should I switch to synthetic??

[jonathag]

I've recently had a big sludge problem with one of my vehicles which has me thinking maybe I should switch to synthetic in my wife's 2000 Toyota Sienna mini-van.

The van has 125k on it and we've had it since 72.5k and have always used castrol gtx 5w30. It uses about 3/4 quart over 3500 miles. To my knowledge synthetic has never been used in the van.

The difference between conventional and synthetic is $8.50 so no big deal. Was thinking about using pennzoil platinum since that's what I'm using in my other car to try and clean up the sludge in my other car.

We've never had any engine problems with the van since we've had it, but I don't know if switching to synthetic will hurt anything since the van has never had it. The car with sludge problems is a 2000 Toyota Avalon.

Thanks!

 

[addyguy]

A switch to PP would be a good choice, just maybe do 1-2 'short OCI's to clean out build-up that may be in the engine.

 

[bepperb]

What is the OCI you are using? 3500 miles I assume? There probably won't be a large difference in that short of a time, but with that particular 3.0 v6 I probably would be willing to pay the extra 8.50.

 

[Zedhed]

Sienna's are sludgers, too many miles to make a difference now, wait til the motor grenades and then replace with reman motor and use synthetic then.

 

[miker1]

Your motor is probably fine, just needs cleaning out. I would use a good engine cleaner and then switch to syn with a short oci at first. Any synthetic will do fine.

 

[gofastman]

Originally Posted By: Zedhed
Sienna's are sludgers

sad but true.
-you need a good filter first of all, lots of opinions on that here! I like Wix or PureOne
-even with the best synthetic I wouldnt go much over 5000mi OCI's
-give Pennzoil Platinum or Pennzoil Ultra a try, It couldnt hurt.
-put in a new OEM PCV valve

 

[5sfe91]

PP will make you're engine happy

 

[Silber Igel]

Why not take the easier path? Use an SM rated blend oil (like Motorcraft or one of its CONOCO-PHILLIPS siblings) in the recommended grade, 5w30 (?) and change it several thousand miles.

I'd be adverse to dumping in all kinds of cleaners for fear of really messing things up if you have any kind of 'sludge.' You might make things a lot worse.

 

[jonathag]

Thanks everyone!!

I normally use fram oil filters..any good or no?

The oci's have always been between 3-4k since we've had the van.

 

[5sfe91]

you could get a better quality for the same price but you should be ok.. but if you want too try purolator great filters

 

[labman]

Purolator is only one of many alternatives to Fram. The classic is certainly nothing special.

As far as evidence that the poorer looking insides of a Fram result in shorter engine life, very little. Most of the discussion here about oil filters is based on speculation about how they are made. The lack of solid information to base them on, in no way weakens opinions.

I am having buyers remorse about the 2 NAPA Gold filters I bought yesterday. The one, I could have had an STP for a buck less, and the other, I have heard I could have an American made one for another buck.

 

[Jaymus]

I'd run Purolator filters on more vehicles if they sold those at Autozone. I go to Autozone because every time you spend $20, you get 1 credit. 5 credits = $20 'gift certificate' on your card. Hence why I want to change everyone's oil I know, lol. Get a little $$$, and a credit.

Wow, off topic, anyways, yeah, Purolator filters are excellent. I'd use anything over Fram filters. I used Fram for a few years until I found this site and saw inside pics of those shoddy filters. I've cut open filters since then, but never a Fram since I don't buy them anymore, and compared to pictures online... ANYTHING seems to be built better.

As far as an oil, if your engine is a sludger, I'd definitely be swapping to a good synthetic oil. Castrol GTX is a great conventional oil, but synthetic is the way to go in a sludger.

 

[labman]

The STP oil filters you can get at AZ seem to be as good as the Purolator Classic for the same $3.50 you usually pay for them. If you like AZ, I see no reason to buy Purolators elsewhere.

 

[Nick R]

Sounds like a candidate for a Pennzoil Ultra sludge cleaning test

 

[Durango]

jonathag,

Depending on the weather in your living region the oil might not be able to get hot enough to circulate through out the entire engine well enough. Her's how I figure it.

1. Continue your driving as you described BUT drive it for a
hour and a half to heat the oil to circulate the oil and
drive away the moisutre collected in the oil. Have your
engine flushed out annualy to get the internals clean.

2. Switch to a good synthetic oil and drive it on the highway
to circulate the oil to keep the internals clean and con-
tinue to clean.

* My truck/SUV I only drive it on the weekends but I take mine
out on the freeway for about and hour and a half to drive
out moisture and circulate my synthetic to clean out the
innerds well. That way I keep sludge to a minimum and have
the dealership flush my engine well and replace it with my
choice of synthetic Mobil 1 5w30. My flushing is done every
December to start off the new year.

Good luck,

Durango