Synthetic Oil Change Intervals.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 107
From: AZ
How does the 20 weight oil work in your LS 430? How long have you used a 20 weight oil? Any differences in MPG and engine sound/smoothness? Just curious because I do not think Toyota/Lexus has approved a 20 weight oil for our engines. Even though, I think a 20 weight oil would work well in our cars but what do I know. LOL... Thanks.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 505
Likes: 2
From: Ca
mobil 1 extended performance has twice the synflo which does the cleaning than regular mobil 1, also in my experience with my old ls400 it breaks down less than the mobil 1 i tried having numerous posts about moblil 1 ep at walmart for 26 but seems to go on deaf ears,
as fyi for penzoil ultra users i heard some have issues with bypass because its so thin i have never had an issue with mobil 1 or mobil 1 ep in 225000 miles I'm sticking with mobil 1 extended performance.
as fyi for penzoil ultra users i heard some have issues with bypass because its so thin i have never had an issue with mobil 1 or mobil 1 ep in 225000 miles I'm sticking with mobil 1 extended performance.
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 31
From: wi
Unless you get the oil tested it is all speculation on how long you can run oil. Dark is no indicator but I know on this forum I have read few if any posts of engine failure or using oil so anywhere from 5 to 10k seems not to be an issue. Everyone has their comfort zone and driving type matters. I drive 90 miles to work every day on the freeway off the freeway my last LS started to use about a 1/2 quart every 5 k miles at 200k miles changing it every 5 to 7500 miles Valvoline synthetic.
I was pretty hard on my last LS and did get a subtle upper end engine rattle at start up on hot days(maybe a dozen times a year) but now with Laser radar I have cooled my jets the cops are getting pretty savy shooting from the back sides of bridges and hitting your rear liscense plate I will see how Mobil 1 does on this LS I am at 100k should hit 200k in 3 years.
I was pretty hard on my last LS and did get a subtle upper end engine rattle at start up on hot days(maybe a dozen times a year) but now with Laser radar I have cooled my jets the cops are getting pretty savy shooting from the back sides of bridges and hitting your rear liscense plate I will see how Mobil 1 does on this LS I am at 100k should hit 200k in 3 years.
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 176
Likes: 7
From: MO
That's some good driving, warminwisc.
I had changed my oil at the 8000 mile mark but I noticed the car acting differently at that mileage on the oil so I'm doing 5000 now and that's a good number for me. Mobile 1 only costs me about 25bucks so it's worth it.
I had changed my oil at the 8000 mile mark but I noticed the car acting differently at that mileage on the oil so I'm doing 5000 now and that's a good number for me. Mobile 1 only costs me about 25bucks so it's worth it.
Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 115
Likes: 5
From: TX
I will go 10-15K between changes on my 99&02 LS's. Only after I tested Royal Purple in my 93 del sol did I understand how well synthetic oil performs. I went 4 years with 25,000 miles driven in the Del Sol with no oil change(always hitting the 7600 rpm governor) then had the motor broken down and the VTEC head rebuilt(for an upcoming turbo). What I saw was amazing...no sludge at all. It also doesn't burn a drop of oil. My father, a certified mechanic, told me long ago "You needn't change your oil as often as you think". All of his cars had over 200,000 miles on them and he drove his rides much harder than I do.
I will go 10-15K between changes on my 99&02 LS's. Only after I tested Royal Purple in my 93 del sol did I understand how well synthetic oil performs. I went 4 years with 25,000 miles driven in the Del Sol with no oil change(always hitting the 7600 rpm governor) then had the motor broken down and the VTEC head rebuilt(for an upcoming turbo). What I saw was amazing...no sludge at all. It also doesn't burn a drop of oil. My father, a certified mechanic, told me long ago "You needn't change your oil as often as you think". All of his cars had over 200,000 miles on them and he drove his rides much harder than I do.
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 302
Likes: 17
From: CA
What filter are you running? After my oil change right at about 8k the only difference I noticed that my average mpg went up a little. I'm not using the same oil so this is not really scientific... But I think I will do mine more like 6500 miles. I'm not worried about the oil breaking down so much as the filter just not doing a good job after this amount of time.
