Nearing 200,000 mi. Tacoma!?!

I have been using 5.5 quarts of conventional oil since I bought the vehicle with 70k mi. I’m considering starting to change the oil myself and switching to a high mileage or synthetic. What do you all recommend for my high mileage Tacoma?

 

It doesn’t matter. Use whichever makes you feel the best.

 

I have 195k. I use regular synthetic every 5k

 

I recommend you keep doing what your doing at the intervals you've been doing it. Seems to be working.

 

I might be wrong but I’ve heard that you shouldn’t switch from regular to synthetic on high mileage cars.

 

I use high mileage synthetic valvoline every 5k and that seems to work good for mine based on the oil samples i've sent in to blackstone

 

+1. Whatever you’ve been doing is working. If a person changes the oil and filter regularly, any oil that meets specs for your vehicle is fine. Don’t overthink it too much. Congrats on the long Tacoma life so far!

 

Like others have said, keep with what you’re already doing. Also, Project Farm’s video today confirms to me that the extra cost for high mileage oil isn’t all that much better than regular synthetic.

https://youtu.be/nFjDCKZESZo

 

I personally use conventional oil. I bought the truck at 80,000 miles, I'm at approximately 115,000 miles now and l change my own oil.

 

use whatever you like. Store brand or Name brand will work out just fine. I buy whichever store brand synthetic is on sale since it meets the same standards as the name brand and I have never had any issues in all of my vehicles.

 

I recommend a "Congrats on the 200k!" cake to celebrate.

 

This^^^^^^. Don’t change a thing. You will gain nothing by changing to synthetic or high mileage oil. I’d only consider changing to high mileage oil if you are burning oil or if you’re seeing tiny leak around the seals/gaskets. I’d definitely not consider changing to a synthetic, I just don’t see the point at this time. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

 

So here is a weird one...I've been using conventional dino (240K+) and it was always Pennzoil CONVENTIONAL...Even my previous orders call it that

I even have a 1qt bottle I use to measure out the 0.5 for the 5.5 if I feel like putting the extra 0.5 in and THAT says "Conventional" because I've had it forever..
But some time early 2021 they changed it to "Synthetic blend" and I didn't notice...and that was at least 2 changes ago...

So...whatever..
I like the Pennzoil High mileage 5w-20

Old label


New one

 

I have read that one off the things that make oil a "high mileage" is the additives that keep gaskets from shrinking; which is the issue when switching to a full synthetic. I switched from dino to a high mileage full synthetic, with the additives, at 120k (50k ago) with no issues of leakage or burning. I just returned from a 1,500 mile turn and burn on a fresh oil change with zero drop on the dip stick. Just a data point.

 

If the OP has a 2.7, as his sig info suggests, the manual calls for 6.1 qts of 5/20 or 0/20, both of which only come in full syn.

 

Yep, this. Use the dinosaur juice you like, they're pretty similar.
I run Amazon and Blackstone seems to approve.

Amazon Basics High Mileage Motor Oil, Full Synthetic, SN Plus, 5W-20, 5 Quart

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C5W51F2/

 

I have been using regular and high mileage Mobil 1 since 200k miles. I tend to use the high mileage option but sometimes it is not available. I have almost 300k now and never had an oil burning issue. However, I do have a blown head gasket at the moment, so I am not sure if my opinion is even relevant.

 

A guy I worked with before always used conventional oil and then changed to synthetic one day. Well a few days later, the engine locked up on him while driving down the road. Full disclosure, it was a Ranger and he drove like a maniac always. Maybe coincidence.

I definitely prefer Mobil 1 full synthetic. But if conventional has gotten me to 200k, I'd keep using it.

 

I've used full synthetic since new, 15 years and 230,000 miles ago. I'm convinced it protects better and don't see any downside to changing to it at any point. But if you're afraid to change, then don't. Conventional oil works, but you have to change it more often. It will cost you more in the long run.

I did 10,000 mile oil changes for the 1st 9 years and 180,000 miles. At the time I was averaging 20,000 miles per year and changed every 6 months. The truck is now a 3rd vehicle and only sees about 10,000 miles per year, but I stay with the same 6 month interval and don't worry too much about miles.

I've never had to add a drop of oil between changes.

I used Mobile 1 up until about a year ago. I've seen enough that I'm convinced that there isn't that much difference between brands. I've been buying two 5 quart jugs from Costco for the last year of so. It used to be $25 for the 10 quarts, but is now closer to $38. I change my own oil in 3 vehicles so the savings is over 1/2 compared to Mobile 1.

 

I thought it can cause oil leak and has something to do with the seals but wow that’s weird.