noosense00

Question. How many of you use synthetic oil in your 330? I am about to reach 16K miles in my rx and have done all oil changes at lexus. Is it too late to go to synthetic? Thanks for you inputs.

TunedRX300

I use Mobil 1 syn oil since my RX300's 3rd oil change. Are you interested in additional protection for the engine or extended oil change interval?

noosense00

Tuned, thanks for the response. I am interested only in the extra protection. I heard that it is best to do it after the first oil change so I was wondering if it was still ok to do so at 16K miles.

billy44bo

If you want to change to Mobile 1, go for it. You can put it in at any time. I analyze oil for the power company’s steam turbines and they just change over to synthetic oil.
Some of these turbines first went on line in the 50’s and are still going to run for the next 25 years or longer. Therefore, if you want to use it for the extra protection or just because it has a better flow at low temperature or what ever you want change over to it and do not look back.

TunedRX300

Actually you get both, I use Mobil 1 0w20 for winter, 5w30 for summer, 10K change interval. You get additional protection if you top off oil and change a fresh oil filter between change. Change it sooner if you like but it is not necessary.

parula

Synthetic after 2600 on the '03, I won't use anything else for engine protection and this engine's gelling issue.

Out2L8

Chances are your dealer has already done oil changes using synthetic! I know my dealer uses Castrol synth with OEM Lexus filters. Ask them.

noosense00

Thanks for all of your help and feedback everyone. There is no better place than club lexus for help.

parula

Out2L8, that's good news, I hope all the dealers start using full synthetic.
Has anybody else heard about dealers installing synthetic?

TunedRX300

Don't you have to shell out additional $ for syn oil, given that conventional oil change at the dealer is already expensive?

Out2L8

Well, no I didn't. At least not this time. The 2 changes that were made on my RX-330 were "freebies" at 1K and 5K service intervals. I can imagine that they will, or would, charge a higher fee for syn when I return for sevice again. I was just saying that's what they use.

My girl friend's Volvo was recently in for service at her dealer - and they also used full syn oil on her car. Maybe they're all waking up to this need, since these modern motors are being driven fairly "hard" given their size and the amount of miles we put them through.

noosense00

I have a feeling that the Lexus dealerships are using the cheapest oil possible. I went someplace to get my oil change with Mobil 1 synthetic and they also had Toyota oil available for toyota and lexus vehicles. It is just regular oil.

parula

Tuned, the dealer said they would charge extra - or I could bring my own, which is what I did, so far it has worked fine at 2 dealers. I didn't asked how much extra - I get 5 qts for about $20.50 on sale last time at Wmart. Next time I am going to make sure I get an oil credit!!

TunedRX300

Good price. Thanks for confirming.
Pep boy was selling their MADD calendar around Christmas time, you pay $1 for it but get a Mobil 1 "buy 3 get 3 free" coupon in the middle section. I used it to buy 6 qts of 0w20 for total of $16 plus tax.
You can give it a try and see if the calendar is still on sale.
0w20 is a thinner oil but good for winter usage and better mpg, it will turn thicker anyway as it ages.

Lexmex

I have a 99 RX and I know the previous owner had not used synthetic, just dealer oil changes.

I do my own changes with Mobil 1 (I have tried various blends and weights 5W-30, 10W-30, 15W-50 and now 5W-50 not sold in U.S.).

When I open the valve cover, it is clean as a whistle.

It is never too late to go synthetic.

Here in Mexico, my mechanic and I are always looking at sludged vehicles. Not a pretty sight.