I always use Royal Purple 5w-30 and a Mobil 1 oil filter, and i typically change it around 7500 miles or so. I just ordered a Royal Purple oil filter and going to use that instead on my next change coming up soon. Heard its very good so imma try it out. I cant tell the difference from RP and Mobil 1, but I like putting the best I can in my baby 
I always use Royal Purple 5w-30 and a Mobil 1 oil filter, and i typically change it around 7500 miles or so. I just ordered a Royal Purple oil filter and going to use that instead on my next change coming up soon. Heard its very good so imma try it out. I cant tell the difference from RP and Mobil 1, but I like putting the best I can in my baby
This a great post from LScowboysLS. I'm using the Motorcraft FL-400S right now. According to the post, mobile 1, k&n, and royal purple are the same filter.
If you want to extend your time between oil changes, running a great full synthetic oil such as Pennzoil Platinum or Ultra, Mobil 1, Valvoline SynPower, German Castrol, etc. is not enough, you still have that wimpy little oil filter than doesn't have the capacity to go 12 or 15K miles! - Even if you are very conservative in your oil change frequency and change it every 3000 or 5000, a larger and better made oil filter is never a bad thing!
So here is a list of the most premium oil filters that work great on all LS models from 1990-2006 and give you ~60% more volume as well as premium features on the inside of the filter such as a silicon anti-drainback valve and high quality bypass valve of the same PSI setting as the stock Toyota filter.
here is the list of the world's most premium oil filters, in oversize, which I can expand if I have missed your favorite brand:
Motorcraft --- FL-400S
WIX XP --- 51516XP
Fram Ultra --- XG3600
K&N --- HP-2009
Mobil 1 --- M1-209
Bosch Premium --- D3422
Purolator PureONE --- PL20195
NAPA Platinum --- PFL 41516
Amsoil --- EAO34
Royal Purple --- 20-400
Toyota (NipponDenso) --- 90915-20004 (made in Japan) - this is the filter than came on your car when new, hard to find now
TRD (Toyota Racing Design) --- PTR43-00080 .....Note: this is not an oversize filter
PS - the K&N and Mobil 1 filters are the same filter internally, and with minute differences the Royal Purple and Toyota Racing Design (TRD) are as well, all 4 made on the same assembly line by Fram subsidiary FRAM Filtration (aka Champion) although the filter media on these 4 is not identical.
the Amsoil and NAPA platinum are essentially the same internally as the Wix XP who manufacturers them, although Amsoil is transitioning to Champion (FRAM Filtration) for their manufacturing.
So here is a list of the most premium oil filters that work great on all LS models from 1990-2006 and give you ~60% more volume as well as premium features on the inside of the filter such as a silicon anti-drainback valve and high quality bypass valve of the same PSI setting as the stock Toyota filter.
here is the list of the world's most premium oil filters, in oversize, which I can expand if I have missed your favorite brand:
Motorcraft --- FL-400S
WIX XP --- 51516XP
Fram Ultra --- XG3600
K&N --- HP-2009
Mobil 1 --- M1-209
Bosch Premium --- D3422
Purolator PureONE --- PL20195
NAPA Platinum --- PFL 41516
Amsoil --- EAO34
Royal Purple --- 20-400
Toyota (NipponDenso) --- 90915-20004 (made in Japan) - this is the filter than came on your car when new, hard to find now
TRD (Toyota Racing Design) --- PTR43-00080 .....Note: this is not an oversize filter
PS - the K&N and Mobil 1 filters are the same filter internally, and with minute differences the Royal Purple and Toyota Racing Design (TRD) are as well, all 4 made on the same assembly line by Fram subsidiary FRAM Filtration (aka Champion) although the filter media on these 4 is not identical.
the Amsoil and NAPA platinum are essentially the same internally as the Wix XP who manufacturers them, although Amsoil is transitioning to Champion (FRAM Filtration) for their manufacturing.
Last edited by Lavrishevo; Jun 24, 2014 at 02:36 PM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: TX
Mobil 1 Extended Life Oil
I use Mobile 1 Extended Life 10-w-30 in my 2002 LS-430. I always pair it with either Wix or Puralator and change every 15000 miles. It never uses a drop and runs like a top (130,000 so far.). I can hear the teeth gritting now. My brother, who drives a 186,000 mile 2001 LS can't believe it.]
The Motorcraft, Fram Ultra, and old oem seem to be the three favorite. The whole list is good filters. I'm using the Motorcraft (ford) this time. Nice filter. Weird to say that about my Lexus but hey, it's better then stocked oem filter. Especially, for extended oil changes.