FLYCT

Our SC430 has only been driven 2,000 miles since it had an oil change 12 months ago.

Do you think it's overkill to get an oil change now?

The local Toyota dealer will do a Synthetic oil change for $24 with current 40% off coupon.

Harold57

If there is non-synthetic oil in there now, then no, it is not overkill. Nasty chemicals build up over time in used oil that changing it out will prevent. I'm not sure if synthetic has the same problem but I suspect that it doesn't.

mpezely

Synthetic oil/filter change for $24.00 would be hard to pass up.

Bgw70

Everything you wanted to know about oil...very long read.
You will find your answer in the article.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/motor-oil-101/

iolmaster

iTrader: (1)

I can tell you that when I was in the Lexus dealership I asked about synthetic oil and they would not do it. The service adviser said if it came with mineral that is all they will put in. I am surprised Toyota would do this.

Harold57

Interesting. My Lexus service adviser saw no reason to use synthetic also. He recommended sticking with regular oil. The funny thing about that is our 4 cylinder Camry came with and we continue to use synthetic oil. Kind of opposite ends of the spectrum and yet the smaller, cheaper engine uses the synthetic and not the high end one.

Bgw70

The only downside of using synthetic in an older car is the possibility of creating an oil leak. The oil flows so well and I have seen leaks appear.

FLYCT

Well I had the oil changed today (synthetic) at local Toyota dealer.

I was wrong on the cost. SC takes 5.5 qts.

Synthetic price for 6 qts is $90 or $54 with the 40% discount coupon
Mineral oil for 5 qts is $39.95 or only $24 with 40% discounted coupon.

The service adviser tried to talk me out of having the oil changed saying with only 2k miles it would be very clean and at 2k miles per year I could wait another 1 1/2 years. I told him my personal minimum is that I don't let oil go more that 12 months.

The service advisor was very accommodating and asked me what date and mileage he should put on the window reminder sticker. I told him 1 year and 5,000 miles.

What is interesting is that he asked if I wanted mineral or synthetic. When I said synthetic he "approved" My Lexus service adviser told me that synthetic was a waste of money.

The Toyota adviser is a gear head. He owns an ISF that he has tricked out and proudly showed it to me. He claims it does the 1/4 mile in 12.0 seconds at the local drag strip. He also showed me pictures of his 4 crotch rocket motorcycles in his garage. The only one that is stock is his Hayabusa. I remember being that young and thinking that I was immortal.

Bgw70

If you really want to understand the difference between synthetic and Dinosaur oil, click on the link I posted earlier.
Personally, I just use Castrol Dino oil. I use Dino because I change the oil every 3-4k miles.
I have used synthetic in the past and would run it 7-8k miles with a filter change at 3-4K miles.
Remember, the oil still gets dirty!

The most important takeaway is change your oil on a regular interval!!! Oil is cheap insurance! The alternative is a new engine! Which one costs less...rhetorical question. ;-)

GO SAINTS!

FLYCT

Thanks for the link to Bob's writings. I've been familiar with his site for a long time. Another good source is Blackstone. I've used them for years for oil analysis on aircraft engines.

The primary reason I went with synthetic was it has the ability to flow more easily at startup therefore reducing wear metals.

I agree that frequent oil changes are the best medicine for engines. Oil will get contaminated with blowby gases, acidity and humidity etc which can cause internal corrosion, especially with engines that sit idle for long periods of time. Additives get used up and oil losses its protective ability over time.

cgroom

great info

jasone36

My policy is synthetic only, every 5,000 miles or every six months, whatever comes first.

But I don't use the dealer, so that reduces cost.

mandyfig

I do every 4K, which is close to 7~8 months. Synthetic and Toyota oil filter. I do a drain fill for the tranny every 3 oil changes. I have done 3 drain and fill for the last 4.5 years I have owned the SC. Tranny color is good.

I also do a drain (the reservoir) and fill for the steering fluid, every oil change. Takes Dex III.

FLYCT

Jasone,

Do you mind letting us know who does your synthetic oil change and what they charge?

Local Toyota dealer w/coupon gets $54 out the door which I thought was pretty good. When I priced 6 qts plus filter and drain plug gasket it didn't make sense for me to do my own.