I recently had my oil changed for the first time (3000mi) in my Toyota Tundra truck. I decided to get synthetic oil (5W-30 Mobil 1). My questions are:
1.) It was an extra $25.00 - Is synthetic oil that much better; is it
worth it for my truck?
2.) The mechanic said that synthetic motor oil can be changed
every 6,000mi instead of the usual 3000mi.- Is this true?
Also, I am using synthetic oil in my generator (Honda eu20001). Is this a good choice and how often should I change it.
Last, should I consider a fuel/oil additive such as zMax-They say that it reduces friction and will improve gas milage. Is it safe for my truck and is it worth the money. Has anyone used it in a generator?
Thanks
Kaaljonesfamily
If you go to the "motor" boards, such as Trailer Life's Tow Vehicle Forum, or any of the brand forums at other sites, this is one very debateable subject.
My personal experiences: I have gone back and forth between synthetics and conventional for my truck. I usually do stretch the oil change to 4K or more miles, but since the jury is still out, I don't mess around too much. It seems to me that (at least sometimes) the truck runs better on synthetics. However, I haven't been able to suddenly get another 25 miles on a tank or anything.
I have used synthetic EVERYTHING on our ATV's since it was new (gear oil, tranny oil, engine oil, etc.). They seem to be running well, still, after 4 years of intermittent running (which, to me, is harder on the engine).
The only TRUE way of knowing about conventional vs synthetic oil for YOUR vehicle is to do an oil analyis on the used oil. I have checked into this, and it isn't cheap.
Larry
Synthetic oils are the better choice but the change interval is not extened as some believe. The problem is fuel comtamination. In all internal combustion engines regardless of age or condition there is a little bit of unburnt fuel and other combustion gasses that get pass past the piston rings. The only way to remove the oil contamination is to change the oil. Synthetics are more resistant to this contamination but they still should be changed at regular intervalls.
If you start using synthetic oil you should stick too it. Switching between synthetic oil and regular oil is not good for the engine. The oil may last longer but the filter does not, so change the oil at a normal interval. My DH know someone that drains the oil, changes the filter and then uses the same oil for a second time. I am approaching the first oil change in my new TV and am trying to decide if I should go synthetic or use the blended oil I used in the last TV. I need 5-20 and no one in my area carries it in a synthetic. I also change my oil about every 6 weeks, so the synthetic adds up quick for me. DH has used Mobil One in his truck for years. :)
Tracy if you are looking for synthetic 5W20 then you have to look no farther than your local Advance Auto Parts (yes that was a shameless plug) to find it. All you have to do is ask for Motorcraft 5W20, it is a full synthetic oil and should be carried in stock at most stores. Another altertaive is the following:
Mobil 1 0W-20 (http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/NAUSENPVLMOMobil1_0W-20.asp)
Quote from: brainpauseIf you go to the "motor" boards, such as Trailer Life's Tow Vehicle Forum, or any of the brand forums at other sites, this is one very debateable subject.
My personal experiences: I have gone back and forth between synthetics and conventional for my truck. I usually do stretch the oil change to 4K or more miles, but since the jury is still out, I don't mess around too much. It seems to me that (at least sometimes) the truck runs better on synthetics. However, I haven't been able to suddenly get another 25 miles on a tank or anything.
I have used synthetic EVERYTHING on our ATV's since it was new (gear oil, tranny oil, engine oil, etc.). They seem to be running well, still, after 4 years of intermittent running (which, to me, is harder on the engine).
The only TRUE way of knowing about conventional vs synthetic oil for YOUR vehicle is to do an oil analyis on the used oil. I have checked into this, and it isn't cheap.
Larry,
Oil analysis is only $20, less if you buy multiples at a time
Blackstone Laboratories Here is my firstone on the F-250
Quote from: aw738Tracy if you are looking for synthetic 5W20 then you have to look no farther than your local Advance Auto Parts (yes that was a shameless plug) to find it. All you have to do is ask for Motorcraft 5W20, it is a full synthetic oil and should be carried in stock at most stores. Another alternative is the following:
Mobil 1 0W-20
I used Motorcraft 5W20 in my last TV, but it is a blend. Mobil 1 is the only full synthetic oil I know of, for my vehicle. Is there a Motorcraft 5W20 that is full synthetic? :confused:
Thanks, Tim. That was very interesting to read. I had looked into analysis, and I guess I only could find the expensive ones.
Interestingly, I read the analysis values before I read the narrative at the top. Given the values, I was thinking that some of them must be high because you are still in the break-in period. Then I read the narrative. Exactly what they said.
I might send one out at my next oil change. I'll have 101,500 miles on the engine at that time, with at least 10,000 towing miles. Might be interesting to see what it says. I also change the oil in the ATV's every Nov/Dec, so that might be interesting too.
Larry
PS: I just ordered my oil analysis kit!
JonesFamilyJayco,
Yes, Yes and Yes, I use this type of oil all the time in my generator and TV. This type of oil is great for keeping the temperature down on all engines or course less wear. I also use it in my TV, and not just the motor oil but my transmission oil. I change the filter only every 3000 miles and top it off. Every 6000 miles I change it all. I will tell you that there are some cheaper synthetic oils out there that just as good as Mobil.
Because oil is so high in cost in Europe this is all they use in there cars
I have mine changed at Super WalMart.
Less than $30 a for Mobil 1 oil change
Quote from: chasd60I have mine changed at Super WalMart.
