Any benefits to getting my oil changed with synthetic oil? I called the Toyota
dealer and they said it is better.

Diane

So much better infact there is no comparaison. ;-) I have been ising it for
many years.
Among the best are Mobil 1 and Amsoil.

JP

Depends on the car but generally lasts longer for the same engine - extended
change interval, unless you're using it on a high powered turbo motor.
J


"Pilgrimmam" <pilgrimmam (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote

Pilgrimmam <pilgrimmam (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote:
Under normal conditions, it doesn't make any difference. Synthetic is
generally better at the extremes of performance. That means better
film strength and longer change intervals. (the latter of which few actually
put to use in the U.S.)

jjnunes (AT) sonic (DOT) net wrote:

I keep on hearing that synthetics "last longer", but I don't believe
that's necessarily true. Probably the most important thing for
"extended-drain" is the additive package. Most heavy duty trucks
run on conventional extended-drain oils for diesels like Shell Rotella
T or Mobil Delvac 1300. The additive package is likely to be depleted
before the base oil "wears out".

I don't believe Mobil specifically designs most Mobil 1 weights for
extended drains (save their 0W-40). Most synthetics should be better
for extreme heat/cold, at startup, or with forced induction.

BTW - I wouldn't consider the current Castrol Syntec sold in the US
a "true" synthetic. It may be better than most conventional oils,
but they've switched to a type III base oil.

On 29 Apr 2004 21:27:34 GMT, pilgrimmam (AT) aol (DOT) com (Pilgrimmam) wrote:

It is better for your car, especially if you plan to take good care
of it and keep it for a very long time. Drive it till the wheels fall
off - then get the wheel bearing fixed, put the wheels back on, and
keep on driving it another 100,000 miles... ;-)

While the synthetic oil manufacturers used to claim 25,000 miles
between oil changes, to be practical you can't stretch them that far
and keep the car under warranty - but you can go 7,500 miles between
oil changes (or follow the "Normal" service interval in your owners
manual) without a sweat.

Synthetics really shine at their ultra low friction - meaning ultra
low wear. Toyota engines are known for long life (300,000 400,000...)
if taken care of (things like timing chains at 150,000 in some
models). Using synthetic oil in your engine can stretch those
long-life genes even further.

They are great for use in winter conditions - at 40-below,
synthetics still flow where dinosaur oil turns to molasses. Engines
crank easier and the immediate oil flow means less wear at start-up.
In ultra-hot conditions synthetics won't turn to charcoal, they just
keep lubricating like normal.

And if you have a catastrophic oil loss that spews all the engine
oil on the ground (like if Spiffy Lube leaves the old oil filter
gasket on, and it blows out a mile away)... the synthetic oil's better
film strength increases the odds you can lose oil pressure, see the
oil light come on (or notice the gauge at zero), and still get the
engine shut down before serious damage occurs.

Buy your oil and bring it to the dealer - they often overcharge
radically for synthetic oils. Best everyday prices are at Wal-Mart
for the 5-quart jug - and if your engine only takes 4 or 4 1/2 quarts,
make sure the mechanic gives your jug back with the leftovers, so you
can use it for the top-off later. (They save up all those leftover
pints and put them in their own cars.)

Don't constantly switch between synthetic and regular oil, if you
change to synthetic stick with it. The seals on the engine may react
to the oil chemistry changing back-and-forth and start leaking.

--<< Bruce >>--
--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

y_p_w <y_p_w (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Those are excellent and exceptional oils for the intended use. I wouldn't
use them as the benchmark 'average' for most petrolium oils as they are
far above that.


Mobil 1 grades (except 0W-40) are rated ACEA A5, which is by definition an
extended drain product. The 0W-40 is an ACEA A3 oil in that the HTHS results
are > 3.5 and will hold nominal viscosity better under high sheer
conditions.


For the price it's often sold, it is not a good value, but it is not a bad
oil. There are some premium oils such as Shell Helix which are made from
the slack wax derived from the Group III base oil process. How the whole
package works in a particular application is more important than the base oil
itself. Ever since Castrol won that lawsuit, all other oils labeled
'synthetic' in the US, save Mobil 1, Amsoil and Redline are Group III. (the
exception is Amsoil '7500' which also appears to be Group III)

An interesting recent addition to the market is the Mobil 1 5W-40 'Truck and
SUV' oil. It appears to be Mobil Delvac 1, which is a world class diesel
oil that is also suitable for many gas engines. Previously only sold in
truckstops in large quantities, it sells for the same price as regular Mobil
1 in single quart containers.

y_p_w wrote:
Please read some labels. While the API ratings do little to clue
you in about an oil's suitability for "extended drain", the European
ACEA schedule does make such a distinction and for gasoline vs.
diesel. Also, commercial semi trucks carry 7-9 GALLONS of oil in
their engines and run upwards of 25,000 miles per oil change.

Again, the ACEA A3 (extended drain) is met only by Mobil1 0w-40 and
15w-50 weight oils in America.

--

- Philip @ Maximum Torque RPM

"Philip®" <1chip-state1 (AT) earthlink (DOT) net.invalid> wrote

Sure - I've seen the ACEA ratings on the label. Mobil could probably
formulate their lighter weights for the A3 spec, but for whatever
reason they choose not to. As for trucks - many manufacturers
specify which oils to use for extended-drain by name. I believe
Cummins had a hand in developing Valvoline Premium Blue.

There was someone on an NG who produced a list of the Mercedes-
Benz recommended oils for their regular and extended-life service.

jjnunes (AT) sonic (DOT) net wrote in message news:<Yalkc.8908$Fo4.113232 (AT) typhoon (DOT) sonic.net>...
However - the typically available 15W-40 isn't close to a recommended
weight for most passenger cars. I could imagine it might be suitable in
cars/light-trucks used for towing.

As stated earlier by Phillip, Mobil 1 0W-40 and 15W-50 are rated ACEA A3.
The 0W-40 supposedly meets Mercedes-Benz's highest standard for
extended-drain use. Mobil 1 0W/5W/10W-30 only says ACEA A1. I'm
referring to their oil sold in the US.