Regular oil vs. synthetic

thenrie · 09-10-2007, 09:10 AM

I know there was another similar thread, but it didn't address my question. I just bought a 2000 Tacoma, SR5, TRD, 2.7, 5sp man, 4wd, 120K miles. I want to change all the fluids, including engine oil, tranny & xfer case oil, F & R diff oil. The guy on the phone told me that with that many miles I should just stick with regular oil. He also seemed to indicate that if the vehicle has not had synthetic in it in the past, I shouldn't start now.

What is the problem with mixing oil with synthetic? How do I tell whether the truck has had synthetic in it, and why shouldn't I go ahead and change to synthetic now if it hasn't had it before?

tacomaman06 · 09-10-2007, 02:31 PM

the thing with synthetics is their cleaning abilities, which can tend to cause small holes in the seals..........just on occasion though. i think you will be fine running synthetic if you wanted to......just watch to see if your motor starts to have any leaks. it may even be a good idea to run a high mileage synthetic with that many miles on your truck, just my opinion of course.

Mudbug · 09-10-2007, 04:48 PM

Synthetics are more "slippery" if you have small holes in your seals that regular dinosaur oil might not slip through you might get a leak if you put the more slippery synthetic in it.

thenrie · 09-11-2007, 04:29 AM

Thanks, guys. I thought maybe there was some sort of compatibility problem, sort of a water-and-oil type thing. I bought the Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w-40 after reading a thread on bobistheoilman.com, which was recommended on the other oil thread. Pretty good stuff on that page. I know Toyota recommends 5w-30, but I figured I was ok going with 10w-40, with 120K on the engine, even here in Pittsburgh.

tacomaman06 · 09-11-2007, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenrie

Thanks, guys. I thought maybe there was some sort of compatibility problem, sort of a water-and-oil type thing. I bought the Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w-40 after reading a thread on bobistheoilman.com, which was recommended on the other oil thread. Pretty good stuff on that page. I know Toyota recommends 5w-30, but I figured I was ok going with 10w-40, with 120K on the engine, even here in Pittsburgh.

i think you made an excellet choice. shouldnt give ya any problems at all!

09-10-2007, 09:10 AM	#1
thenrie Senior Member Joined: Sep 2007, #2582 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 124 2000 Tacoma, SR5, TRD, 2.7L (LEV), 4wd, 5sp man, 120K miles, 4.30 gears, 31X10.50X15 tires. 2000 Access Cab Manual 2.7L LEV Magnaflow exhaust, AFE Stage 2 cold-air intake system.	Regular oil vs. synthetic I know there was another similar thread, but it didn't address my question. I just bought a 2000 Tacoma, SR5, TRD, 2.7, 5sp man, 4wd, 120K miles. I want to change all the fluids, including engine oil, tranny & xfer case oil, F & R diff oil. The guy on the phone told me that with that many miles I should just stick with regular oil. He also seemed to indicate that if the vehicle has not had synthetic in it in the past, I shouldn't start now. What is the problem with mixing oil with synthetic? How do I tell whether the truck has had synthetic in it, and why shouldn't I go ahead and change to synthetic now if it hasn't had it before? __________________ Tony Pittsburgh

09-10-2007, 02:31 PM	#2
tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Redneck Division Joined: May 2007, #1475 Location: rock hill, sc Age: 29 Gender: Male Posts: 12,617 04 trd tacoma 4x4 v6 double cab 2004 Double Cab Automatic 3.4 v6 vent visors,deck plate mod, gray wire mod, black steelies and emblems, mag-lite mod, wheelers/ome suspension, stainless brake lines,blacked out bumpers(bedliner),dynomax super turbo muffler,cabelas mossy oak seat covers ans camo steering wheel cover....still to come.... afe pro dry s filter..........plus many,many more!!	the thing with synthetics is their cleaning abilities, which can tend to cause small holes in the seals..........just on occasion though. i think you will be fine running synthetic if you wanted to......just watch to see if your motor starts to have any leaks. it may even be a good idea to run a high mileage synthetic with that many miles on your truck, just my opinion of course. __________________ i am WILL--my ride=04 tacoma trd 4x4 double cab, v6, auto,deck plate mod, grey wire mod, billy 5100's all the way around,black low-pro uws toolbox, black steelies,blacked out emblems, mag light mod,wheelers/alcan springs, ome 881 coils, braided stainless brake lines, polyurethane bushings,dynomax super turbo/slash cut tip-blacked out,chrome deleted bumpers via herculiner bed liner,color matched bedlinered tailgate, camo seat covers,sockmonkey decals,husky floor liners and still to come....15 inch wheelers steelies and gy wrangler mtr's!!! http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa269/tacomaman06/ signature by piercedtiger www.myspace.com/goodolboy1979

09-10-2007, 04:48 PM	#3
Mudbug Senior Member Joined: May 2007, #1574 Posts: 288	Synthetics are more "slippery" if you have small holes in your seals that regular dinosaur oil might not slip through you might get a leak if you put the more slippery synthetic in it. __________________ 2007 Tacoma Regular Cab 4x4 2.7 2006 Yamaha FZ1 1966 Ford F100

09-11-2007, 04:29 AM	#4
thenrie Senior Member Joined: Sep 2007, #2582 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 124 2000 Tacoma, SR5, TRD, 2.7L (LEV), 4wd, 5sp man, 120K miles, 4.30 gears, 31X10.50X15 tires. 2000 Access Cab Manual 2.7L LEV Magnaflow exhaust, AFE Stage 2 cold-air intake system.	Thanks, guys. I thought maybe there was some sort of compatibility problem, sort of a water-and-oil type thing. I bought the Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w-40 after reading a thread on bobistheoilman.com, which was recommended on the other oil thread. Pretty good stuff on that page. I know Toyota recommends 5w-30, but I figured I was ok going with 10w-40, with 120K on the engine, even here in Pittsburgh. __________________ Tony Pittsburgh

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