Should I be using "High Mileage" oil with 165k?

[2muchtime]

Coming up on my first oil change on my new to me 99' 4runner with the 3.4 V6. Its got 166k and I just bought it a few months back with 163k. Dealer changed oil with whatever they carry in 5w30. Oil change sticker says Mobil.

I crawled underneath and havent seen much for oil leaks and it does not appear to burn it either.

I am going to stick with conventional and 5w30, but am toying with running the high mileage stuff(Castrol, Valvoline, Pennzoil, etc).

Or is the HM additives snake oil and I should just stick with standard conventional oil?

 

[S2500Dog]

If you're not having any oil leaks or signs of mechanical failure, then I would avoid the High Mileage oils and go with Conventional Pennzoil, Valvoline, Castrol, Mobil Clean, Chevron Supreme, Havoline, Exxon Superflo and Quakerstate. You can also choose a quality synthetic oil from any of these brands.

 

[Warstud]

If it isn't burning or leaking oil...there is no reason to use it.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I have almost 172,000 miles and my car hasn't seen a drop of high-mileage. My philosophy is this: unless your car is burning or leaking oil, high-mileage oil is unnecessary.

 

[addyguy]

Agree with the above.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I like High Mileage oils, and use them even on vehicles with low miles. They seem to be a tad thicker, make the engines run a bit quieter, etc. And given the known formulations of many (like Valvoline MaxLife), they're a darn good value as well.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I put a lil over 300,000 miles on my Olds Trofeo and I always used plain ole GTX every 3000 miles. Never used or leaked a single drop.

 

[sparkplug]

My Jeep has 162k and I ran Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w20 all last winter and it didn't burn a drop and was quiet as a mouse.

 

[Gene K]

High Mileage oil isnt really snakle oil. Its generally thicker to reduce oil consumption and has extra seal conditioners to help neglected engines. All oils have seal conditioners just in lower levels in standard oils.

If your engine is running well, with minimal oil consumption and no leaks I would just run a standard SM/GF4 in the recommended grade. If thats 5W30 their is certainly nothing wrong with Mobil DC5000 (The 5000 miles is simply a marketing gimmick. Its actually 5000 miles or factory OCI whichever is longer).

At Walmart I would likely go with Quaker State Conventional or Motorcraft Synthetic Blend simply because I think they are the best bang for the buck. $10.50 or $12 for 5 Qt Jug. On the west coast you may be able to get options we cant in the southeast.

 

[fdcg27]

You may or may not want to run an High Mileage.
Maxlife is very good stuff by all accounts.
OTOH, both of our now past 170K '97s have never run High Mileage, although I think the van will go on Maxlife after its next run of Havoline, because it is showing some seeping around the rear main.
I guess what I'm saying is that if you aren't seeing any pariticular leaks or consumption, you really don't need an High Mileage oil, although you wouldn't hurt anything by using one.

 

[moto94536]

I used Castrol High Mileage for 2 years.. the point is High Mileage oil have more additive.. It will clean the engine better.

 

[2muchtime]

Well, as at my local Fred Meyer (one stop shopping) and they had Mobil Clean 5000 on sale for $1.99/qt so I went ahead and picked it up.

Since I bought it from a Toyota delear I believe they use Mobil products. Probably the same stuff that they put in it when they did the used car inspection.

 

[HangerHarley]

Originally Posted By: moto94536
I used Castrol High Mileage for 2 years.. the point is High Mileage oil have more additive.. It will clean the engine better.


Not so sure about that. More additives, yes. But is the purpose to Clean, Keep Clean, or keep Sealed?

Im most intrigued by the 300,000 miles on Normal Oil and not a drop used or different statement. Im going to have to make a note of that. I will see if i can recreate.

 

[demarpaint]

I have an Aerostar with 186,000 + miles, I used High Mileage oil once to see if it would help with an annoying leak. It didn't. Having said that I would use High Mileage oil if I had a problem that I thought it could help with. Otherwise I'd save it until I had a problem. JMO