Dino or Syn for city driving? Your opinions.

MysticGold04 · Apr 17, 2008

I am currently running PP 5w30 in the Tacoma and Chevron 5w30 in the HL. The Tacoma is 6mo/~2300 miles into the OCI on PP. I'm considering moving to PP as well in the HL after the run on Chevron ~3800 miles or so. Both have OEM Toyota filters.

Tacoma - 90% city, short trips, usually 10-12mi/day.
Highlander - 80% city, short trips, usually 20mi/day

We also use the HL for long trips on the highway, since its a 4cyl.

What oils would you run for those severe conditions? Or are those really severe? Summer is coming too, so both vehicles will see 100F+ temps.

I'm thinking of doing the 6mos/5k on both vehicles. The HL might hit 5k before 6mos time though.

wavinwayne · Apr 17, 2008

My $.02 - I'd run Chevron 5w30 in both. Using PP is throwing away money unless your vehicle requires synthetic oil.

MysticGold04 · Apr 17, 2008

Neither vehicle requires syn oil. I was just thinking that syn might handle the city driving + short trips + 6mo/5k OCI better.

Vincent_Vega · Apr 17, 2008

Originally Posted By: MysticGold04
Neither vehicle requires syn oil. I was just thinking that syn might handle the city driving + short trips + 6mo/5k OCI better.

I would run the PP but stretch the OCI out to at least 7500 miles or 1 year. Just my 2 pennies.

double vanos · Apr 17, 2008

You're already running one of the finest oils available - why stop? PP is great oil and when purchased at WM it is an absolute bargain! As Bob Dylan would say, "just keep on keep'n on"....

02zx9r · Apr 17, 2008

if you are going to stick with 5K/6 months i would do dino oil.

if you really are severe service(which most people are and dont realize it) i would stick with dino and change it out every 3 months to get the contaminents out since you dont get up to temps to burn off the crud regulalrly

MysticGold04 · Apr 17, 2008

Originally Posted By: Vincent_Vega

I would run the PP but stretch the OCI out to at least 7500 miles or 1 year. Just my 2 pennies.

That is a possiblity, just need to get a UOA+TBN to verify.

I knew I'd get both sides of the house here as far as syn/dino.

glazer1972 · Apr 17, 2008

Dino in both gets my vote.

Bryanccfshr · Apr 17, 2008

Conventional motor oil would be all I use(and it is). These Toyotas don't require nor benefit from synthetic oil for your OCI's. Use your factory recomended service intervals and fluids and life is simple and good.

Cory · Apr 17, 2008

Here's the reference for GM Download the GM Oil Life System (PDF)
Take a look at the box labeled "Oil Drain Interval Expectation" towards the bottom. Very interesting based on the recommendations are for conventional oil.

Conventional oil has my vote for 6 month OCIs.

Gary Allan · Apr 17, 2008

Quote:
Tacoma - 90% city, short trips, usually 10-12mi/day.
Highlander - 80% city, short trips, usually 20mi/day

How long, daily, are each of them running? That is, how long does it take the Tacoma to reach 5-6 miles one way? How long does it take the Highlander to travel it's 10 mile commute? This alters the perception of "it never gets up to temperature" thingie.

lazaro · Apr 17, 2008

use synthetic oil save money and you wont have to buy any carbon credits to make you feel all warm inside

strombony · Apr 18, 2008

I'm interested in this as well. Both my vehicles are driven under severe service in summer and winter. Very short trips of 5 miles or less, and I'm certain the soccer-mom van gets a little of contaminants in the oil from moisture. My mechanic told me that under our current driving conditions, I should be able to put 5k on the oil, and that synthetic by design will stand up to all the contamination. Is he correct, or is he giving me bad advice and should I stick with the yellow bottle every 3-4k?

02zx9r · Apr 18, 2008

the yellow bottle every 3-4K would probably work better for you to get the contaminents out

unDummy · Apr 18, 2008

These conditions are severe.

This is easy.
Use PP in both.
Change both vehicles out in 6-months, regardless of mileage, and UOA w/tbn.
Then, post the UOAs in the UOA section and you'll have your answer for both vehicles.

Steve S · Apr 18, 2008

Use $8.00 per qt syn oil and change it every six months . No real advantage but it will cost more so it must be better.

MysticGold04 · Apr 18, 2008

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Quote:
Tacoma - 90% city, short trips, usually 10-12mi/day.
Highlander - 80% city, short trips, usually 20mi/day

How long, daily, are each of them running? That is, how long does it take the Tacoma to reach 5-6 miles one way? How long does it take the Highlander to travel it's 10 mile commute? This alters the perception of "it never gets up to temperature" thingie.

Tacoma usually takes about 10 minutes, 15 if I have to stop at all of the traffic lights. Nearly the same for the Highlander, but it sees more running around during the day - My wife drives it.

I have a scangauge in the Tacoma and the coolant temp is between 190-193 by the time I park after my commute. I know this is no indication of the oil temp though.

MysticGold04 · Apr 18, 2008

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Use $8.00 per qt syn oil and change it every six months . No real advantage but it will cost more so it must be better.

I can get PP for roughly $4/quart at China Mart. If I only have to change the oil twice a year, that saves me time more than money. I figure $25 each oil change (with filter) per vehicle so $100/year.

If I use dino, I would go and buy at sales.. lets take Formula Shell for example. Formula shell is on sale for .49/quart. so that's about $6-7 per change incl filter. I'll estimate 3 changes per year for dino at 3-5k Roughly about $40 a year on OC's. Using dino would save me about $60 a year or about $5/month. To me not having to change the oil as much would be worth that $5 to me... I could be doing something more productive around the house...etc.

02zx9r · Apr 18, 2008

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Use $8.00 per qt syn oil and change it every six months . No real advantage but it will cost more so it must be better.

Where do you find $8qrt PP? I want to stay far far away from there!

Unless you mean $4/qrt X2 vehicles per quart?

02zx9r · Apr 18, 2008

Originally Posted By: MysticGold04
Originally Posted By: Steve S
Use $8.00 per qt syn oil and change it every six months . No real advantage but it will cost more so it must be better.

I can get PP for roughly $4/quart at China Mart. If I only have to change the oil twice a year, that saves me time more than money. I figure $25 each oil change (with filter) per vehicle so $100/year.

If I use dino, I would go and buy at sales.. lets take Formula Shell for example. Formula shell is on sale for .49/quart. so that's about $6-7 per change incl filter. I'll estimate 3 changes per year for dino at 3-5k Roughly about $40 a year on OC's. Using dino would save me about $60 a year or about $5/month. To me not having to change the oil as much would be worth that $5 to me... I could be doing something more productive around the house...etc.

do you dislike changing the oil? It doesnt take that much time

i think the most important thing is to just make sure you change it out on a sooner than later basis

Dino or Syn for city driving? Your opinions.

Similar threads