'05 Tacoma 2.7, ~3-4k mi./yr: M1 5W30 or PYB?

[fendertweed]

We have an '05 base model Tacoma 2.7L 4 cyl. with about 42k on it now (got it w/ 34k, repaired title due to some body work), has run great for 3 yrs. w/ no problems).

This is a working truck for my wife (my 20th Anniversary gift to her, just what she asked for

: she uses it for her 2-day-a-week garden maint. business, mostly from March-November/December.

She puts ~3,000-4,500 miles a year on it. I've been doing one OC per year using Mobil 1 5W30 and the Toyota filter.

Having seen good UAO results on a 2.7L Tacoma w/ 5k on it using Pennzoil Yellow Bottle (PYB), I'm wondering about switching over to PYB (we've used that in her '05 Matrix XRS with apparent good results (no UAO yet tho').

One concern is that the truck sits (generally used only 2-3 days a week), so the ability of the synth to coat cylinders, etc., and prevent start-up wear may be a plus.

Any thoughts on a switch from Mobil 1 to PYB given the low annual mileage and this type of intermittent use?

Thanks,
Jon (in NoVa)

 

[Eddie]

Yellow bottle would be my choice for the conditions you specify. A synethic oil is best for high & very low temps and offeres little or no improvement for normal driving like you state your wife will use the vehicle for.

 

[fendertweed]

... other than the start-up wear that's what I'm beginning to think, although we do get a lot of 90 deg. (or 100 this year) days.

Much of the use is short trip urban/suburban, very little highway miles ... but at this rate, when the Tacoma's 15 yrs. old it'll only have about 75,000 miles on it (LOL)...

 

[HTSS_TR]

I would use synthetic with 1 year OCI. An extra cost of about $10 a year, about 2 cents a week, is not that much to worry about.

 

[fendertweed]

that's the other side of the coin & why I've been going w/ the Mobil 1 ... no sense changing twice a year when that's 1,500 mile intervals or so...

based on years of UAOs on several cars (Saab 900s (old); MB C280; Audis, an old 911, '98 Passat 2.0T; the Toyotas; my '09 Outback, etc.) I tend to run synth so I can change every 6 mos./5-7,500k, which has always tested fine on the UAOs.

 

[Gene K]

PYB Annually or Synthetic every two years. Im not going to drag out the 5+ year UOA on Porsche Factory Fill. Ive done that way to much lately.

 

[fendertweed]

Originally Posted By: Gene K
PYB Annually or Synthetic every two years. Im not going to drag out the 5+ year UOA on Porsche Factory Fill. Ive done that way to much lately.


that sounds interesting, Gene ... my 911's a '73 going on yr. 3 with Brad Penn 20W50 (used to do 1-3k/yr, now it's more like less than 500-1,000 miles) ... and still testing OK including TBN.

cheers,
Jon

p.s. we have a Toyota factory extended service contract to 7 yrs./100k on the Tacoma (2012) so at least an annual change is a safe step to avoid any problems in the unforeseen case of trouble. jc

 

[Steve S]

Either way you go the price won't be too bad and the oil probably will not matter. 73, 911 nice!

 

[addyguy]

I feel that PYB once a year would be the best.

I personally think the problem you are concerned about is the opposite - synth oil 'may' drain off the cyliders and valvetrain faster than a conventional.....

 

[fendertweed]

FWIW, just got back the UOA from Blackstone after 1 yr./2,050 miles ...

the M1 5W30 is still in great shape, clean, TBN nearly 5, can easily go another year/3k miles per Blackstone's comments.

 

[fendertweed]

latest UOA

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/mobil1-5w30-2-050-mi-05-toyota-tacoma-2-7l-4.139929/