Newbie Question on OIL CHANGES

[Rodger Wilco]

I know that this question has probably been asked but I cant find it so here goes:

I just bought a used 2010 Yaris with 17,000 miles on it. I have driven it less than 200 miles when the "oil light" started flashing. I have no idea what to buy.

Should I go SYNTHETIC or CONVECTIONAL, or BLEND?

What type of FILTER?

The owners manual merely says 5W-30 and make sure it is API SM...

...Well that gives me a lot of choices.

The previous owner used Mobil 1. I read that if you change oil types it will cause some of the seals to leak.

Is the synthetic thing a waste of money or a good investment? And what about the filter?

What are you guys using and why?

Thanks in advance.

[Yaristeve]

Should I go SYNTHETIC or CONVECTIONAL, or BLEND?
This is debated all the time. It's your money. One consideration is how often do you change your oil? 3k ~4k? Synthetic is probabaly a waste. 10k? Synthetic may be good insurance.

What type of FILTER?
I always use factory. Buy them in bulk online and they are almost as cheap as aftermarket.

The owners manual merely says 5W-30 and make sure it is API SM...

...Well that gives me a lot of choices.
I use Castrol GTX, every 4k miles.

The previous owner used Mobil 1. I read that if you change oil types it will cause some of the seals to leak.
Story is if you go from dino to synthetic, it may cause leaks but I've never heard of anything the other way around.

Is the synthetic thing a waste of money or a good investment?
Again, will depend on who you ask.

And what about the filter?
Online prices are so cheap, why not use factory?

[JustPassinThru]

I know that this question has probably been asked but I cant find it so here goes:

I just bought a used 2010 Yaris with 17,000 miles on it. I have driven it less than 200 miles when the "oil light" started flashing. I have no idea what to buy.

Should I go SYNTHETIC or CONVECTIONAL, or BLEND?

What type of FILTER?

The owners manual merely says 5W-30 and make sure it is API SM...

...Well that gives me a lot of choices.

The previous owner used Mobil 1. I read that if you change oil types it will cause some of the seals to leak.

Is the synthetic thing a waste of money or a good investment? And what about the filter?

What are you guys using and why?

Thanks in advance.

I have used Mobil 1 in my 2009. I seemed to develop some lifter noise at idle (maybe not related) but no functional problems.

The potential payoffs of synoil (prevention of sludge and better cold start-up lubrication) seem to make up for the added cost. Preventive maintenance, is money spent to keep things right. Doing it halfway makes no sense.

Seals I wouldn't worry about. The oil-consumption issue comes from rings that, in the past, wouldn't seat with synoil in a new engine. I believe that issue has been resolved; with a used car, it's not an issue. It's broken in properly or it's not; you can't re-break-in an engine.

I'd stick with Mobil 1.

[CTScott]

I use Napa 5W-30 synthetic (which is relabeled Valvoline) and it is about the same price as name brand non-synthetic.

+1 on the bulk OEM filters.