Safe to stick with semi-synthetic Lexus 2GR-FKS?

[Mazstar]

I have a 2016 Lexus GS 350 engine 2GR-FKS V6 dual injection in Australia. Until 2023, car was serviced every 12 months/15k km by dealer using Castrol 5W-30. From mid-2023, I started doing 6mth/7500km through independent mechanic.

At last service, I asked him what oil and he uses MOTUL 6100 5W-30 Syn Clean which is a semi-synthetic oil. This oil has API SN, Dexos 2 and MB 229.51 which seems pretty good and exceeds requirements. My user manual just requires API SL, SM or SN (Resource Conserving) or ILSAC. He is a good mechanic but believed he was using a full synth oil.

https://www.motul.com/en-AU/products/15906?product=MOTUL+6100+SYN-CLEAN+5W-30

I want to keep this car until it dies so just wanting to make sure using a semi-synth won’t create more sludge or deposits than a synthetic. My friends reckons at 6mth interval it won’t make a difference. It’s used a daily driver, doesn’t get track or hard life.

Would you keep the oil until June or would you drop the oil and stick a synthetic oil? its been using this oil since June 2023, no issues although I’m convinced its slightly louder until warmed up - these are loud and clicky engines when cold.

I’m going to ask my mechanic to use the MOTUL 8100 next time as he is MOTUL exclusive mechanic.

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

It’s a Toyota, all it wants is clean oil. That oil seems good based on the certs even tho it’s a blend

 

[ka9mnx]

You can but for a few dollars more I would use Synthetic.

 

[Pelican]

I have a 2016 Lexus GS 350 engine 2GR-FKS V6 dual injection in Australia. Until 2023, car was serviced every 12 months/15k km by dealer using Castrol 5W-30. From mid-2023, I started doing 6mth/7500km through independent mechanic.

At last service, I asked him what oil and he uses MOTUL 6100 5W-30 Syn Clean which is a semi-synthetic oil. This oil has API SN, Dexos 2 and MB 229.51 which seems pretty good and exceeds requirements. My user manual just requires API SL, SM or SN (Resource Conserving) or ILSAC. He is a good mechanic but believed he was using a full synth oil.

https://www.motul.com/en-AU/products/15906?product=MOTUL+6100+SYN-CLEAN+5W-30

I want to keep this car until it dies so just wanting to make sure using a semi-synth won’t create more sludge or deposits than a synthetic. My friends reckons at 6mth interval it won’t make a difference. It’s used a daily driver, doesn’t get track or hard life.

Would you keep the oil until June or would you drop the oil and stick a synthetic oil? its been using this oil since June 2023, no issues although I’m convinced its slightly louder until warmed up - these are loud and clicky engines when cold.

I’m going to ask my mechanic to use the MOTUL 8100 next time as he is MOTUL exclusive mechanic.

Actually that oil is considered synthetic in that it is man-made from group III base and not group IV, it is not a blend like most semi-synthetics are. This thanks to a lawsuit by Castrol in a US court many years ago, Liqui-Moly also uses it in some of their Oils. I would not be concerned at all, in some cases oils from group III are more suitable for some additives than group IV. With your OCI of 7,5K Km certainly nothing to worry about IMO.

 

[Mazstar]

Actually that oil is considered synthetic in that it is man-made from group III base and not group IV, it is not a blend like most semi-synthetics are. This thanks to a lawsuit by Castrol in a US court many years ago, Liqui-Moly also uses it in some of their Oils. I would not be concerned at all, in some cases oils from group III are more suitable for some additives than group IV. With your OCI of 7,5K Km certainly nothing to worry about IMO.

Motul’s own info says it is a combination of synthetic and mineral base stocks - that suggests it is a blend. I thought 8100 had group 3 in there as well.

Where did you see this info as I would be interested to know because I would continue using that if it were the case.

 

[wemay]

It has approvals that I've only seen in Euro Synthetics. You'll be fine.

 

[Pelican]

Motul’s own info says it is a combination of synthetic and mineral base stocks - that suggests it is a blend. I thought 8100 had group 3 in there as well.

Where did you see this info as I would be interested to know because I would continue using that if it were the case.

Lets define what is and what is not a blend. You take part of a Mineral Motor oil & Part of a Synthetic motor oil (III or IV) mix them together and you have a semi-synthetic blend. Problem with this is that the % of synthetic vs mineral is never disclosed.
Then you have what the germans classify as Synthetische Technologie vs Vollsynthetisch, they are both synthetics the only difference
is that the former is derived from base stock III & the latter from base stock IV, this difference was not advertised in North America, don't know if that has changed, but the germans, sticklers for precision did. They both have the same size molecules, so from my point of view the difference may only be semantic rather than functional. If I were you I'd use the synthetic technology without fear. There may be a situation where the Full Synthetic may have an advantage, but there is also an advantage with the SyntheticTechnology, so pick you poison I would not use a blend as described above for there is no advantage, I'd go with Mineral or Synthetic (III or IV)

 

[wlk]

Yes you will be fine running the blend. Just change it and not run overly long oci's.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Mobil 1 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30 will do as well and cheaper!​

 

[factorytuned2012]

only if you're saving money

 

[addyguy]

Like Wemay said; it has stout approvals, it will do great.

 

[ripcord]

With 7500km change intervals, you're going to get excellent results with any quality, API and Euro certified 5w-30. With that oil and maintenance regime, it's highly likely that you will drive the wheels off your Lexus before the engine wears out.

 

[loneryder]

Mobil 1 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-30 will do as well and cheaper!​

His mechanic only uses Motul.

 

[edyvw]

You are good.
That Motul is basically what Castrol Magnatec is or Mobil Super.

 

[WeyounDS9]

Its ACEA C3 though. Not ACEA A1 or A3.
ACEA A3 is my go to because it guarantees an HTHS of 3.5 or better.
This is the strength of the film in high stress conditions, that does the actual protecting under load.

Its not easy to get a 30 weight oil to meet ACEA A3 the vast majority are Xw-40 or above.
But some Xw-30s do exist that meet ACEA A3.
Given that you are in Australia and i imgaine it gets some pretty hot summers I'd stick with a ACEA A3 oil.

 

[ka9mnx]

ACEA A1 is obsolete. Has been for some time (2016?).

 

[WeyounDS9]

ACEA A1 is obsolete. Has been for some time (2016?).

I stand corrected in that. In any event it was always a weaker spec compared to ACEA A3 which is what I look for.

 

[Aston4]

That engine can run on piss water and in the US is actually specked for piss water, and is still fine. Your fine aussi spec oil is overkill.

 

[TurboZedd-R]

229.51. I don't care if it's base is olive oil, it meets 229.51.