SYNTHETIC OR REGULAR OIL? TELL ME - Toyota Yaris Forums

JetfireK · 06-05-2010, 02:26 PM

The dealer puts a sticker on my car when its time to have an oil-filter change. I still have a couple of thousand miles left before I am suppose to come in but the expire date was April 30th, so I go in Tuesday
CAN YOU TELL ME:

How many miles before you change the oil?
Do you recommend Synthetic or the Regular Oil?

Thank you in advance, Judy

bronsin · 06-05-2010, 03:12 PM

There is no reason to use snythetic oil unless you live where its very cold like 0 degrees at night. Synthetic oil will flow better than regular oil so the car will start easier. Read your owners manual. Theres no mention to use synthetic oil in it.

Change your oil per the oners manual. I believe the interval is 6000 miles or six months, whichever comes first.

kac · 06-05-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetfireK

How many miles before you change the oil?
Do you recommend Synthetic or the Regular Oil?

different people will answer your questions differently.

For ME... I use full synthetic oil and change it every 5000 miles. That being said synthetic is not necessary in the yaris...

Happy Little Pony · 06-05-2010, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetfireK

The dealer puts a sticker on my car when its time to have an oil-filter change. I still have a couple of thousand miles left before I am suppose to come in but the expire date was April 30th, so I go in Tuesday
CAN YOU TELL ME:

How many miles before you change the oil?
Do you recommend Synthetic or the Regular Oil?

Thank you in advance, Judy

Look in the owners manual. Do what it says, not what the dealer's little sticker says. The dealer and your local "quickie" oil change place want you to use the old "3 month or 3,000 mile" schedule, which is an arbitrary figure designed mostly to move money from your bank account to theirs. I don't know about the 2008, but my 2007 has a 6 month or 5,000 mile oil change interval. That's a very conservative time frame. Any modern, major brand conventional oil should have no trouble lasting that long.

If do use an oil change interval of around 5,000 miles, just use conventional oil and save your money. The Yaris 1NZFE engine isn't very hard on oil, and modern conventional oils are very good these days. If you lived in a very cold climate, I might say you'd have a case for synthetic, because one of the major benefits of synthetic is that it pumps easier in bitterly cold weather. You live in Louisiana, so that doesn't apply.

Having said that, if it makes you feel better, go ahead and use the synthetic, it won't hurt anything.

mrb3990 · 06-05-2010, 04:09 PM

Hi Judy,
1. Owner's manual says to change the oil every 5,000 miles or six months. If you use the car for a lot of short trips (10 min or less) you could use a 3,000 mile or 3 months schedule. 3,000 miles/3 months is what is known as the severe use schedule.
2. Living in Louisiana, there is no need for synthetic oil unless you are drag racing your Yaris ;). Just use regular oil.

vwtech · 06-05-2010, 06:11 PM

only reason to use synthetic oil is to extend your interval. but 5k on regular oil is just fine, go by the owners manual and use quality name brand oil. my jetta has 10k oil change intervals and I love it I change the oil about once a year. Listen to the owners manual not your dealer.

UTVitz · 06-05-2010, 07:53 PM

Every 3000-5000 is a very good rule to stick to if you plan to keep the car long term-10 or more years and a few 100k miles.

Synthetic vs. Conventional-it's a personal and econmic choice. Both perform very well in all conditions when new, synthetic just tends to have a longer operating life in the engine. Just keep up on your oil/filter changes to keep the inside of your engine clean.

Yaris Hilton · 06-05-2010, 09:21 PM

There's nothing to say about oil that hasn't been said over and over and over...

jambo101 · 06-06-2010, 04:40 AM

I do synthetic every 10k,usually works out to a change in the fall and another in the spring. Last 2 of my cars have done well over 220K with no oil loss between oil changes.

TheSilkySmooth · 06-06-2010, 08:41 AM

Just rememeber that an oil bottle labeled " Fully Synthetic Oil" in the USA market does not get you synthetic oil, but rather highly refined mineral oil with possibly more additive than Conventional oil. For example M1 5w30, Syntec and Synpower are not "traditional" full synthetic oils. Look at the data sheet on the manufacturer's website to insure you get what your Owners manual recommends or requires. Toyota recommends nothing more than conventional detergent oil for the Yaris. I drive aggressively and use a highly additised oil in mine that meets the older API SJ spec when more antiwear additives were allowed.

