mzikram

I bought '01 ES300 a few months ago. The previous ownwer had been using Valvoline Durablend 5W30 for the oil changes. Oil changes with this brand is twice as expensive as a standard oil change. My question is whether I should continue using this oil or can use any standard oil? Please advise. The car has 120K miles on it.

01ES300NYC

iTrader: (2)

I'd go with a fully synthetic!

since the previous owner was using a synthetic blend you should be ok.
synthetic is the best!!!
make sure you change the filter and drain plug...

pauloil

I disagree. ok to go from syn to dino, prolly not as good the other way.
any energy conserving QS, pennz, etc 5-30 will work fine and as long as you do changes every 5K. i have a 05 330, and right across the street from lexus is firestone, who puts in havoline oil for $21. now I do do syn in a turbo car I own and change it every 5K. have heard it said that it is a waste to change syn out at 5K, but $30, if you change it yourself, isn't all that bad. walmart sells 5 gal jugs of many types of oil cheaply

01ES300NYC

iTrader: (2)

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/gener...tentId=7007980

01ES300NYC

iTrader: (2)

http://www.synthetic-motor-oil-chang...ynthetic-oils/

brucelee1

iTrader: (2)

Pennzoil Platinum as these cars tend to sludge.

Good stuff that cleaned out my last PCV problem in two changes.

OceanView

I'd stick to synthetic since it already had it and change your oil every 6K- 7K miles. Then it won't be more expensive than regular oil changes at 3K mile interval.
I've even gone to 7,500 miles on synthetic without any problems.

yeldogt

All of our fleet cars use regular oil - including two Lexus -- with a change interval 5-6k. The number moves around a bit depending on what happens with the car so it may be at 5k or out past 6k - but never before 5k.

We keep the cars a long time and the engines are always fine. The 2000 es300 is past 225k. These are cars that are used on a regular basis - normal driving.

My cars that were supplied with synthetics are filled with synthetics and have much longer factory change intervals (15-20k) or Flexible Service Monitors that also extend the interval normally to 12K-14K. But they also hold 9 quarts of oil. Synthetics are great for cars get infrequent use -- it is recommend to change regular oil every year and synthetics at two regardless of miles.

You can switch between the two types of oil -- if you change your oil at 5k it really does not matter -- unless you live in a very hot or cold climate.


The best guess on the sludge issue was condensation .... not oil failure -- many of the cars were off lease units still fitted with the original factory filter - or used infrequently in cold climates.

You still have to check your oil and change accordingly.

snowmaker

I gotta hear this. How does oil clean out a $6 PVC on a rear cover when they are install OVER a splash shield?????

PP is good but it is not high ester count here.

I do once a year in my 98 and it has over 200K on it and the UOA are mint! I also highly advised people to use LC20 in there oils to reduce cF in the oil.

brucelee1

iTrader: (2)

I am not sure what you are asking. I used PP on my 97, which had blue smoke on start up fairly bad. After about 2 oil changes, that cleared up without a trace.

It could be a coincidence but I doubt it.

That said, PP is a fine oil at a good price.

Is there an issue with that statement?

snowmaker

And this smoke issue is related to a PCV how? Oils do NOT clean PCV's out

tomf

I switched from dino to fully synthetic at 130K and within 100 miles both by head cover gaskets were leaking.

01ES300NYC

iTrader: (2)

^^^ that means they were worn already. i switched to fully synthetic when i bought the car. it had 153000..... now on 165000... still no leaks.... but i am the second owner, the first an old man in his 70's when i bought it. so he had to be in his 60's when he bought it and i doubt he drove it hard... its still in almost mint condition....
are u still leaking?

mzikram

Thanks for all the replies. They were really helpful.

Here's my dilemma. The previous owner said that he used Valvoline Durablend 5W30. My trusted mechanic said that I should use the same oil and change it every 3K miles (yes 3K). It costs around $50 to do that change. I am still wondering if it is worth paying that much. My mechanic said that I have a little indication of sludge developing and that is why he recommends changing oil at every 3K.

Any thoughts?

willhickey

iTrader: (1)

quart of trans fluid will help with that sludge