Should I go to synthetic?

My truck currently has 35,000 miles on it and I am running toyota conventional 5w-20 oil. Should I go to a synthetic or heavier weight oil like 10w-30.

 

I started full synthetic when I bought my truck and it had 41k on it...

 

You're in LA. Synthetic in the drivetrain is mostly beneficial in cold weather places. It's essential in cold weather environments, IMO. Nevertheless, synthetic would work fine for you. Synthetic has longer change periods, so you'll have to do a cost ratio. Don't go to 10w-30 for sure.

 

Ok, I just thought that 5w 20 was a little light for hot climates. I guess 5w 20 conventional is fine for where I am. Just was worried about engine wear and all that stuff, because the 5w 20 seems pretty thin to me.

 

several things to consider with oil weights. I run Castrol conventional 5-30. Climate is one buy one of the main things is tolerances within the engine. Some have tight tolerances and require lighter oils. With today's engines it is probably best to err to the light side. As far as synthetic I think it is more about how often do you want to hangs it. Lighter oils also improve mpgs.

 

ALL very good points, however once your motor hits high mileage like mine @ 208K, i would highly recommend synth n quite possibly thicker grade such as 5W40 or 10W30.
*If you're in traffic a lot which is most of LA, also check your water pump for leaks n watch your coolant level.

 

I think this topic has been burned into the ground. Someone asks everyday.

 

do it. 5w-30 synthetic is what i use.

 

Been running synthetics in all the vehicles I've ever owned.

This tacoma got it at new...1500 miles.

 

My wife's Accord uses 0w 20.

But it is a synthetic blend. Freaked me out when I first head this. But that's what Honda calls for, at least in her V6 Accord.

 

that's that energy conserving crap haha.

 

our manual recommends the same.

 

Stick with the same weight oil but def switch to synthetic.

 

Just traded off a '10 T4R on my '11 Taco & the 4Runner called for 0W20

 

Conventional for me, just make you change it every 4 to 5 K, u won't go wrong

 

sure, if you want to. Not gonna hurt it.

 

I would, and I have, this first thing I did when I got home after buying my truck used, was to change to Mobil 1. IMO, the GREATTEST Synthetic oil out there.
My experiance with Mobil 1, the very frist time I changed to it, I was doing to many things at once and forgot to tighten the drain plug...I know, rookie mistake, but anyway, the drain plug came out while I was traveling and it was quit a way from my destination but I didn't relize it was gone till I got to my destination and it was only after I tried to restart my car the the engine light came on, or I didn't see it before. Well I thought I FRIED the engine but I replaced the plug, bought 5 more qts of Mobil 1 and NEVER had a single problem with my engine, put 110,000 miles since that time. DO IT!!!

 

I have a hard time believing that your oil broke down due to a turbocharger, unless you had some kind of faulty turbo....

 

I just switched my tacoma to Mobil 1 as well... 136k on speedo

 

Bought my truck used at 65,000. I don't know the history of the oil/ changes but I'm just running toyota oil and filters. The oil is changed every 3000 miles ( by me ) or how many months its been sence changed last. I don't put a lot of mile on my rig and I won't let the same oil sit in the engine for a year cause that's about the mileage I do about 5,000.

I'm prob wasting money changing it every 6 months or around there but with only 2,500 miles. To me oil gets contaminated etc. I don't do a lot of commute traffic but stop and go sucks on your engine.
In my case the toyota oil is cheaper for my application. Synthetic is a great oil lots of people swear by it.

Thanks

Brett