Switching to synthetic at 93k...good or bad?

So I just bought an 06 tacoma with 93K, absolute best purchase I have ever made vehicle wise. I am hoping to switch to synthetic oil, just would like some feedback first as If I should do it or not. I've heard some on both sides of the debate as to whether its good or not. Whadda ya guys think?

 

Just do it. 7k changes. Don't skimp on the filter.

 

eh... ive heard synthetic is a good starting point when the vehicle is new... and then swap to conventional then to hiugh mileage... and by no means if u care about the integrity and health of ur truck wait 7k miles? i change every 3k cuz i want it to last my .02

 

Yea, I think the most I would wait is 4k miles, whether its synthetic or not. Just would like some feedback on anybody that has done or considering doing this?

 

I heard to start doing synthetic at the starting of the engines life. I don't know how good it would be for the engine or the benefit would be doing the change at that amount of km's.

 

There are 0 proven benefits to 3k oil changes aside from obsession. It is wasteful. The 2.7 has a 6.1 quart oil capacity. That gets pretty expensive fast.

 

There is alot of info out there on synthetic oil, and the idea that you cant change from one to the other is bogus. If you want synthetic, put it in, and if you need to switch back to dino oil, do it. Google Amsoil and Royal purple, and you can find some really good info out there. Its more of an issue in the choice of filter than it is the actual oil.
7500 miles between changes is pushing it, even if it is all highway. Style of driving plays a part in intervals. 5-6000 miles is plenty. (my .02)

 

for what its worth i agree. I switched to mobile 1 full synthetic at 60k and i now have about 83k on my 06. No problems at all and i still change it out every 5k on the dime (i once went over to about 7k because i was traveling a ton and even though there were no signs of damage at all i was still having that feeling of "fuck my car is now going to blow up").

 

I used to freak out about long oil change intervals until I actually had the oil analyzed and the lab said the oil at 8,000 miles on my previous car was still perfectly fine. No values (viscosity, contaminants, additive package) outside of acceptable values, no wear indicators (copper, iron, etc.) outside of acceptable values.

When warranty is over I'll start moving up in 2,500 mile increments until I find a good oil change interval for the Tacoma.

 

I changed mine over to synthetic at 165,000 miles. I usually go 8k to 10k miles between changes and no problems at all. I've got 203,xxx miles on mine now. Runs like a top. I use Castrol syntec 5w-30 and toyota oil filters.

 

You are fine swapping over, I think the only reason the myth even exists that you shouldn't switch to synthetic on an older vehicle is synthetic is thinner and therefore could leak?

Meh, you will be fine.

 

I am in the same situation, just bought my first Taco and the odometer is getting ready to roll to 60k. I want to put synthetic in but have read since its a better,thinner oil, it can get through the seals causing leaks. I havent found much information as to when its safe or not, but have ready that at 100k, people see issues with leaks.

 

You can switch to synthetic oil at any time. If you experience leaks with synthetic, that in no way means the synthetic oil is causing problems...that means you had a bad seal to begin with, and conventional oil was masking the issue.

 

There is no issue switching. Last time I checked, it still says 5w-30 on the bottle..... so it's not thinner.

 

This is correct, the additive packages in the higher $$ synthetics often will loosen sludge blocking oil leak passages.

 

Good info fellas. One of ya mentioned using the right kind of filter, what would you suggest?

 

I would stick with Toyota filters.

 

OEM they are cheap and good quality filters

 

I got 14 of the dealer filters for about $4 each.

 

it's oil, just put it in, you're engine knows what to do. i prefer synthetic myself