Synthetic oil in 2.7L?

I've put 17,500 miles on the taco in the past 7 months when I bought it for work. It had 113xxx when i picked it up and now has 130xxx.

Anyway, I've been running Quaker state 530 and I have no idea what the hell kind of oil it is. My question is, with the amount of mileage I drive and put on the taco, should I switch to synthetic? Keep what im using?

 

I guess my question is, would it be more beneficial and better for my motor to run synthetic?

 

Synthetic oil is better oil but also more expensive. The advantage with synthetic oil is when you run at a high RPM, primarily racing, the heat does not affect it as it does mineral oil. You can certainly go either way but for normal driving your good with regular oil. Use what the factory recommends which normally is 5w30 and change the oil and filter as the manufacture suggest (usually 3000-5000 miles) and you are good for another 130000+miles or more. I have a friend who runs synthetic oil in his two mustangs and he says he can tell by the temp gauge when the oil change shop puts regular oil in. The cars run hotter. He says they've done it a couple of times and he goes back and they correct it.

 

Synthetic is more expensive initially but when you consider that you can go 3x as long between changes and the MPG gain you will see (from 17.5 to 19 mpg for me) I would say synthetic saves you money. Also if you live in a cold region synthetic is better because it does not turn to pancake syrup at 30 deg like dino oil does.

 

x2


Mobile 1 Full Synthetic

 

the cost is about the same either way. the oil is twice is much but you change it half as often for synthetic.
The real question is how often do you really think you are able to get around to changing the oil? If your weekends are always free and you like doing the work yourself then doing a 5K dino run is fine. If you can't get around to it that often then switch and do the change every 10K.

 

I don't think I could get compfortable doing oil changes at 10,000 miles! Even with Synth. But the idea of it turning easier in the winter sounds nice.

 

Just remember after you switch to synth, u cant switch back

 

Factory oil change intervals remain the same if your run synthetic oil or dyno. I do not see why all these guys out there think they can double the oil change interval because they run synthetics. I can see going longer then factory intervals if needed at times, and not being too worried, but not double or 5000 miles extra. For typical, day to day driving, with no additional work load, ie towing, hauling, etc. dyno oil will be fine for most drivers who change their oil & filter between 3-5000 miles.
Racing applications, hard driving, excessive work loads will raise oil temps typically, putting stress on the engine oil and likey shortening the oil life. For "Maximum protection against thermal breakdown", using synthetics while driving under extreme conditions should give you greater protection while running the motor hard.

I currently run dyno in the engine, and do an oil & filter change every 3-4000 miles, using good quality oil and filters. No extreme conditions for me thus far. The factory recommends changing the oil every 3000 miles under extreme conditions. So, Toyota has determined it seems that we will be fine running dyno oil, changed every 5000 miles or 6 months, under normal use, but under extreme use, every 3000 miles. They appear to be adjusting to the faster breakdown period oil will go thru running your engine hard.

I guess my point is, there is no reason to pay higher prices to run synthetics unless you...

• just want the best for the motor, and overkill is your style.
• looking for minor gas savings over the long run. If this is your main reason, my guess you will never make it up for the higher price you pay for the oil. But this will be an added benefit if you run synthetics over the long run and for other reasons.
• work you truck under extreme conditions, and want to get 5000 miles of good protection between intervals and not be forced to change at 3000 miles because your running dyno oil.
• Have always used dyno, changed every 3000 miles and I want to change your carbon footprint, and use less oil in life. Going to synthetics will give me the security to change my oil every 5000 miles, and with minor gas savings as well.

Enough rambling- that's my take on synthetics...

 

That's a myth.

bill

 

mobil 1 is what i have used in every car or truck i have ever owned both old and new.

 

"Myth #4 - Once you start using synthetic motor oil you cannot go back to conventional oil.
Synthetic and conventional engine oils can't be mixed, or else they react and cause engine problems.
Fact: As long as the synthetic motor oil product and conventional motor oil product meet the viscosity and performance requirements outlined in the vehicle’s owner’s manual, you may interchange them with each other.

Myth #5 - Synthetic oil causes engine leaks. Synthetic motor oils eat gasket material and cause engines to leak. Synthetic motor oils affect engine seals and result in excessive oil leakage. Synthetic oil can’t be used on high-mileage engines. Synthetic and synthetic blend motor oils cannot be used in older or high-mileage vehicles.
Fact: Synthetic oils do not cause engine oil leaks. Deteriorated and hardened seals and gasket material cause engine oil leaks. If the seals are already leaking with conventional motor oil, they will leak with synthetic oil. If the seals are in good condition, synthetic oils may be used in high-mileage engines."
http://www.texlube.com/oilmyths.htm

 

i use wal-mart supertech oil and i like it alot, some people hate on it because its "wal-mart" brand but it does get for me and i get 26 MPG in my 4x4 4cly tacoma

 

Amsoil has a 25,000 mile 12 month oil change interval. I change my oil once/year. Amsoil 0w-30 will make your engine run very smooth.

 

I've always gone 10 grand or better with synthetic. It is better for the environment, too.

 

I use GTX high mileage and change it between 3 and 5 thou. Never had a problem and u cant go wrong because its part syn and part conventional.

 

Dino every 3,000 miles at the Express Lube.

 

Amsoil 0w-30. The engine will run better w/ more power, and it has a one year 25k change interval.

 

Every 3K, religiously.

5-20 Syn.

Trans drain/fill and diff service every year in Jan as well.

Coolant is 10 yr/120K, I'll leave it alone for awhile.

 

Royal Purple 5-30 FTW! I work at walmart TLE and we have this "quaker state" oil change thats really cheap, i wouldnt put in in my lawn mower. that stuff looks like syrup. Royal Purple has been really good to me. But not good to my wallet.