Should I use Synthetic in my Toyota Tundra?
People ask me if they should use synthetic oil in their new trucks, and I always answer "It depends." Synthetic oil is better than regular oil for a lot of different reasons. Synthetic is a better lubricant, it maintains its integrity at high temperatures, it is usually pure without any contaminants, and it won't become sludge even when it's abused. To many people, the obvious benefits of synthetic oil mean that they should start using it in their new truck tomorrow. However, it really depends on how you take care of your Tundra.
First of all, are you zealous when it comes to changing your oil? In other words, if the manual says to change your oil every 5000 miles, do you have the oil changed at 4999.9? If you follow an oil change regimen, chances are you won't benefit from synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is highly resistant to breakdown and sludge forming. However, most regular oil won't breakdown unless excessive time and/or mileage passes between changes. Because most the benefits of synthetic oil over regular oil don't show until the oil is subjected to adverse conditions, you really won't see any benefit from synthetic unless you stress the oil. If you are the type that might forget an oil change (shame on you), or if maybe you don't get to changing your oil right at 5000 (or within 500 miles of 5000), then you can buy a little insurance against engine damage by using synthetic oil.
Case in point. My grandmother, who drives a few thousand miles a year (less than the Toyota recommended 5000 miles between oil changes), uses synthetic. Why? Because her oil can go more than a year between changes. Unlike regular oil, synthetic oil will last more than 6 months without any breakdown in effectiveness. So, if you (or someone in the family) is likely to exceed the 6 month time between changes OR is less than perfect at getting oil changed on time, a synthetic oil makes sense.
There's one other big benefit to synthetic oil, and that's heat resistance. If you subject your oil to lots of heat on a regular basis, than synthetic might be the oil for you. Situations that generate lots of heat include any time the engine is running but the vehicle isn't moving, or it is moving very slowly. In these situations, there is little or no air circulating to cool the engine and things get hot. Regular oil may start to lose it's protectant properties in these situations. So, if you spend a lot of time idling or in stop and go traffic, synthetic is for you. Also, extreme conditions like high elevations or high air temperatures will also create high heat in your engine. These would be other circumstances where you would benefit from using synthetic.
Synthetic oil is most often used in high performance vehicles. If you are utilizing your vehice like a high-performance car (high speeds, fast turns, you know who you are) then synthetic is a smart choice.
Some experts suggest synthetic oil in stop and go traffic. I believe it depends on where you live. It depends on your typical drive and just how much "stop" is mixed in with your "go". If idle is excessive, then you can go synthetic. There is also some advice out there stating that if you only drive your vehicle short distances, you should use synthetic. The theory is that synthetic coats the engine better in a short time period than natural oil. In my opinion, if you only drive short distances, synthetic oil will not save your engine. Short distances are bad because the engine never gets a chance to fully lubricate and cycle the oil in the system. With modern engine tolerances being so high, I really don't think synthetic will make much of a difference by sticking to all your parts better than regular oil. My advice to people that only drive short distances - stop it. Drive an extra 10 minutes. Join a carpool. Take the long way home...etc. Stop hurting your motor.
If one of the above situations applies to you, take care when you purchase synthetic oil. Many places will suggest a synthetic blend as a way to save money (instead of full-synthetic), however the "blend" is often times a mystery. Maybe you're getting a 50-50 blend, or maybe you're getting 1% synthetic and 99% regular oil. I say go full synthetic or don't bother -- unless the blend suggested is provided by your vehicle's manufacturer. That blend would be OK.
Finally, what is Toyota's official stance? They don't have any problems with synthetic, only they don't recommend it for most people (which is exactly what I say to anyone who asks me).
Bottomline: Unless you're subjecting your new 2007 Toyota Tundra (and the oil that's in it) to extreme conditions, save money and use regular oil.
About the author: Jason Lancaster has worked in the car industry and with the Toyota Tundra for almost 10 years. Get more Tundra Info at his website, www.tundraheadquarters.com.
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