DIY Tools

I use Valvoline High Mileage full synthetic in mine, with 205,000 miles on it. Nice to have some extra protection over conventional. I suspect as long as it's name brand, use a good filter (I like Wix XP), and do regular changes it really doesn't matter what oil.

 

Same, less about the oil and more about the intervals.
Me thinks 5K would be ideal for v8 with 60 ~ 70%J highway usage.
A V4 has to turn over twice as many times to go same milage....
And I do nothin but stop and go traffic, so another big hit there....

Its the trash that builds up, neither oil breaks down, much.......
Everybody gets some combustion blow back, older the rings, worst it is.

Same in your power steering, its the trash that eventually eats the seals....
Trash is liquid sandpaper.....

 

Yeah.....very interested to see if I notice a difference but it does have me curious about going blend over full syn. Thinking maybe I should go ahead an go with full an stick with it. As you all said good filter (I buy a case from the dealershil) I try to OEM as much as I can. Thanks for the info

 

So you change your oil every 2500 miles? Or am I reading what your saying wrong?

 

Yeah that's about what I came up with.....after about 1500mi the oil is completely black.
Engines and mechanics are expensive.....oil is dirt cheap...

I actually change mine at 1500, because I only change filter every third or forth time.....so 80% change..
With a magnetic plug that just sticks to bottom of pan, got it down to a 5 or 6 min process......I premix a little of lucas syn condition in there too.....
I only use K&N racing and napa platinum filters....

Do the same to the power steering fluid, suck out whats in resevoir, which is maybe half in system....
So half replace once a year.....MaxLife ATF.....again 5 min with a handpump and catch jar to measure out take......

Napa puts their own brand oil on ad all the time, last time stocked up and bought syn blend from them for $12.99 5qt.......so yeah a change costs me like 8 or 9 bucks......and 5 minutes of time.
My situation is different from most of you, only put about 8k year on mine, and all pretty much stop and go traffic....work truck.

Cheapest place to buy max life use to be Walmort, but they recently jumped from $17 gal to $25 over nite......damn russians.....

 

Yeah the power steering is something I have let slide and the more I think about it we are talking DIY tools........may go as far as saying the MOST critical tool. Our engine fluids! I am removing my whole reservoir today an giving my power steering a nice cleaning. Say goodbye a couple of cans of brake cleaner lol

 

Id watch the coolant too.....dont cheap out there, change on regular basis regardless of color....
I think old coolant has killed more of these taco engines than any other factor.....
when a head gasket job costs as much as an engine....its a big deal....
alot of tacos out there with white smoke coming out of their asses.....
I use to be one of those.....


But I do whole bunch of crazy things now......like pull out and regrease front wheel bearings every two years......so I dont have to beatout/change another race......
fix the dam before it breaks........

 

NO -

Explanation of answer-
If you are not consuming oil or leaking there is no real need to go with "high Mileage" IMHO, my understanding is that high mileage has additives to help keep seals swollen to prevent leakage or bypass, if you don't have any of those I would NOT start using high mileage.

 

I agree Joe but sadly here in NC your either full syn or blend and that is after 3 walmarts and 6 auto zone an Oreillys. Fram was the only full conventional oil I could find and that will NEVER be put in my truck. However to your point I do have a minor leak that is going to need to be addressed soon.

 

My current struggle is I am trying to find stock height as close to OEM : Leaf Springs, Shocks and Struts need the springs for the front as well. Everyone wants to sell lift lift lift lift an I do not have any desire for that as this my daily driver and is not going off road crazy. Battles a little snow at times...dirt roads etc. Its a major PITA to find

 

When I was breaking in my engine, I would call and order from O'reily's.
Valvoline VR1 5w30 conventional racing oil, high zinc for engine break-in,
they'd have it at my local store by mid morning next day.....ton of stuff in distribution center...

When I used Pennzoil synthetic ultra max, I'd order from walmart for home ship....
I'd have to order two at $25 to get the free shipping.....
Out of the premiums its splitting hairs to which is best, GTX, Mobil one, pennzoil platinum.....

ITs getting harder to find conventional, and now the syn blends are getting that way..... recently Valvoline syn blend at wallmart jumped from $17/5qt to $34 over nite....

When my engine hits 120K, I';ll switch to Mobil one for SUVs.........


Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5W-30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil, 5 Quart. - Walmart.com

 

As far as suspension, I'd go to rock auto and see what they have....they usually have a selection....

1999 TOYOTA TACOMA 2.7L L4 Leaf Spring | RockAuto

 

Should also have a hand held MAP torch handy (or propane, but MAP gas gets much hotter). Diesn't take much space at all, easy to store/keep on vehicle, and will help apply heat when needed in a pinch to loosen things up.

 

A actually did this to test the induction tool an is actually worked well. I had a HEAVY DUTY soldering iron and carefully bent one of the tips into as close to a semi circle plugged it in an it broke a bolt loose that had wore me out an is cheap to buy. Talking about the gun style soldering irons

 

It is crazy! I just finished my oil stash after doing this last round of oil changes... I went to look to stock-up and whoah!
Yes - prices seem to have pretty muchgone up 50-100%!

I'll need to find a good sale!

Maybe a group buy by the drum

 

This is funny.....I too miss the 12.99 5qt from napa ....
and the $17 valvolines from wally world......

So went to shopping for a deal......if you buy by the 55gal drum..
....you actually have to pay about a $2 per gal penalty.....

Valvoline 809332 $1,459.05 Motor Oil, 55 gal. Size, 5W-30 SAE Grade | Zoro.com

 

And then If you think that is jacked.....
if you buy by the 325 gal......there's another $2/gal on top of the 55's....

Valvoline 861096 $10,025.69 Motor Oil, 325 gal. Size, 5W-30 SAE Grade | Zoro.com

 

As of today......the weaners are....
....supertech from wally world....at $18....
and pennzoil from lowes at $19.......

 

I am slowly transitioning to syn blend, which I am on my 3rd run then plan to go full synthetic when the weather breaks in spring.

 

I dont forsee oil suddenly dropping, it could come down a tad when flu/covid season gets in full swing. That being said if the railroad strike happens then oil will hit the ceiling for awhile. They know how to control profits an they make a huge one so anything short of an entire country collectively saying nope not gonna buy gas oil etc the arrow goes up..