Switching to Synthetic Oil at 80,000

Good or bad idea to do?

I'll be hitting 80,000 miles on my 05 Taco Sport by Friday. Was considering going to synthetic. Or should I just keep on keeping on with 5w-30? Thanks in advance.

 

Not a problem going to synthetic.

 

5w 30 synthetic.

 

This...

The theory that you can't switch to synthetic is a myth. Noting bad will happen.

The issues that people had way back when were engines that had small leaks already would leak easier with synthetic because it gets into nooks and crannies a lot better. This means if you already have a small leak, it could become noticeable with synthetic. With engine tolerances as tight as they are these days, you won't have a problem...you'll only see benefits.

 

I had the Toyota dealer persuade me away from synthetic saying that I have been running regular oil since start and I should keep it the same.

 

What "benefits" should I expect? I've been told the actual Toyota branded oil is a synthetic blend and it is very good. Not accurate?

 

...find a new dealer.

 

Lower cold pour point (gets moving in the engine more quickly on cold starts)
Better film retention (more oil remains on the bearings after the engine has been shut down, better protection during startup)
Better viscosity stability (oil maintains grade longer)

You'll notice that I did not mention extended drain intervals.
It is certainly possible, but this is mainly because of the shear stability. The oil remains in grade longer, so it can be run longer... the problem is, you begin to give up some of the benefits of synthetic by running longer intervals.
Personally, I don't go over 7500 miles.

Not true. The 0w20 provided by the factory and REPUTABLE dealerships is a Mobil-1 product.
I can't guarantee what you'll get if you drive into the dealership and ask for 5w30 synthetic... especially if it is a dealership that attempted to discourage you from switching to synthetic.

 

Didn't expect so many replies so quickly. Thanks guys, guess I'll switch over Friday.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/308203-cant-use-synthetic-oil.html

Threads all over the board about this. This link should help you.