jcjr

Hello,

I have a 2001 Rx with 84K miles....currently running Super 76 oil which is a synthetic blend..I have been doing 3-4K changes

Just loaded up on Pennzoil Platinum and plan to switch to this oil in my RX........

What OCI would you guys recommend with synthetic in this engine since it has the sludge issues??

Thanks

lexus114

I recommend no more than 4-5k.

ricco750

I have been doing 7,500 mile intervals in my wife's 2002 Highlander V6. We got the car in '04 with 20,000 miles, and it now has 100,000 miles on it...uses no oil, runs fine. I have been using pure synthetics in all my vehicles since 1995, even my lawnmowers.

To the best of my knowledge, pure synthetics don't "gel"...that's why they were developed a long time ago in the aerospace industry.

TunedRX300

I am using GC 0w-30, UOA showed OCI is 7K for my driving style.
PP is a good oil, but it is Group III based, it is better to use the real synthetic because 1mz-fe chew oil up harder than other engines.

jcjr

It was not my intention to start a synthetic discussion...PP is group 3 but so are most of the Mobil 1 line...

I am hoping to do %K intervals with the PP

Thanks

JohnLX300

iTrader: (2)

I use Mobil 1, 0w30. I change the oil every 3-4 thousand miles. If I pull out the dipstick and its darker then I feel comfortable with I will change it earlier.

TunedRX300

It is not my intention either. I also have a stash of PP but won't use it on 1mz-fe, because I won't get 7K OCI with any group 3. GC gave me the longest OCI, there are plenty of UOAs on BITOG that show you won't get 5K OCI with M1.

lexus114

The only problem I found with using the GC is; it kills the engine torque too much.

TunedRX300

Then you can give Mobile 1 0w-20 or Amsoil 0w-20 a try.
For me, I did not find GC robbing torque. If fact, it is better than most 5w-30 oil, whether they are fake synthetic or cheapo regular oil.

jcjr

I did review some UOAs on BITOG with PP and Highlander/lexus engines...

I am planning 4500K OCI with pp in this engine...

Hey Lexus 114 weren't you running PP in yours before you traded it???

Lexmex

One thing I will say about this. Initially, when I first used GC back in Mexico back in early 2007 and I went to the track that night, I noticed some issues invovling torque on the track and on the highway and even on streets to and from the track. I also noticed it the day after (a Sunday). However, I still managed to run the initial night under 18 seconds, a 17.959 as I remember, which was narrowly off my record time back down there of 17.931. However, after time, the torque picked up and I didn't notice a drop off even using also a 7K drain interval.

I will add a bit of info. My girlfriend's 99 Ford Expedition (2WD) has used GC, PP 5W30 and is now using Amsoil 5W30. She had some initial problems with GC and PP that I later tracked down to some seal issues (for which I used Lubro Moly Motor Oil Saver and also a bit of Restore oil additive (in case the cylinder walls were a bit uneven) and that has brought down the consumption a bit with the Amsoil. I plan to run GC again on the next interval and see if with that V8 I notice any such issue. The reason I add this is that initially with the GC I also noticed a slight torque issue that kind of tapered off afterwards.

However, keep in mind that with both my RX300 and her Expedition, I don't run an air filter and suffer the consequences and her Expedition has a piston seal issue, and both of these could contribute to the Torque problem. My last experience running GC (when I did the oil change DIY recently) did not seem to have any issue with torque. I recently had a two week assignment in northern Miami where I was commuting and also didnt' notice much of an issue if at all, despite alternating hot (90 and even down to 50 degree weather just yesterday) at 6:30 in the morning.

Keep an eye on the bobistheoilguy.com forum in the European oils. Every so often a discussion comes up about slight differences noted from the MXX number or year of manufacture number, i.e. M08 (Manufactured 2008) as I do know there is a slight difference in smell from the previous year (a bit more sulphuric smell). How these may play out in the performance of the engine is something that needs to be studied from time to time.

lexus114

Yep,but then I switched to Mobil-1 0W-30. It really ran great on that stuff.Thats what I have in my 330 now.

lexus114

I think if I use GC in the one I have now,I`ll reset the ecm,and let it completely re-adjust itself to it.

jcjr

When you say "ran great on that stuff" are you referring to the PP or th M1.......why did you switch to M1

TunedRX300

UOA on the 1mz-fe is better with M1's old formulation. Mixture of SL rated M1 0w-20 and 5w-20 gave me better OCI of 8200 miles.
I have a sample of used oil for current formulation of 5w-30 EP, if anyone want to sponsor a UOA, PM me, I will post the report on the forum.