If one was to replace the engine oil with synthetic, how does this change the current maintenance schedule for oil changes? In Canada, Toyota recommends an oil change at every 8,000 Kms, (4800 Miles). If I was to change out to synthetic, how many extra K's could I expect between changes or do you still follow the dealers recommended schedule?
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Re: Synthetic oil and scheduled maintenance
Depends on which synthetic oil you will be using; unfortunately they are not all equal. For example, Castrol won a court ruling allowing them to label and advertise regular oil blended with some synthetic as "synthetic".
Lots of people using high-quality synthetics and high-quality filters are running extended drain intervals. Personally, I use Amsoil Fully-synthetic 10w-30 and their synthetic Ea filters and change them at 10-12,000 miles (it's rated for much longer). If you're willing to have your oil tested a few times, you can pin it down exactly when you should change that oil and get every last mile out of it.
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I would still go with the reccomended 5k miles. Its not the oil that is the problem, you dont know whats in the filter that may cause a problem. You may consider changoing out the filter at 5k and adding a quart if your old oil is still good.
I changed to full synthetic at my first oil change. Done at the Toyota stealership were I bought the FJ. To be done every 15,000 klms from now on. Their recommendation. I agree with 1911. Not all synthetics are created equal. I use Mobil 1 Extended. Others use Amsoil, Royal Purple etc.
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Thanks all. I guess I will talk with my dealership to see what their recommendations are regarding the maintenance schedule if I switch to synthetic.
Is their any harm in switching back to the 'normal' oil after synthetic has been used if one wants too?
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Slàinte mhor a h-uile là a chi `s nach fhaic!
For so long as 100 men remain alive, we shall never under any conditions submit to the domination of the English. It is not for glory or riches or honours that we fight, but only for liberty, which no good man will consent to lose but with his life. - THE DECLARATION OF ARBROATH, 1320
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these are toyotas, you can piss down the oil fill and dump sand in the air filter. i beat the living hell out of every toyota iv'e ever had and have gotten well over 200k miles out of all of them. the body will fall apart long before the truck stops running. i just junked my 91 celica with 200k+ miles on it and changed the oil every 10k miles with castrol convention oil ever since i purchased it new. the gas tank just started leaking to much to repair and the drivers seat had fallen through the floor last year. the dam car still ran just like the day i bought it. when i changed the plugs at 120k the little arm that sits over the electrode was completely gone and the ceramic around the electrode had melted down like a candle. the only reason i knew it need tuned up was the fact that my gas mileage had dropped from 32 down to 22mpg.
Last edited by aquaholic : 08-17-2007 at 06:56 PM.
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