Synthetic oil

Please, please please please do NOT run extended oil change intervals beyond 7500 miles without:

1 - Bypass filtration
2 - Filter change and send a sample in for analysis every 10k


The Amsoil evangelists will tell stories of how trucking companies go 100,000 miles without changing oil... and they do, but these trucks carry oil quantities measured in GALLONS, have huge filters, bypass filtration, and they do send off samples or analyze in-house.
They can do this even running non-synthetic oils.

Also, running extended drain intervals will absolutely cause warranty issues on your new Tacoma.

 

been changing my oil once a year in mine.

no issues and drive less than 12,000 year.

amsoil 030 with mann filter every six months.

 

Once a year is not a problem, and honestly, up to 12k should not be a problem as long as it's not using oil (but again, you will have warranty issues)

But a blanket statement of "once a year" is not the right answer as a generality.
It is extremely bad advice because it does not take mileage into consideration.

The additive package for even the best synthetics begins to break down around 10k. The 10-15k filter change and the replacement quart to refill the new filter is enough to replenish the additive package for another 10k or so... but you can't just slap on a new filter, drop in 6 quarts of Amsoil, and go for 30,000 miles without eventually having issues.
The standard oil filter is NOT suitable for extended drain intervals.
Bypass filtration taps off a small portion of the oil supply, runs it through an ultra-fine filter, and returns it directly to the pan. The bypass filtration keeps the oil clean enough for extended intervals on a standard filter, but the bypass filter needs to be changed every 10-15k.

There is NOTHING special about Amsoil filters. They are made for them by WIX. They are good filters, but they are no better than Mobil-1, K&N, or the PureOne.
At $15, they are a ripoff.

$10/qt for the oil? That's insane. Amsoil is worth it if you are a dealer or preferred customer and can get it for the same price as Mobil-1. The oil is marginally better than Mobil-1, but not $5/qt better.

 

That's a decent point. The 2012 Warranty Book says it's void if using other than and I quote from page 13 "Installation of non-Genuine Toyota Parts."

However, all warranty disputes are agreed to go to an arbitrator when you buy the new Toyota. And an arbitrator is not going to rule against you for using the extended drain intervals with synthetic.

And I've never heard of this 100,000 mile baloney. 7500 is an OK interval if one wants to be safe, but 12000 or one year is just fine with Amsoil Signature Series. Their lesser and cheaper motor oils are notn rated like that.

 

Well, certainly you have to keep track of your miles not just months, but if Amsoil claims 24k miles before a change I wouldn't dispute it. One year or 24k miles is fine with me.

Google problems with Amsoil and you won't get any hits.

And what is the Mobil1 change interval? Do they guarantee it?

 

That is an outright violation of Magnusson-Moss for US based customers unless they provide the parts and labor at no charge.

They must prove that the use of aftermarket parts caused the failure.

BUT.... they can easily void the warranty without issue if service intervals are skipped.

I would not bank on that.

More likely, the arbitrator is going to say "Amsoil warranted the service interval for 24,000 miles? Sounds like your claim is with Amsoil and not Toyota"

I've heard it from Amsoil evangelists for 10 years.
Long-haul trucking fleets do indeed run 100k on an oil change, but they are using filtration far above what we are running, as well as a HUGE amount of oil... an oil change is hundreds of dollars, so it is worth it to pay $25 for analysis.

Mobil has an "Extended Performance" line where they guarantee 15,000.

 

So it's OK to use Mobil 1 for 15k, but not OK to use Amsoil for 15k plus?

 

I wouldn't... and just because Mobil or Amsoil warrant their product for 15k or 24k doesn't mean that binds Toyota to honoring that.
And BOTH Amsoil and Mobil state that you should follow manufacturer's recommended service intervals (while under warranty).

Like I said... I would not blindly go over 7500 on most vehicles, and would not go over 12k on any consumer-level vehicle without sending in a sample and bypass filtration, regardless of what Amsoil and Mobil say.

