08 Tacoma Confusion

[Moondawg]

I have a 2008 Tacoma PreRunner, with the 4.0 V6. The cap says 5w30. It just turned 110K miles. I live in a semi-rural area and 95% of my driving is hwy running 1900-2200 rpm. I have used Mobil 1 5w30and 5K oci starting with it's 1st OC until 80K when I started using Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 and went to a 10K oci with a filter change at 5K. My confusion started with I read the Toyota Oil Chart and found out Toyota does not recommend synthetic oil for the 4.0L in a Tacoma, not even today. Yet, synthetic oil is fine for my wife's 08 4Runner with the same engine. I use Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 in her car and she has over 120K with no engine problems.

What gives, why is synthetic bad for a 4.0L in a Tacoma and perfectly fine, even recommended for the same engine in a 4Runner? My little truck has always run fine on Mobil 1, the engine is smooth, quite and in 110L miles has only required routine maintenance. At oil change time the oil is slightly darker than new, but otherwise looks good. I am quite happy with M! and really don't want or plan on changing to a different oil. Is my engine running on borrowed time? Is it getting ready to explode or self destruct on me?

 

[901Memphis]

Nothing wrong with running the synthetic. Keep doing what you're doing and sleep easy!

 

[Toyoguy]

Welcome to the circus!

I would say, Its your engine and you decide to put what you want in it. Toyota engines are pretty much bulletproof. It will probably run on chicken grease if thats all you've got. I think the conventional recommendation was a typo, or maybe the engine will see some type of stress/load that conventional oil provides the better protection against. And the 4Runner won't see that type of stress. Maybe because of towing limits or something.

From what I've read, you're doing something right. Keep at it and you'll get to 500K miles in no time. Top Gear did a couple shows on the Hilux which is pretty much the Tacoma over here in England. They tried to kill it by parking it on a building and blowing up the building. They buried it in sand and let the tide come in and the thing still worked. I think they even tried shooting it, IIRC. The other episodes they travel to the North Pole in two Hilux (I don't know what the plural of Hilux is.) and then took it to an active volcano. Sorry went off an a tangent. Bottom line, your truck has a pedigree of dependability and no matter if you put synthetic or conventional in it, at least your putting something in it.

 

[charbaby]

Just out of curiosity, how does the owners manual(OM) state this about the oil? Does the OM actually state, NOT TO USE Synthetic Oil?

The OM for the Altima in my signature states to use conventional oil. But doesn't actually say to avoid synthetic! I believe they meant that synthetic IS NOT Necessary!

Hmmmm, makes me wonder!

 

[klt1986]

That is a question I'd like to know as well. I can't imagine why the 4Runner's 4.0 would be any different than the Tacoma's?

I have a similar question with my Tundra. Mine is a 2011 with the 5.7L and can use 5w-20 or 0w-20 but must be changes every 6 months or 5,000 miles. Jump to a 2012 with the same engine and it is 0w-20 only and 10,000 mile changes? Doesn't make any since to me as the engines are the same.

 

[Moondawg]

The OM says to use 5w30, or in emergency 10w30, followed with a bunch of letters or codes. It does not say to NOT USE synthetic I think it was the 2013 Toyota Oil Chart which broke it down as to Toyota synthetic, 0w-20 or conventional oil. for the different engines, and backdated some engines. Almost everything was listed as good for the synthetic except Tacoma 4.0L, RV$, and one Avalon engine. They were specifically stated conventional oil only. BTW my Tacoma does have a higher towing rating than does the 4Runner. The Tacoma is seems happy on the Mobil 1 Extended Performance and uses less than half a cup of oil in 10K miles, doesn't leak or seep anywhere. So, guess I will just keep on doing the same-o.

 

[cptbarkey]

its just the OCD kicking in. move along and worry about more important things in life.

 

[Spazdog]

I don't get it either.

There are certain applications where a conventional would be preferred but last time I checked, the Taco' didn't have a constant loss drip lubrication system nor was it a Mazda Wankel rotary.

 

[barkingspider]

M1 worked in your truck for the first part of its life. It will work for the remaining part just as good. Good to go.

 

[EdwardC]

I assume you were looking at a chart such as this one, taken from this thread: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2624429

Interestingly, most of the other models that use the 1GR-FE also specify "N" for Conventional only, but some models like the 4Runner and FJ had a change in the 1GR-FE with a larger sump and also allowed the use of 0W20, synthetic only.

Since your manual doesn't say anything about not using synthetic, I think you're more than safe using the M1. And obviously, we all know that to be true anyway.

Hmm, also, this thread has a response from Toyota saying that if Synthetic is used, to change it out at 5k/6mo. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/169069-2011-1gr-fe-oil-question.html

Good luck...

 

[aquariuscsm]

That's really interesting. I wonder why it would say conventional only,and what would make a conventional be preferred over a synthetic?

My owner's manual and FSM both say verbatim "You can use mineral or synthetic oil in your Nissan,just do not mix the two".