Switching to synthetic at 160k miles?

I’ve always got my oil changed at the shop but will now start to do it myself. I have a 2005 Tacoma prerunner. I’m guessing it has been with regular conventional oil, but I’m wondering if I can still switch to full synthetic with my truck having 160k miles now. If so would Mobile1 5w30 be good? Or would the high mileage version be the way to go? I never had an oil leak but don’t really want to have one either by switching. The trucks been serviced every 5k miles before. If sticking with conventional, what would y’all recommend? Thanks!

 

Here's an old thread but may help?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/100k-safe-to-switch-to-synthetic.492778/

 

Yes. Any Synthetic 5W30. I use Mobil only because Costco sells it for dirt cheap. I catch the sales and buy the most I can. Use $4 Toyota filters, an oil change costs me around 35-40 bucks maybe.

 

Mobil 1 with a rebate is the cheapest oil you can buy now.

Walmart is 22.98 for 5 qt. - 12.00 rebate. = about 10 bux + filter.

Buy 2. Buy 2 again next year.

 

Switching with 160k miles won’t cause any type of issues though?

 

What weight did you use w/ the conventional oil?

From what I was told, if you have been using conventional, you wouldn't want to swap over to synthetic if the vehicle is over 150k due to the different oil thickness. But with that logic, if you have only used conventional oil, you may want to go up a weight when you convert to synthetic w/ a higher mileage vehicle in my opinion if you really want synthetic.
Synthetic is thinner and may start leaking, the higher weight (thickness) should compensate it.

 

Okay, I guess I should just stick with conventional. Thanks!

 

Uh oh, here we go...

 

As long as there isn’t any leaks. I would start with a synthetic blend for a few changes then go full synthetic.

 

No....it will not hurt a thing. And you may find some benefit from a high mileage formula. That's up to you.

The myths always seem to outweigh the facts. And if you still feel uneasy about it try Valoline Maxlife. It's a high mileage synthetic blend.

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/forum_summary

 

Tee Hee

 

Yeah....might set up my lawn chair on this one. I posted the link with all the info people need. But this has all the makings of a potenial shit show......because.....oil.

 

Oh for sure..

But real world beats anything

 

Synthetic will not leak through anything conventional will not leak through.

The only danger in switching to synthetic is having your engine last longer.

I wish I knew where this myth started, so that when we can time travel I can go back and kick the person in the nuts.

 

Thanks for the heads up on this. Can't beat that price.

 

last year it was limit 4. Too many used it I guess. I got 4 and 4 more for Sis. Rebate was 12.

10 gals. of Mobil 1 for 100 dollars.

 

People say that switching to syn doesn't cause leaks but in a sense it may. From what I've gathered, if you've had conventional oil in there for so long, there's a bit of sludge build up. The new syn oil helps clean that out and exposes shitty seals. That sludge was helping to seal it. This is my understanding and may be wrong.

Onto my personal experience. I bought a 2005 with 168k miles and switched to syn. After a few oil changes I developed a leak at the front main seal. I switched back to conventional oil and the leak has either stopped or slowed down significantly. I can't tell for sure because I haven't cleaned off the front of the engine. I just know there's no more drops of oil on the top of my skid plate anymore. Take that FWIW, I just continue to run conventional now and have 210k miles.

 

Leakage occurred in some vehicles back in the 90s. I have not seen it in anything recent. I run conventional and synthetic - switch back and forth. Whatever is on sale.
Costco will run Mobil 1 Syn on sale and next time Chevron conventional. Back and forth. No leaks - no problems - Oil is oil. Use whatever style/brand you like as long as it lines up with what's posted in owners manual. Change it whenever you want...3K/5K/10K/20K - it's your truck/your time/your money. Ignore those who say you are wasting time/money.

 

Decided to go with the Mobil1 High Milage full synthetic... so for no leakage... except for the fact that I didn’t tighten the drain plug as much as I though I did