My 1st oil change experience (long)
07-05-04, 10:53 PM
#16
Lexus Connoisseur
Originally posted by lexusk8
Where exactly did you get this source of info?? I have never heard of this piece of info before
Where exactly did you get this source of info?? I have never heard of this piece of info before
I'm like some on here, 3k is excessive but is a good way to keep your engine maintaned. I go on 5k intervals on my IS and have kept a 3-4k frequency on my Solara due to the dreaded 1MZ-FE sludge scare. You've probably never heard that piece before, but then again, i'm not here to argue with you as this is the first time you've ever changed your own oil on your car. 
Congrats on your first ES oil change. I'm glad you didn't burn your arm or hands on the exhaust manifold.
Last edited by flipside909; 07-05-04 at 11:01 PM.
07-05-04, 11:06 PM
#17
Lexus Connoisseur
Originally posted by lexusk8
I have also read up that if a gasket leaks when using synthetic, it is perfectly OK to go back to dino oil. Oil drain plug gasket is cheap ($1 or less) and easy to replace
I have also read up that if a gasket leaks when using synthetic, it is perfectly OK to go back to dino oil. Oil drain plug gasket is cheap ($1 or less) and easy to replace
07-06-04, 05:49 AM
#18
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally posted by flipside909
Obviously you have no idea about gasket leaks or even research on this topic a little more extensively. Try replacing your valve cover seals for the front and rear banks. You can read all you want but wait til you actually have to do the actually operation. It isn't a "$1 or less" procedure anymore.
Obviously you have no idea about gasket leaks or even research on this topic a little more extensively. Try replacing your valve cover seals for the front and rear banks. You can read all you want but wait til you actually have to do the actually operation. It isn't a "$1 or less" procedure anymore.
Also, I am WELL aware of the oil sludge problem with the 1st and 2nd-gen ES and RX engines, caused mainly by the owners' lack of care for oil changes, NOT by the quality/type of oil. Read the past threads here and here for more info.
07-06-04, 07:07 AM
#19
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Flip, one more thing to add before the potential "jacking" of my thread (due on your part) 
:
If you think there's a reason why I shouldn't switch to synthetic oil regardless of mileage, please send a carefully structured PM to me (and include some corroboration such as valid URLs and pictures, instead of what you "heard"). As all of us have mentioned thus far, we are getting weary of your degrading comments and remarks in the ES forum which are not helping us feel more like a true community. Closed threads happen because of this, and I don't want to see that happen to my "oil change" thread, given how hard I have worked on the oil project by myself.
Thank you.
:If you think there's a reason why I shouldn't switch to synthetic oil regardless of mileage, please send a carefully structured PM to me (and include some corroboration such as valid URLs and pictures, instead of what you "heard"). As all of us have mentioned thus far, we are getting weary of your degrading comments and remarks in the ES forum which are not helping us feel more like a true community. Closed threads happen because of this, and I don't want to see that happen to my "oil change" thread, given how hard I have worked on the oil project by myself.
Thank you.
07-06-04, 07:48 PM
#20
Lexus Connoisseur
Originally posted by lexusk8
If you think there's a reason why I shouldn't switch to synthetic oil regardless of mileage, please send a carefully structured PM to me (and include some corroboration such as valid URLs and pictures, instead of what you "heard"). As all of us have mentioned thus far, we are getting weary of your degrading comments and remarks in the ES forum which are not helping us feel more like a true community. Closed threads happen because of this, and I don't want to see that happen to my "oil change" thread, given how hard I have worked on the oil project by myself.
Thank you.
If you think there's a reason why I shouldn't switch to synthetic oil regardless of mileage, please send a carefully structured PM to me (and include some corroboration such as valid URLs and pictures, instead of what you "heard"). As all of us have mentioned thus far, we are getting weary of your degrading comments and remarks in the ES forum which are not helping us feel more like a true community. Closed threads happen because of this, and I don't want to see that happen to my "oil change" thread, given how hard I have worked on the oil project by myself.
Thank you.
07-07-04, 08:52 AM
#21
Lexus Fanatic
LexusK8: Please pardon me for butting in.....I don't usually get involved in service arguments but I'd like to make an important point here:
But first....congragulations on your baptism of oil change.
