How do I know if I have synthetic oil?

I am trying to find out if there is a way to determine if I have synthetic oil in my truck or regular old dino oil. I need to change the oil and will continue to use synthetic if that is what is in the vehicle already (I believe that once you go with synthetic you shouldn't switch back to regular oil).

 

The whole once you change you can't go back is a myth. Put in what you want (dyno or synthetic) and just make sure to change it regularly.

Shawn

 

x2

but synthetic gives you thousands of miles of latitude for whatever your 'regular' oil change is, if you're anything like most guys on TW!

 

It doesn't matter.

 

There are Federal rules and regulations stating that you MUST be able to mix diff brands of oils w/o damage to your engine.....

Yes there are diff additive packages in diff oils and yes I'd change it out at first chance if I mixed oil brands but the short answer is mixing = NO DAMAGE....

As far as warrenty? If a mfg requires a "certain" oil to keep you warr. They must provide that oil to you at no charge for as long as you are under warr. This is why you see "recomendations" but no "requirements"...

 

^^^^^^

What they said

 

if it was me, i'd just drain it and go with synthetic.

 

x2^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

My last Toyota had 350,000 miles and was still running strong when I sold it useing nothing but dino every 3,000 miles.

 

Asked the dealer which kind of oil they put into at the factory and the guy said that they put in semi synthetic oil and he recommended either the semi-synthetic or full synthetic for future oil changes.

 

I'd taste it first and see. Nutty flavor is synth for sure.

 

And dino oil tastes like real old chicken.

 

That's a good point: petroleum oil provides excellent protection, shouldn't think otherwise.

Going synthetic only makes sense if you extend change intervals. If you're staying with 3k, then use petroleum and save the money.

 

I use Dino...always have, always will. Like fresh stuff running through my engine. Change every three k. However, I did use synthetic in my differentials and transfer case.