Oil change question
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Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: CA
Oil change question
I need to get 2nd oil change for my IS 250C. The annual mileage for the car is about 5K miles. I take it easy driving these day. Engine runs at 2-3K RPM most of the time, and only hits 4K RPM when merging onto freeway. I plan to change oil once per year. Which kind of oil is better for me, synthetic or conventional?
Thanks,
Kevin
Thanks,
Kevin
Well it sounds like you dont drive your car much. I would go with a full synthetic since it doesnt decompose as fast. You could probably get away with changing it once a year.. but i would recommend once every 6 months. ENEOS 5w30 Full Synthetic is a great oil. I use it everytime.
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From: CA
Oh well, I guess I will drive it more. With the current high gas price, it actually saves money by driving the convertible than the SUV. Now if I drive 10K per year, would synthetic offer any tangible benefits over dino?
I always thought synthetic is for cars get driven hard.
I always thought synthetic is for cars get driven hard.
Last edited by freeflight; May 8, 2012 at 06:46 PM.
synthetics tend to have better lube, heat dissipation, and can withstand a wider range of heat without breaking down compared to Dino. I guess you can say thats why people recommend synthetics if you drive hard. In the end, synthetic vs dino all have the same basic additives. So its up to you to choose what makes you sleep better at night.
It really depends on how you're using it.
For low-miles-driven cars the difference is this:
If it's low miles driven because you only ever take trips that are 1-5 miles one way, the car never gets to run at operating temp and burn off all the crap in the oil... this is considered severe duty service, even if you never drive it "hard"
If that's you then change it every 3 months, regardless of miles, with the cheapest oil you can find of the proper weight. That type of driving is terrible for oil. (so is excessive idling, double trouble if that 1-5 miles involves all stop -n-go with traffic and long lights)
If it's low miles because you only drive it 1-2 times a week, but do so on a 30-miles-each-way trip somewhere on the highway, then change it once a year with any decent synthetic and don't worry about it.
For low-miles-driven cars the difference is this:
If it's low miles driven because you only ever take trips that are 1-5 miles one way, the car never gets to run at operating temp and burn off all the crap in the oil... this is considered severe duty service, even if you never drive it "hard"
If that's you then change it every 3 months, regardless of miles, with the cheapest oil you can find of the proper weight. That type of driving is terrible for oil. (so is excessive idling, double trouble if that 1-5 miles involves all stop -n-go with traffic and long lights)
If it's low miles because you only drive it 1-2 times a week, but do so on a 30-miles-each-way trip somewhere on the highway, then change it once a year with any decent synthetic and don't worry about it.
Thread Starter
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From: CA
Hi Kurtz,
Thanks for your very informative reply. It looks like I need to change oil more often on the SUV, which follows the severe schedule. The convertible has mostly freeway miles, so any oil is probably okay for that matter. But I know the 250 engine has carbon built-up problem. Do you think use synthetic oil would help prevent it?
Kevin
Thanks for your very informative reply. It looks like I need to change oil more often on the SUV, which follows the severe schedule. The convertible has mostly freeway miles, so any oil is probably okay for that matter. But I know the 250 engine has carbon built-up problem. Do you think use synthetic oil would help prevent it?
Kevin
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Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 189
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From: CA
Merging onto freeway is more of a judgement than speed, otherwise how can those Prius or Yaris merge onto freeway? I don't even need 4K RPM, 3K would have been fine.
If you are running 5k a year I would change it every 6 months with synthetic oil. Even if the miles are stop and go traffic that is very few miles driven. I would not put cheap dino oil in, ever. *This is my opinion and not based on any scientific oil studies or lab testing*.
If you are set on doing it once per year I would still run synthetic.
If you are set on doing it once per year I would still run synthetic.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: NC
^ +1. investing $30-40k in an automobile isnt cheap so why put dino cheap oil in it? Sure toyota motors are indestructible but why not make it invincible by changing the oil with some synthetic? i run synthetic in everything i own and my friends and family always compliment on how well my vehicles run. i mean if you arent hurting for money and a $30k-40k car is chump change then just put whatever oil you want in it. i always live by the rule, you pay for what you get, so i run synthetic all the way, preferably Mobil 1
My wife has an IS350 that she puts about that many miles on and I have the oil changed twice a year. I think that Lexus recommends every 5000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.
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