Synthetic oil does present a higher risk to the gaskets on older cars than petroleum oil does, for two reasons. First, it is thinner, especially when cold, and it tends to flow much more freely through small spaces than regular oil does. Second, it has different....and much more efficient....detergent additives than regular oil. So once the gaskets in older cars start to age a little, any cracks and imperfections in them will be nothing but paths for the oil to leak out, and the strong detergent material in the synthetic oil can actually help dissolve weak gasket material, making the holes and imperfections even bigger.....and clog up the oil filter with this dissolved material.
Also, the chances of a low-viscosity synthetic escaping around worn piston rings, valves, and valve seals is greater than with regular oil.
Proof of this is shown by the fact that the "high-mileage" oils marketed by companies like Castrol, Valvoline, Penzoil, etc.....are usually of a heavier viscosity (10W-40 or higher) so that the thicker oil helps seal up the cracks that thinner oils could run out of.
I
But first....congragulations on your baptism of oil change.
Synthetic oil does present a higher risk to the gaskets on older cars than petroleum oil does, for two reasons. First, it is thinner, especially when cold, and it tends to flow much more freely through small spaces than regular oil does. Second, it has different....and much more efficient....detergent additives than regular oil. So once the gaskets in older cars start to age a little, any cracks and imperfections in them will be nothing but paths for the oil to leak out, and the strong detergent material in the synthetic oil can actually help dissolve weak gasket material, making the holes and imperfections even bigger.....and clog up the oil filter with this dissolved material.
Also, the chances of a low-viscosity synthetic escaping around worn piston rings, valves, and valve seals is greater than with regular oil.
Proof of this is shown by the fact that the "high-mileage" oils marketed by companies like Castrol, Valvoline, Penzoil, etc.....are usually of a heavier viscosity (10W-40 or higher) so that the thicker oil helps seal up the cracks that thinner oils could run out of.
I
07-07-04, 11:12 AM
#22
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
mmarshall, your comments are much appreciated, as they convey a sense of concern and scientific reason. I've heavily researched on the topic of motor oils before my oil change, and I came to the conclusion that synthetic should be OK for my 3-yr old car ('01 ES), especially when the weather has been warm to hot lately. I originally had planned on possibly going back to conventional oil only during the wintertime due to the colder temps, since synthetic has better benefits in warm weather. There are others on this board who have mentioned of using synthetic in their higher-mileage and older ES's, and reported no problems. And before the rear main seal fix in my previous '96 ES, I had strictly used 5W-30 conventional oil and never missed an oil change.
So the million dollar question is, am I taking a risk of putting synthetic into my high-mileage vehicle? I hardly think so. Is the "marketing" aspect from oils playing games with consumers? Possibly. Am I required to stick with one kind/quality of oil throughout the ownership of my car? Absolutely NOT.
It's sad that there's no true standard of oil selection today since there are so many variables..
So the million dollar question is, am I taking a risk of putting synthetic into my high-mileage vehicle? I hardly think so. Is the "marketing" aspect from oils playing games with consumers? Possibly. Am I required to stick with one kind/quality of oil throughout the ownership of my car? Absolutely NOT.
It's sad that there's no true standard of oil selection today since there are so many variables..
07-07-04, 07:04 PM
#23
-Doug, use the 10W-30 synthetic all year round. It should not be a problem. If it is, switch back. No problem again.
-On a side note, I don't agree with your comment, "I originally had planned on possibly going back to conventional oil only during the wintertime due to the colder temps, since synthetic has better benefits in warm weather." Actually the synthetic is better in the colder temps. It will stay more viscous than conventional oil at lower temps. This will help cut down the friction created during cold start ups. Remeber how cold the last two winters were?
-I agree with mmarshall in that synthetic doesn't cause the leaks it just uncovers the bad spots in worn out gaskets. But, if one changes oil regularly and does not subject the gaskets to prolonged exposure to the acids in old aged oil, then the gaskets should not be dried and cracked (at least not as bad as one who is sluggish on changing oil).
