Do you run synthetic oil?

There are a bunch of threads out there about synthetic oil. In my case the truck is a 2000 3.4 V6 with 120K miles. Obviously it has a lot of driveway time.

I currently do not have any oil leaks. The mileage is not excessive, but it's 20 years old. At 20 years rubber starts to weak and oil leaks can start. So I have concerns about switching fluids.

The question is, if I change to full synthetic, what oil change interval should I expect? - Miles and time max.

Excluding cost, any reason not switch to synthetic?

 

I switched to synthetic a couple years ago when my 04 had about 50k miles on it, at 92k now and no issues with leaks or anything. I do about 7k intervals with it.

 

Yup! Mobil One 5W-20

 

Switched from 0W-20 to 5W-20 because my truck was using a bit of oil every few thousand miles...

 

My 99 Taco had 314k miles on it when I got it. No idea on the maint history prior. I Started using Shell Rotella T6 full synth on my first oil change. No problems except for leaking valve cover gaskets which is normal and not related to the oil. No leaks after changing the valve cover gaskets.

My 2003 4Runner with the 2UZ V8, same thing. 282k miles on it when I got it almost a year ago. Fist oil change went to Rotella. No problems. Valve cover leaks are also a common issue and they were changed when I did the timing belt.

 

Meh.

I'm almost at 40k in my '17 4Runner and I run synthetic because that's what the manual recommends.

I run conventional in my Taco with ~130k.

Run whatever floats your boat. Doesn't really matter. Just change it at regular intervals. The problem people can run into when changing to synthetic is that they find leaks after. The thinner oil is good at finding marginal oil seals.

I know this is a foreign subject to a lot of people (primarily those who drive 3rd gens ), you should check your oil regularly. That will help tell you when it's time to change the oil. Probably somewhere in the 5-10k mile range.

 

Is there a reason you run 5w20 vs 5w30? Just curious, as 5w30 is slightly thicker and technically won’t break down as fast as w20 but w20 is technically better for winter. Either way I doubt there’s much of a difference but just curious as to why you run w20.


I use mobil1 5w30 synthetic. I just switched over to a couple months ago after doing my valve covers and timing belt. No issues with leaks but I also just replaced my camshaft seals, crankshaft seal, and valve covers. My rear main has slowly been leaking since I’ve had the truck but I haven’t noticed any more leakage since switching. And I’m taking care of the rear main when I do my swap anyways so that should hopefully take care of any weak seals. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend or not recommend it. It definitely holds up to longer changes much better than conventional and claims to clean the engine better. I haven’t done a ton of research but what I’ve came across previously is that synthetic isn’t necessarily better than conventional. It is technically on its stats but in real use I don’t think our trucks mind either one.

 

LOL, Yeah I had an Audi and there was no dipstick. Must ruined the creative flow of the engine chakra or something. I asked the dealer about it and they yelled at me "It is German. Do not question us!"

 

Damn! My dad had a '93 5 series BMW. They almost threw my dad out of the showroom when he asked about cup holders. "Car are for DRIVING, not drinking"

Even that had a dipstick.

 

Oil filler cap says 0W-20 or 5W-20...

 

Lol sorry I forgot you have a 2nd gen, my bad

 

The same. syn doesnt mean you can stretch your oil change intervals, it just lubricates better at extreme tempatures.

 

I run conventional in my 1996. No problems with the oil. My VW Jetta requires full synthetic ( as do most cars today), so I run that in it, and my wife's 2017 Corolla requires synthetic, so we run that in there.

I don't see a need to run an older truck on synthetic. It's not wrong, either way, just personal preference.

 

Well, this IS in the 1st gen section, so it would make sense to be talking about 1st gens...

 

As far as engine seals go you don't need to worry much about what oil you put in as they all (synthetic and conventional) have to pass the API seal compatibility test so they really should all should perform the same, that is not dry them out or soften them up. Can freely switch back and forth between the two.

This old synthetic causes seals to leak started back when Mobil 1 was all PAO and that tends to dry out some seals... however that problem was fixed by adding ester base oil. These days you almost never find PAO in your synthetics anyways so it's a non-issue.

 

When I can buy a 55 gallon drum of synthetic oil for the same price or less as conventional oil I might change

 

High mileage = Synthetic Blend.

5w30 is Recommended by Toyota.
3500-5000 OCI

sometimes I do it at 3k because it is fun.

 

Achtung! It is German, do not question zey Germans! When he left they probably said, "Don't vorry, ve kill him later."

German cars are about precision and you can't say "It's German" because "It's" is not precise enough. Correctly said, "It is German".

 

Yep, these engines thrive on any appropriately spec'd oil with regular changes. Conventional or synthetic doesn't really matter as long as you change it at appropriate intervals.

 

I had already switched to synthetic Rotella and will continue since the big Advance Auto clearance event a couple months ago for $2.45 a quart