Last time I read the Amsoil literature, they include the bypass filtration requirement for their 24k interval (I was on their preferred customer program back in 2005-2007 and got all of their mailers and dealer pricing)

 

That's a safe attitude. I don't have a problem with exceeding that, not with average, normal kind of service.

And I seriously doubt Toyota could void a warranty because you cannot document regular oil changes. No way, not a chance.

 

They would not likely do it on general principle, but I would not say "not a chance"

If you brought in an under-warranty truck at 35k for excessive oil consumption and they found that you had changed the oil only twice and were running a K&N air filter, they would absolutely deny and rightly so.

You'd push the issue, they'd pull the heads, document the cylinder scoring and silicon content of the oil and intake ducts, and send you a bill for the labor. Failure related to the oil? Perhaps not, in this case, the filter would be the actual cause, but the 5 missed oil changes is what would be documented in support of the denial.

If you brought it in for a noise in the rear end, they would not deny based on oil change intervals, but if the failure is related to the lubrication system, you can bet your ass they'd deny it.

 

They coudn't prove "you only changed the oil twice."

 

If you aren't doing the service at the dealer and are not keeping your receipts and documenting your service, they can and will use that against you.

Might or might not make it through arbitration, but they WILL do this.
I've known a number of people who have been involved in bith successful and unsuccessful arbitration for repairs and full-out buybacks under the lemon law.

You are making a lot of assumptions that are incorrect. My friend who ended up getting Jeep to buy his Cherokee back went through a 4-year ordeal.
Like medical insurance companies, first reaction if there is any question is to deny and make the customer fight it, even if the adjuster knows the customer is right and may ultimately win.


Extended warranties can get downright insane. They are not covered by Magnusson-Moss and whatever is in the contract is "law".
I bought one with my '03 Tundra. After reading all of the fine print, I ended up getting it refunded as it was worthless. The 100k coverage was good, but it specified that ALL work... warranty and maintenance, was to be performed at an independent shop that is about 40 miles from my home. I drove by the place and it was basically a "Joe's Tires and AC Service"
I imagine "Joe's" and Crown Toyota made a lot of money off of those contracts that were void the moment the owner took their truck to Discount Tire for a rotation and balance.

 

They can try, but if the motor oil is clean and slick they'll have a hard time proving to an arbitrator the motor oil is the root of any problem. Same goes for any oil in the motor.

Warranties don't get voided for aftermarket oil, period.

 

They don't get voided for aftermarket oil, but they will have the oil analyzed and when the contamination levels are higher than typical for a 5,000 mile service interval and the TBN number comes back depleted, they will document that as a failure to service.

 

Like that will happen, please. The warranty won't be voided for using synthetic past the recommended intervals, not a chance.

 

Do what you want. It's your fucking truck and you're the one who's going to have to pay for the repairs and then spend the next 3 years fighting Toyota when you ignored your service intervals.

Like I said before... BOTH Mobil and Amsoil say to follow your recommended change intervals while under warranty.
Amsoil and Mobil do NOT have your back when you go in for a warranty repair and are denied.

But you aren't going to change your mind... I can only hope that others ignore your foolish advice.


I'm done with you.

 

I have 51K miles is it to late start using fully synthetic oil? It always had synthetic blend.

 

+1

Modern synthetics (and engines) no longer have the issues that created some of the old myths about switching late, switching back and forth, and blending.

Old (I'm talking 1960's era) engines with high mileage would have a lot of sludge acting as a "stop leak" on some of the seals. This was more an issue of the relatively low detergent levels in the old API SE and older oils.
Switching to synthetic on such an engine COULD lead to leaks as the better quality oil cleaned the sludge... but this is a case of the engine was going to leak sooner or later anyways.


I bought my '08 with 53k on it last December.
No idea what the PO used in it, I switched to Mobil-1 as soon as I discovered that the dealer had installed a "Microgard" filter, which is a Fram in a black can.

I've put over 10k on since without a problem.

 

i run amsoil now, i get it cheap

 

SuperTech Synthetic

EDIT: or the cheapest synthetic I can find that I have remotely heard of