Car guys: Full synthetic vs high mileage oil

[CarlHungus]

Which would you go with? For the past few years I have put high mileage in my cars (one has 130k, other has 160k miles). I recently bought a truck that has 130k miles on it, and decided to put a full synthetic in it. I'm thinking of switching my other two cars to a full synthetic as well.

Is a full synthetic supposed to be a lot better than a high mileage? I don't mind paying a little more for a full synthetic if it will make my vehicles last longer, but not sure how much of a difference it makes.

FYI Penzoil is the oil I have been using for high mileage, and recently for the full synthetic

 

[ExCyment]

Full synthetic is better for wear but will leak more. I have a Vibe (Toyota engine) and if I use synthetic blend even it looses more than a quart/1000 miles. Regular oil about a quart per oil change.

 

[Macloney]

Full synthetic will usually only provide benefits if you start using it very early. I would suggest using what the manufacturer recommends. That is what they are designed to run. Depending on the vehicle this can be good or bad. Oil for our Passat is about $9.00 a quart and it is hard to find.

 

[ruxCYtable]

I'd stick with what you're using. Synthetic doesn't cause leaks but it may expose leaks that are already there and I would not start using it on a car with that many miles on it. If you are looking to save money, perhaps by extending maintenance intervals, send a sample to Black Stone Labs (Google it) and they'll tell you how long you can go between changes. Just one nerd's opinion.

 

[BCClone]

Which would you go with? For the past few years I have put high mileage in my cars (one has 130k, other has 160k miles). I recently bought a truck that has 130k miles on it, and decided to put a full synthetic in it. I'm thinking of switching my other two cars to a full synthetic as well.

Is a full synthetic supposed to be a lot better than a high mileage? I don't mind paying a little more for a full synthetic if it will make my vehicles last longer, but not sure how much of a difference it makes.

FYI Penzoil is the oil I have been using for high mileage, and recently for the full synthetic

How often do you change oil now?

 

[CarlHungus]

How often do you change oil now?

W/ the high mileage I do it about every 3000-3500. Haven't had to do it on the truck yet, but I'm thinking 5000 with the full synthetic on that

 

[BCClone]

W/ the high mileage I do it about every 3000-3500. Haven't had to do it on the truck yet, but I'm thinking 5000 with the full synthetic on that

I do 5000 on any oil. Synthetic I will go 10k. My mechanic usually uses a half/half blend.

 

[Bobber]

I use regular oil and change about every 6,000 miles. Have 105,000 on one and 130,000 on other and both have been trouble free with no oil burn...

 

[mywayorcyway]

How old are the cars you're running? There's little reason to change a car's oil regardless of type at 3,000 miles unless you have an old car or you don't put a lot of miles on it.

If you're not hitting mileage in a year, change it. Other than that, check your owner's manual. It's unlikely it recommends every 3,000. I run my '99 Dodge Ram and the wife's '09 Murano to 7,500.

 

[cstrunk]

3,000 miles is manufacturers recommendations from the last century when engines didn't have the tight tolerances and specifications that have been gained from improved manufacturing processes. Any oil change sticker on your car will say 3,000 miles until your next oil change but that is only because they want you to come back sooner and spend more money, not because your newer car needs it. Check your owner's manual and roll with that.

 

[keepngoal]

@ruxCYtable made a good point, I have sent oil in for my 180k mile minivan to BlackStone labs ( http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ ) I learned that the oil doesn't need changing every 3,4 or 5 thousand miles. Oil was good till close to 8. So the oil is changed every 5k-5500. I typically change my own oil and use the same type each time. I have yet to use synthetic.

The maintenance book for my RV (Triton V10, 6 quarts of oil) recommends to change it every 7500 miles. I'll keep refilling it with the same oil as I change it.

Personally, I dont see a need to switch over to synthetic. But if you are curious, and want to know more about your cars health, head over to Black Stone Labs.

 

[Stewo]

Just posting to back-up those that are saying you're wasting money if you switch to synthetic at high miles.

 

[CyinCo]

I use a synthetic blend and get it changed at about the 4k mark.

 

[ruxCYtable]

@ruxCYtable made a good point, I have sent oil in for my 180k mile minivan to BlackStone labs ( http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ ) I learned that the oil doesn't need changing every 3,4 or 5 thousand miles. Oil was good till close to 8. So the oil is changed every 5k-5500. I typically change my own oil and use the same type each time. I have yet to use synthetic.

The maintenance book for my RV (Triton V10, 6 quarts of oil) recommends to change it every 7500 miles. I'll keep refilling it with the same oil as I change it.

Personally, I dont see a need to switch over to synthetic. But if you are curious, and want to know more about your cars health, head over to Black Stone Labs.

If you are really curious about oil - and what real man isn't? - check out http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

 

[brett108]

Full synthetic is better for wear but will leak more. I have a Vibe (Toyota engine) and if I use synthetic blend even it looses more than a quart/1000 miles. Regular oil about a quart per oil change.

A quart per 1,000? Then you have something else wrong, because that's 10 quarts over a normal synthetic oil change period. That's your total oil volume times 2 in all likelihood.

 

[brett108]

Just posting to back-up those that are saying you're wasting money if you switch to synthetic at high miles.

Agreed. There are actually fantastic oil change additives that will improve the engine life if you start with a new car. BG makes one and Toyota actually guarantees the engine forever with this additive. I need to research it more but I have been having them put it in the 2015 Tundra I own since it is only an additional $10 per oil change and my engine is now under full warranty forever if I keep it up.

 

[ruxCYtable]

A quart per 1,000? Then you have something else wrong, because that's 10 quarts over a normal synthetic oil change period. That's your total oil volume times 2 in all likelihood.

If I was losing that much oil, I'd just quit changing it! Pop on a new filter once a year, keep it topped off and call it good!

 

[brett108]

If I was losing that much oil, I'd just quit changing it! Pop on a new filter once a year, keep it topped off and call it good!

I actually did this with a 83 Chevy Blazer I drove in HS. Continuous makeup on the oil.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

My father in law won't drive out of town if he is within 500 miles of the suggested "3,000 mile oil life." Even non synthetics can be ran past 5,000. Newer motors use much less oil and the viscosity of motor oil has improved so the oil doesn't break down like it use to. With all of that being said, he's old school as heel and won't listen to me.

 

[ruxCYtable]

My father in law won't drive out of town if he is within 500 miles of the suggested "3,000 mile oil life." Even non synthetics can be ran past 5,000. Newer motors use much less oil and the viscosity of motor oil has improved so the oil doesn't break down like it use to. With all of that being said, he's old school as heel and won't listen to me.

There are some stories like this on the website I linked previously. There was a poster on there who swears he knew a guy who, if he hit 3,000 miles, would stop driving right where he was and have the car towed in for an oil change. There are some real anal freaks out there.