Moving on from Synlube.....ugh.

Alrighty gents (and ladies),

A friend of ours bought a used FJ with low’ish miles.... perhaps 35k. She went to have the oil changed recently and the guys come out and say “Um... we’re not comfortable changing the oil in your truck”. They then walk her over and show her this set of stickers under the hood.

She calls us because we’re auto nuts. My gut reaction of course is “snake oil and whale sperm”. My suggestion is to take it out a dealer and have a nice clean infusion of some Mobile 1.

But here’s where it gets a bit wonky. First, is this the only oil change it’s had? Who knows. And second, aren’t you supposed to stay with the same synthetic, for concerns about interactions between their various proprietary additives? I’m wondering if we should suggest an oil change, then another after about 250 miles? You know, sort of a double dilution. Or is a simple change sufficient and no worries?

TIA

 

"...less than a penny per mile..." from their website. $1500 initial cost? Sounds like expensive snake oil to me. I would change to normal oil and go on with normal change intervals and hope there was no damage to the engine due to no changes.

 

Pretty much my thoughts. Grab a couple oz of the old oil and send to black stone for piece of mind. If it comes back really bad, rinse repeat.

I only found $32/liter though. Plus handling.

 

Is this a one owner vehicle?

Go to Toyota owners and setup an account

This will give you an idea if the dealer ever changed the oil prior to this trash being out in it

Get a Carfax to search for any other service history outside the dealer.

For all you know it might not have been in their that long

 

Yeah, the recent fill thought occurred to me. I also advised her of the Toyota owners site but hadn’t thought about car fax. Thanks for the idea.

 

PS. At least 2nd owner. She found the stickers when she went to have her first oil change done.

 

Hopefully, she didn't change it out yet as it looks like they (synlube) will pay her to recycle the 'oil' according to their website.