Synthetic oil

Hi everyone, first I'd like to say thanks for the nice welcome messages, very much appreciated... With that said here's my issue: Does it matter what type of oil I put in the truck? If a synthetic was used before do I have to continue using synthetic? If so which one would be best... There doesn't seem to be any access to the transmission, no way to check the fluid, is this a Toyota thing? The truck is also developing a bad vibration so I'm replacing the carrier bearing and u-joints, any tips, warnings or suggestions would be great... Thank you in advance...

 

Clean oil of the correct viscosity is the most important thing.

Dino vs syn changes dont matter, regardless of internet theory.

If spending the $ for syn, extend your change intervals.

Many modern vehicles dont have a trans dipstick for autos, unfortunately. You can find the procedure for how to service here in the forums.

 

No, you don’t have to stay with synthetic. You can switch to what ever oil you want.
Is synthetic better? Yes.

I personally don’t use synthetic in my truck.
Why? Because conventional oil is cheaper.
I’m cheap. I don’t want to pay the extra for synthetic.
(I’ll even let some one else do it if I can find a coupon cheap enough - Blasphemy, I know, Right)

Again, let it be known. Synthetic is the better oil.

As for the Transmission. There is no dip stick for the Transmission.
The process to check it is impractical and tedious.


If you really want to check it yourself.
Here is a link to the circus act you must preform to check it correctly.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.63851/

 

I personally think he would be crazy going back to conventional oil with synthetic is so much better and last for so much longer without breakdown

 

Please, please, can we not start the 3,571st Tacoma World thread on which synthetic oil brand is the best....there are tons upon tons of threads here that have already adequately collected all the opinions on this.

Welcome to TW but....wear out the search feature or search Tacoma world threads on the subject you’re interested in via Google first.

 

My apologies...

 

Here are a couple oil threads to check out:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/best-motor-oil-choice.598243/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-oil-is-everyone-using.650430/page-5#post-22617244

Part of the following thread describes how to set proper transmission fluid level, there is no dipstick:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.63851/

 

How cheap ?

today oil was on sales

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

First off, @Clearwater Bill hit the nail on the head. You could use a different brand and swap back and forth between synthetic and conventional every time you change your oil and it’ll be okay.
Just change it on time with the correct rating e.g. 5W-30 etc.
I worked with oil for years, most of the hoo-haw is to get you to buy this not that. Buy what’s on sale, unless you just prefer a particular brand.

Yes there is a search function and google (which are a tremendous resource) but we’ve all been there. Don’t let people get to you.


The transmission drain and fill information was addressed above with good posts to check out.

Are you planning to do the carrier bearing and u-joints yourself or have a shop do them?

I did mine myself. Keep an eye on the yokes,

Better shot of the damaged flange.
I have no idea how long I was driving around like that. The rear u joint had been replaced before I bought it.


This yoke would not budge, I soaked it with PB all day and still nothing. I needed a shop press, again.




Good luck!

 

How cheap, huh?

Will you buy it AND change it for me?
I’ll even stand there and tell you how good of a job you’re doing.
I won’t get in the way. I promise?

 

Help me out here bro. Not sure what damage I am looking for in these pics. I just changed out the carrier bearing in mine last week.

 

Synthetic is better than conventional and well worth the extra cost. Brand doesn't matter, just buy the right weight. Even if it costs twice as much, it lasts twice as long and will protect better. I used to not believe that, but I've seen too much evidence.

I can buy 10 quarts ( two 5 qt jugs) of synthetic at Costco for $25 and change it myself at 10,000 miles. Doesn't get much cheaper than that.

 

Help out here bro. Not sure what damage I am looking at on the pics?

 

Have a close look.
Looks like the retaining lip for the Snap ring is busted off?

 

Agree with Clearwater bill most important thing is to change it regularly. With my 08 4Runner I used conventional every 4-5k cause it had 150k miles on it. Didn’t see the need to switch to synthetic but it may not have mattered. However a buddy has an 07 jeep that developed a rear main seal leak not long after switching to synthetic at around 100k miles. With my ‘13 2.7 Tacoma I’m using synthetic 020. If I were you I’d stick with synthetic and change it every 7k

 

OP synthetic allows you to extend oil intervals and gives extra protection at the extremes, hot and cold. Dino oil is fine, just not as fogiving about longer oil changes.
I prefer to change brands, since they have different additives.
Buy syn oil on sale. Every November and December Autozone clearences it out for $2 to $1 a quart.
My average cost for the oil below is about $1.50, 1.60 a quart., $10 to $5 for a 5qt jug.

 

Synthetic cleans better than dino, especially if it is esther based (esther is a natural cleaner). At 100K miles on dino sludge and gunk were masking failing seals. I would have switched to semi-syn high mileage oil high in zinc, like QS. If not using hi-milage oil with seal conditioners, I would add Lubro-Moly Oil saver at every oil change.

 

That’s right. Thanks for pointing that out @TnShooter I was busy today. I’m guessing when the u-joint was installed they hammered it in from the other side and blew out that retainer lip. If that thing had let go mannn, that would have sucked.

As far as the yoke by the carrier bearing goes mine was just seized on the splines, nothing was broken there.

 

My troll BS meter is running full steam...

 

Why not? Gives me an excuse to post some of my oil stash pics.