For every person that changes to synthetic oil and gets leaks there is a person who changes to synthetic and doesn't leak.
steviej
-On a side note, I don't agree with your comment, "I originally had planned on possibly going back to conventional oil only during the wintertime due to the colder temps, since synthetic has better benefits in warm weather." Actually the synthetic is better in the colder temps. It will stay more viscous than conventional oil at lower temps. This will help cut down the friction created during cold start ups. Remeber how cold the last two winters were?
-I agree with mmarshall in that synthetic doesn't cause the leaks it just uncovers the bad spots in worn out gaskets. But, if one changes oil regularly and does not subject the gaskets to prolonged exposure to the acids in old aged oil, then the gaskets should not be dried and cracked (at least not as bad as one who is sluggish on changing oil).
For every person that changes to synthetic oil and gets leaks there is a person who changes to synthetic and doesn't leak.
steviej
07-08-04, 06:00 AM
#24
Lexus Fanatic
Actually, guys.....the whole issue can be wrapped up in a nutshell: No matter what kind of oil or filter you use, the single most important thing is to KEEP IT CHANGED. That is the best single insurance against viscosity loss, sludge and gelling, and over-contamination from acid, moisture, blow-by gases, dirt, and engine particles. Next to that, the best insurance is to run the engine regularly long enough to get it hot.....local stop-and go trips, especially at low temperatures or dusty conditions, is hard on the oil.
( By the way, guys, just for the record, I use regular Castrol GTX 5W-30 oil per Lexus recommendations...I've used Castrol products for years in a number of different cars and have never had any oil-related problems )
( By the way, guys, just for the record, I use regular Castrol GTX 5W-30 oil per Lexus recommendations...I've used Castrol products for years in a number of different cars and have never had any oil-related problems )
07-08-04, 09:50 AM
#25
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally posted by steviej
Actually the synthetic is better in the colder temps. It will stay more viscous than conventional oil at lower temps. This will help cut down the friction created during cold start ups.
Actually the synthetic is better in the colder temps. It will stay more viscous than conventional oil at lower temps. This will help cut down the friction created during cold start ups.
For every person that changes to synthetic oil and gets leaks there is a person who changes to synthetic and doesn't leak.
07-08-04, 07:15 PM
#26
Originally posted by mmarshall
Actually, guys.....the whole issue can be wrapped up in a nutshell: No matter what kind of oil or filter you use, the single most important thing is to KEEP IT CHANGED. That is the best single insurance against viscosity loss, sludge and gelling, and over-contamination from acid, moisture, blow-by gases, dirt, and engine particles. Next to that, the best insurance is to run the engine regularly long enough to get it hot.....local stop-and go trips, especially at low temperatures or dusty conditions, is hard on the oil.
Actually, guys.....the whole issue can be wrapped up in a nutshell: No matter what kind of oil or filter you use, the single most important thing is to KEEP IT CHANGED. That is the best single insurance against viscosity loss, sludge and gelling, and over-contamination from acid, moisture, blow-by gases, dirt, and engine particles. Next to that, the best insurance is to run the engine regularly long enough to get it hot.....local stop-and go trips, especially at low temperatures or dusty conditions, is hard on the oil.
I am in total agreement, thank you.
steviej
07-21-04, 08:41 PM
#27
Lexus Connoisseur
Here's one of the many legendary stories of Toyota ownership & longevity. Goes to show you don't need synthetic oil to have a long lasting running Toyota engine:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...hreadid=126832
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...hreadid=126832
07-21-04, 08:51 PM
#28
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Ryan, that's a great thread and story (I've followed up the thread for a while lately). Remember that we all choose our products for different legitimate reasons, whether it be synthetic oil, low-profile tires, HID kits, etc. There's certainly no argument within that regimen.
07-21-04, 08:52 PM
#29
Lexus Connoisseur
Originally posted by lexusk8
Ryan, that's a great thread and story (I've followed up the thread for a while lately). Remember that we all choose our products for different legitimate reasons, whether it be synthetic oil, low-profile tires, HID kits, etc. There's certainly no argument within that regimen.
Ryan, that's a great thread and story (I've followed up the thread for a while lately). Remember that we all choose our products for different legitimate reasons, whether it be synthetic oil, low-profile tires, HID kits, etc. There's certainly no argument within that regimen.
