t to Full-syn vs. syn blend?

[chartrue2]

Hi all--Is there a big difference between Valvoline MaxLife synthetic and the synthetic blend? I want to run Valvoline in my 1992 Toyota 3.0 VZe V-6 which is in a motorhome. Their website recommended the full synthetic but I can only find the synthetic blend. Plan to run the 10W40. What do you think?

 

[Dominik]

MaxLife Synthetic only comes in 5W and 10w30 they are formulated rather thicker about 11.5 ctS both semi and Full Synthetic also have similar amount of molly 250-300 ppm.
I just finnished browsing the used oil analysis section and both Semi Synthetic and Full Synthetic seem to do very well in all applications i.e. the TBN retention is quite good, and shearing out of grade almost never happens; have seen OCIs around 7-8000 miles with TBN still above 2.
The Full Synthetic is group III whereas Semi-synthetic is about 20-30% PAO and rest I believe group II (at least that's what it was when I could acess their MSDS a year or so ago).
So given the vintage and type of your engine (I don't recall Toyota ever recommending Synthetic over Dino explicitely) you should be more than OK with MaxLife 10W-40 Semi Synthetic in your engine.
I am no expert (but mech Eng. by training) but a long time lurker and an occassional poster here. That's just my $0.002 worth. Wait and see what the elders here say and you can take that to the bank.

 

[dakota99]

From what i've read on here MaxLife is some pretty good oil. I used the valvoline website as well, and it told me to use the full synthetic version. Problem is, like you i can't find it anywhere.. I think the blend is more than adequate. Can't complain with the pour point of -42. (10w-30)

EDIT- I just remembered, if you really want the syn version, find a valvoline instant oil change place, they have it.

 

[coffee]

I just use the syn blend as it is stout enough and cheaper plus it is easier to find at Walmart in the jug. I only found one Walmart that is quite a distance from me that had the full synthetic version. I just do not think it is worth the price difference.