Oil - Synthetic vs real?

It's probably not a big deal but I thought Gen3 people mostly use synthetic, I use Mobil-1 from Walmart $22.60 and there are even chpeaer brands I think. With synthetic I perceive I can procrastinate to replace, with dino I think probably 5000 miles is about it.

 

If you want to stick with 0W20 I think all the choices are synthetic. As far as saving money: check with the dealership parts department how much their Toyota 0W20 is. Up here I get liters for $5.65 CAN.

 

I think the powertrain warranty is 60,000 miles, I would try to preserve that. Use the recommended fluids, do the recommended service, don't give Toyota an 'out'.

 

I don't feel like I could go too much past 5k miles with regular stuff but don't have a problem going over 10k miles with synthetic. So you'll actually be saving money with synthetic (not to mention helping the environment in a small way).

 

For me, it's simple: if you like engine-wear, don't use synthetic.

 

Just reading up a little. Synthetic oils can be purely synthetic, or derived from modified petroleum products:

Synthetic oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's a snap of Toyota 0W20, left side after about 4500 km's (6 months governs with our usage), right side new:

 

The color isn't always the best way to measure the lubricating quality of the oil. It's more a sign of how cleanly the engine is burning fuel.

If I didn't trust my synthetic oil, I'd get the oil analyzed, to see if any metal is getting into the oil. If I wasn't getting free oil changes, I'd have no problem at all with changing my oil twice a year.

 

Yeah, I agree, should have mentioned that. But it does dirty up pretty quick.

Hang on, you're in Canada. Does the dealership give you a hard time about doubling the Canadian service interval (8000 km or 6 months? From your postings about oil intervals, I keep picturing your location as a little tributary of US soil, kinda like West Berlin.

Did you buy a service plan?? I didn't know Toyota Canada is offering free oil changes.

Even if they did, I'd still DIY, enjoy taking care of it myself, don't overfill, the underpanel's still in one piece, the filter housing and drain bolt are pristine, my door hinges don't look like the tars sands, and so on.

 

I use synthetic....

But after watching Jurassic Park, I'll do anything to get back at those damn Dinosaurs.

 

I use synthetic, change the oil every 10,000 miles and let the dealer change it.

 

Easy, if that makes you feel good, then you get your money worth.

 

• The dealer is offering free oil changes for life, but I don't know if Toyota is sponsoring it or not.
• I didn't buy any extended service plan.
• Canada uses the metric system, but everyone, both American and Canadian understands US units, so I convert.
• When I'm responsible for my own maintenance, I use synthetic oil and change it twice a year; been doing that for decades.

PS, Only 5% of the oil sands is surface mined, the rest is extracted from drilled wells. The term "tar sands" is incorrect, as it contains no tar.

 

partly correct. In large part - oil degradation comes from getting washed out & broken down with blow-by gasses. I converted one of my ICE cars to run straight LPG. Danged if it's oil didn't still look like honey - even after 30K miles. I could hardly believe it even tho I was previously told that this would be the case. One of PC's members converted to LPG & experienced the same results - as have many other Prius owners

 

Use Your Dip Stick Man! I say synthetic every 10,000 and if you have to do something every 5, change your oil filter and top off.


iPhone ?

 

Real thing ( in title) you mean extract of > 65- million- year- old dead dinosaurs?
I would prefer a chemical intentionally synthesized for a purpose of lubrication.

Alex

 

I ask because I have no clue. How many dead dinos go into making synthetic oil?

 

I might be wrong, but I think they use natural gas as a raw starting material for synthesis of synthetic oil. It's much cleaner and more uniform than oil. BTW the hydrogen for fuel cell cars is made from natural gas too.
Alex

 

And what about the production facility and petroleum-based energy for the production itself?