Less than $30 a for Mobil 1 oil change
Wow I wish I could get it that cheap here. Just the 5W20 oil cost that much. :eyecrazy:
QuoteI used Motorcraft 5W20 in my last TV, but it is a blend. Mobil 1 is the only full synthetic oil I know of, for my vehicle. Is there a Motorcraft 5W20 that is full synthetic?
Tracy you are correct I found this out when I got to work this morning and looked at the label on the oil.
Quote from: aw738Tracy you are correct I found this out when I got to work this morning and looked at the label on the oil.
How do you think it compares to the full synthetic? :confused:
I don't really have any experiance with Motorcraft oil or any synthetic blends. It should be a good oil to use though.
Tracy
You would be better off switching to 5w30, full synthetic, according to my "certified mechanic" son. 5/20 is fine if the outdoor temps are going to stay above 10 below zero, but if it were his car he'd switch to 5/30.... to quote him "5w30 is like running water thru the engine"
We run 10w30 in the van, Mobil1. Be sure to get a quality filter as well.
We've used ful syntehtic in our three Jeeps for years and it must be doing something right as my '99 has 102,000 miles, our '94 Wrangler has something like 85,000 and the '03 has around 30,000 miles. One thing we've noticed, though, is that the oil pressure gauge reads higher when using synthetic oil. We talked to a Jeep engineer at Camp Jeep and he said that was a-ok.
DH does our oil changes in good weather and we go to a "Jiffy" place in bad weather. The oil and filter costs something like $30 when "we" do it ourselves. I say "we" because my job is to take the used oil to the dump for recycling!
Tena
Quote from: ForestCreatureTracy
You would be better off switching to 5w30, full synthetic, according to my "certified mechanic" son. 5/20 is fine if the outdoor temps are going to stay above 10 below zero, but if it were his car he'd switch to 5/30.... to quote him "5w30 is like running water thru the engine"
We run 10w30 in the van, Mobil1. Be sure to get a quality filter as well.
If I had any engine problems and I wasn't using the 5W20 I am sure Ford would tell me it was my fault for using the wrong oil. I will not take a chance on damaging the engine. Ford has changed the recomendation for a lot of their vehicles from 5W30 to 5W20 oil. :)
Tracy,
Actually, Ford went to 5W20 for CAFE reasons, not for anything else. (So says the material I have read about it.) Apparently, if a manufacturer uses a specific oil to meet CAFE, they MUST recommend it as the oil to be used in the manual. There should be no problems using a 5W30 synthetic in its place. If you have more than warranty mileage on that Explorer, I would be looking at alternatives to 5W20, but that's my thought.
As general comments, from my decades (literally) of watching the various oil recommendations change and following this stuff with interest-
1. Synthetics are not miracle products, but they do bend the rules somewhat. Because they are engineered products, they flow better in severe cold, and hold viscosity better in extreme heat.
2. Synthetics do not resist contamination any better than a mineral oil, but they tend to have better detergent and additive packages. So, if for instance, you run a cold engine short distances, you still will have fuel dilution of the oil, regardless of the type used.
3. Synthetic oil does get dirty.
4. Synthetic oil may give a miniscle amount of better fuel economy. But your savings at the pump will not pay for the oil.
5. Synthetic oil may provide some safety margin on badly maintained and serviced engines.
To sum up -
I sincerely doubt that if you maintained your engine religiously with either mineral or synthetic oil, that you would see a difference in the life of the engine. I've had cars run hundreds of thousands of miles with no problems on 10W40 mineral oil. I've also had an engine fail with full synthetic in the crankcase, which wasn't the oil's fault, but Ford's.
Synthetic oil is better than conventional oil in all areas but cost. It flows faster at startup, doesn't cook at high temperatures, doesn't boil off - leaving you with 20W30 oil instead of the 5W30 you put in. However, it has two nasty habits instead for older engines. Since it remains 'thinnner', it tends to leak more in engines that already are tired or leaky. And because of its detergent being more aggressive, it will tend to remove deposits that may have kept an engine from leaking or using oil.
I don't believe in Amsoil's claims of mileage (12,000 or one year) change intervals without using oil analysis. I believe there are people who can run an oil that long because of the type of driving they do, but not as a standard rule of thumb.
So, what do we do?
*I run Mobil 1 synthetic 5W30 in the Tahoe. Change when the oil change light comes on, whether it is at 3,700 miles or 8,000.
*I run 2 qts Mobil 1 15W50 and 5 qts of Quaker State HDX 15W40 in the Mercedes diesel. Change at 5,000 miles (has a 7,500 mile recommendation)
*I run Quaker State 10W40 in the Audi. May change to full Mobil 1 here. It only has 78,000 miles on it. Change at 5,000 miles (7500 mile recommendation) Based on some 'info' my trusted mechanic told me, I may be better off going to synthetic on this car. The Audi has a tendency to suddenly increase its oil consumption and drink a quart of oil somewhere after 3,000 miles. Mechanic told me that that is a sign that the oil molecules have sheared (lost their ability to become 30 or 40 grade oil when hot) and is running as a 10W oil.
Kershner I only have 2700 miles on the Explorer. DH is changing my oil as I type this. For this oil change I am using the Motorcraft 5W20 that I had left over from the other Explorer. I will start using Mobil 1 5W20 for the rest of the cars life. DH is insisting on it. :eyecrazy:
Tracy,
I must have missed something, did you get a new explorer? I knew at the rally your current explorer had around 50k miles on it.