I just bought a RX350 recently and so far I love the car. Plenty of power and rides really well. However I have been contemplating on the next oil change to go synthetic. Has anyone done this and what has been the overall conclusion and experience on it?

Also what do I need to do to prepare? Do I just ask for synthetic next time? Or do I need to do a flush of the oil? And what brands of synthetic are good?

 

Just do it! No need to flush. I like Mobil 1.

 

The Toyota 0W20 is a great oil and, depending on the year of your car, is acceptable to Lexus. Previously, I used Mobil1 5W30 in cars for over 25 years. Some people say that, because synth oil is said to be 'more slippery', it can leak when gaskets are old. But I have never experienced that, nor has anyone I know personally. However, bear it in mind if your car is old and get expert advice.
You will really feel the difference with synthetic. Enjoy!

 

used dino oil for 120k miles and then changed to synthetic, cant feel any difference.

 

I felt a difference on both an old Cadillac Seville (90000miles) and an RX300 (60000 miles). Just a little more 'crispness', like on a cooler day.... (but may be my imagination). Other cars (new and used) were synthetic all along.

 

Lots of reasons why gaskets can leak, proximation to heat is probably the leading cause besides the natural degradation. That is why there are high milage formulas that have conditioners in their formulas to keep gaskets from shrinking and causing leaks. They are recommended for cars of 75k+ in milage.

Synthetics perform great over conventional oils due to the much longer change intervals and longer viscosity stabilization over time.

 

You'll get a lot of responses based on "feel" but you really want to assess benefit is before and after UOA's. For most situations and vehicles there isn't much of a difference between a good conventional and synthetic so don't just assume that synthetic means better. Try hitting a site like BITOG in your research.

 

Well the biggest reason for looking at Synthetic for me was the longer life which translate to less time spent changing oil. People seem to be split on the topic.

 

Mobile 1 0W30

 

Mobil 1 5-30w high mileage. Replace every 6-7K depends on my schedule.

08 RX350 AWD (100K miles) (Wife)
08 Avalon Touring (100K miles (mine)

 

+1 for the 0W-30. By keeping a 30 weight oil you are maintaining factory viscosity recommendations. I know that Toyota approves the 20 now, but with higher mileage engines I would recommend staying with a 30.

 

If you check the engine oil cap (or better still, the owners manual) you will find the recommended oil to be use...5w30 should do as well.

 

I think that bit of information about older gaskets and synthetic oil was more due to compatibility issues than anything else back in the 80's and 90's.

From what i read, the early synthetic oil and the gaskets used at the time was not very compatible due to the older gaskets not swelling(plump up) with synthetic oil like it did with conventional oil.

Therefore, the gaskets thinned out when synthetic oil was used and caused leaks.

Now the current synthetic oil formulations and gaskets materials are more compatible which allows the gaskets to swell with synthetic oil and prevent leaks.

So if you have a car that is newer that 2006 you should be good.

I use 2006 as the cutoff since many automakers are slow to change or adaption, but many cars were using synthetic oil as factory-fill by 2006 like BMW,Cadillac,etc.

 

I have used 100% synthetic oil in my 2007 RX350 since new (after a 2,000 mile break in with factory oil) and I have never had a problem. Loved the far easier cold starting.

 

Can you pls inform me the specs of the synthetic oil you have been using...?