For those of you using synthetic oil out there, did you see any mileage increase? The reason I ask is that, my dealer claims I can get 1 to 2 MPG increase if I switch to synthetic oil, sounds too good to be true. Another thing I heard is that when switching to synthetic for the 1st time. The synthetic oil actually cleans out the engine, therefore, one should change their oil or just the oil filter 3000 miles after switching. Is there any truth to that?

 

There are many claims concerning synthetic oil such as duration between changes, filter only, leaks, will not wear, etc... I have always run synthetic in all of my cars and have done so when it was considered snake oil with exception of the Fusion which I am hoping a meteor will destroy (without me in it).

Still, I change the filter and oil every 3500-4000 miles on Q even though the recommendation is to go considerably longer. I use it for the protection it provides and not MPG or HP increases though both probably increase a diminutive minuscule amount.
Lee

 

Thx lee, thats the story I been hearing on other boards as well. Little or no MPG gain.

 

I fail to see how it would be possible to change an oil filter without changing the oil.

CV

 

Wouldn't you just lose about a quart of oil? Why do you think it's not possible to change the filter and not the oil. You would only lose what's in the filter...

Craig

 

Well if you remove the filter, the oil will start to run out. It acts as another plug. If the filter sat upside down like it does in the V6 4Runner, I could see how you could get away with this.

But, if you are going to change the filter, you might as well change the oil.

 

Most of the oil is in the oil pan when the car is off.

 

So exactly how much do you lose and how much do you put back in then??? Not my cup a tea. My dad always said that if you are going to do something half@##ed, don't do it all.

CV

 

Donno, I have never done it, but I agree with you, just change the oil and filter at the same time.

 

No need whatsoever to change the filter without changing the oil. It's not as if there is a lot of debris that gets trapped in an oil filter. Any oil filter of halfway decent quality can hold FARRRR more debris than will accumulate between oil changes -- even extended oil changes. High capacity oil filters are merely a marketing gimmick.

 

Using Mobil 1 will help engine durability and having used in Supercharged 4Runners and BMWs my experience has been great.....Mobil1 1 uses synthetic basestocks (unlike other so called synthetics) and has been tested in everything from Land Rovers -world tour to factory filling OEM for Porsche, AMG Mercedes....ie. put through fair amount of rigour in these engines....

Change the oil filter with the oil - Mobil 1 will definitely help durability and mpg in GX but for me most important is clean engine ...buy it at Costco or Walmart and have Lexus dealer put it in

 

GGGXXX, how much mpg increase did you get from Mobil 1?

 

I'm sorry to say it's no longer as simple as "Mobil 1 uses synthetic base stocks". They've succumbed to earnings pressure, and taken advantage of the Syntec ruling, and starting using non-synthetic base stock in some of thier oil. Some of the weights are bad enough that manufacturers specifically recommend against them (such as the 0w40). Net: buyer beware. Back in the early days of Mobil1, you could trust that it was the best you could buy. Not so much anymore. They still have some great oil in the range, but the only way you know it is to follow the oil-geek discussions.

I'ma big believer in using a good synthetic, by the way. Been using them exclusively for 10+ years (since '93 in my then new Corrado vr6)

 

Stiles,
So what synthetic oil would you recommend using? Do you use something other than Mobil 1? And if Mobil 1 does have different quality oils, which one should we use in our GX's? And if we use synthetic oil, should we still change our oil every 5000 miles with the filter?

 

From a friend who's a total Oil Geek:
The patent app applies to a patent for a non-synthetic base for M1. I'm going w/the Shell when I change my oil...