT]

Correct!

My dealer informs me that even with synthetic oil, you must maintaio the manufactured scheduled maintenance, to provide for warranty coverage. Here in Canada, Toyota dealers offer synthetic oil as an option when they change the oil.

Yes, Toyota makes no distinction between dino & synth as far as oil changing intervals for warranty purposes.

I'm using all Mobile 1 synth products in crankcase, differentials & transfer case. I use Toyota's oil filter. Doing this my 4Runner has made it all the way to 37,000 with no oil related failures! :dancin:

 

[toybox]

Amsoil is good stuff but it is not a synthetic

Huh?????????

Then what is it? Cause it isn't dino oil.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Huh?????????

Then what is it? Cause it isn't dino oil.

Hmm,I was told this by a couple of people;I guess I better do some research as they are obviously wrong.

While Amsoil can last alot of miles in your vehicle then what about over time since if it's rated to be fine for 25k miles that would take me 2 and half years to hit and there's no way I'm going to run the same oil in my engine for that long plus you still gotta change the filters.
If I put over 2k miles a month on my truck then Amsoil might be good for me but I'll just stick with Mobile 1.

 

[Koz]

Amsoil is good stuff but it is not a synthetic and I don't see the benefits for me using Amsoil over Mobile 1 syn since it costs more too.

Amsoil is synthetic and one of the best, if not the best. Amsoil was the first synthetic oil to be sold to the gereral public. The only advantage Mobil 1 over Amsoil is, it readily available at any auto store, Amsoil is sold through distributors. (Mobil 1 is also one of the best)

Koz

 

[toybox]

Hmm,I was told this by a couple of people;I guess I better do some research as they are obviously wrong.

While Amsoil can last alot of miles in your vehicle then what about over time since if it's rated to be fine for 25k miles that would take me 2 and half years to hit and there's no way I'm going to run the same oil in my engine for that long plus you still gotta change the filters.
If I put over 2k miles a month on my truck then Amsoil might be good for me but I'll just stick with Mobile 1.

Well, I don't buy their 25,000 stuff. They offer a variety of weights and oils.

I personally leave mine in for about 8,000 miles with a filter change and a top off at about 4,000

 

[TeryT]

Amsoil is synthetic and one of the best, if not the best. Amsoil was the first synthetic oil to be sold to the gereral public. The only advantage Mobil 1 over Amsoil is, it readily available at any auto store, Amsoil is sold through distributors. (Mobil 1 is also one of the best)

Koz

Over on the RV.net forum there are hundreds of messages on the topic of Amsoil. Some ademently for, and others saying it's not really a good system, and doesn't have good data to support its claims.

No such disputes about Mobile 1 synthetic though, so I use that.

It may really be overkill, because remember, no matter what oil you use, Toyota doesn't care - if you go over the recommended change interval & have some oil related failure - opps! Too bad so sad.

So it's all about whether you think you'll get better protection in the mean time. As soon as I go off warranty (6 yr/100k miles), I'll go to the longer intervals.

 

[desrt_rat]

after using and comparing several oils in my quarter mile camaro, i stick with castol and fram filters, i am going to switch to synth on the next oil change in my ranger and isuzu along with the runner, but, castrol.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Well, I don't buy their 25,000 stuff. They offer a variety of weights and oils.

I personally leave mine in for about 8,000 miles with a filter change and a top off at about 4,000

So,what's the cost per quart?

 

[Bluto]

Over on the RV.net forum there are hundreds of messages on the topic of Amsoil. Some ademently for, and others saying it's not really a good system, and doesn't have good data to support its claims.

No such disputes about Mobile 1 synthetic though, so I use that.

The only way to know which is better in your vehicle and driving conditions is an oil analysis. Did anyone analyze both oils in their RV?

In my last car, Mobil 1 had 3X more wear than AMSOil. I'm staying with AMSOil.

OTOH, both offer more protection than most people need.

 

[TeryT]

The only way to know which is better in your vehicle and driving conditions is an oil analysis. Did anyone analyze both oils in their RV?

In my last car, Mobil 1 had 3X more wear than AMSOil. I'm staying with AMSOil.

OTOH, both offer more protection than most people need.

Yup - oil analysis out the wazzu! People are still arguing. If I wanted to start a good fight, I'd just have to bring up the subject.

Ditto that either provide "more protection than most people need."

 

[Koz]

Over on the RV.net forum there are hundreds of messages on the topic of Amsoil. Some ademently for, and others saying it's not really a good system, and doesn't have good data to support its claims.

No such disputes about Mobile 1 synthetic though, so I use that.

It may really be overkill, because remember, no matter what oil you use, Toyota doesn't care - if you go over the recommended change interval & have some oil related failure - opps! Too bad so sad.

So it's all about whether you think you'll get better protection in the mean time. As soon as I go off warranty (6 yr/100k miles), I'll go to the longer intervals.

Tery,

You know the saying about "everyone having an opinion"!

If you what to learn about motor oil, read here.

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php

Koz

 

[TeryT]

Tery,

You know the saying about "everyone having an opinion"!

If you what to learn about motor oil, read here.

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php

Koz

Hey that looks like a great site! Maybe better than "bobs-the-oil-guy."

Did a search on RV.net for "Amsoil." Found over 800 messages with it in the last year. 14 Threads were started on the subject, in the last year. Many threads sre like: "so what's the bottom line." On & on & on.

Maybe by the time my Runner goes off warranty it will be figured out. They way I see it is about any modern oil is vastly superior to oils in the past. And changing oil every 5,000 with any oil, including dino, will likely provide more protection than I need. I just like the extra margin that I think synthetic gives me. In the end, there may truly be little measurable difference - maybe if I wanted to keep it over 300,000 miles (but who knows - I might)!

EDIT: Opps! Duh - That is the bob's the oil guy site!!! :arrow:

 

[centex]

Need a site for Which oil is best in a vehicle that just sets
in the garage. Which are mine LOL

 

[tipotex]

The only way to know which is better in your vehicle and driving conditions is an oil analysis. Did anyone analyze both oils in their RV?

In my last car, Mobil 1 had 3X more wear than AMSOil. I'm staying with AMSOil.

OTOH, both offer more protection than most people need.

But 3X how much wear? 3X "inconsequential" wear can still be inconsequential. Was it wear that you would ever detect, functionally, over your anticipated life of the vehicle, and give the amount of miles you put on? I'm not criticizing, just asking. Just saying "3X more wear" doesn't necessarily tell us anything, as a practical matter. Especially, as you say, both offer more protection that most people need...