Yaris Hilton · 06-06-2010, 12:58 PM

If you look at oils first approved with a Diesel service rating beginning with a C, then approved for SM, they have the SJ level ZDP additive. Loophole in the specs. May be hard finding one in the viscosity rating you want...

JetfireK · 06-06-2010, 04:00 PM

Thanks everyone. I will use regular oil and I appreciate all the replies. Judy

CAN YOU TELL ME:

How many miles before you change the oil?
Do you recommend Synthetic or the Regular Oil?

Thank you in advance, Judy[/QUOTE]

sickpuppy1 · 06-06-2010, 04:17 PM

I watch the sales at Oreily Auto or the like. I use only Purolator ONE or Wix filters in all my cars. In my opinion, you dont gain much by going from conventional to synthetic oil. But going to a good filter will extend the life of your engine for sure. Do some research on filters and you'll find a dramatic difference in quality. Fram advertises alot but the stats dont back up their claims.
If you watch the sale ads like I do, I got Purolator ONE filter and Castrol Synblend oil for 16.95. I may end up getting enough to do a couple of changes at a time.

Vang · 06-06-2010, 05:44 PM

plain old dino oil is what i use..

TheSilkySmooth · 06-07-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sickpuppy1

..
If you watch the sale ads like I do, I got Purolator ONE filter and Castrol Synblend oil for 16.95. ...

If Castrol Syntec is not real synthetic

what is in their Synblend?! Castrol is BP. Do you want to give British Petroleum your continued business?

ctrj · 06-07-2010, 09:25 PM

Buy some Amsoil Signature Series Oil 0W-30 and a Mobil 1 oil filter. Run 15k miles between oil changes and that oil and filter works out to be about $18 every 5k miles. Don't think your oil can last 15k miles, get it analysed and see. Running 5k miles on synthetic is wasting your money and time.

Yaris Hilton · 06-07-2010, 09:28 PM

My neighborhood oil change shop (where I get my Castrol GTX put in) and my neighborhood BP convenience store/gas station are run by local folks who don't deserve to pay the penalty for BP's mismanagement of their drill rig. I suppose I could get the oil change place to put in Valvoline or Pennzoil next time, though.

Hershey · 06-07-2010, 11:21 PM

PENNZOIL conventional 5w-30 be fine . The new YELLOW BOTTLE is now a SN oil . Apparently a better performer .

06-05-2010, 02:26 PM	#1
JetfireK View User's Garage Drives: 2008 3 Dr Liftback Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Slidell, LA Posts: 113	SYNTHETIC OR REGULAR OIL? TELL ME The dealer puts a sticker on my car when its time to have an oil-filter change. I still have a couple of thousand miles left before I am suppose to come in but the expire date was April 30th, so I go in Tuesday CAN YOU TELL ME: How many miles before you change the oil? Do you recommend Synthetic or the Regular Oil? Thank you in advance, Judy

06-06-2010, 04:17 PM	#13
sickpuppy1 Drives: 2010 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 871	I watch the sales at Oreily Auto or the like. I use only Purolator ONE or Wix filters in all my cars. In my opinion, you dont gain much by going from conventional to synthetic oil. But going to a good filter will extend the life of your engine for sure. Do some research on filters and you'll find a dramatic difference in quality. Fram advertises alot but the stats dont back up their claims. If you watch the sale ads like I do, I got Purolator ONE filter and Castrol Synblend oil for 16.95. I may end up getting enough to do a couple of changes at a time. __________________

06-07-2010, 09:25 PM	#16
ctrj Drives: 07 Yaris Sdn, 97 4Runner Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Upland, CA Posts: 113	Buy some Amsoil Signature Series Oil 0W-30 and a Mobil 1 oil filter. Run 15k miles between oil changes and that oil and filter works out to be about $18 every 5k miles. Don't think your oil can last 15k miles, get it analysed and see. Running 5k miles on synthetic is wasting your money and time. __________________ RJ 2007 Toyota Yaris Base Sedan -5 speed SOLD

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06-05-2010, 03:12 PM	#2
bronsin Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nj Posts: 4,790	There is no reason to use snythetic oil unless you live where its very cold like 0 degrees at night. Synthetic oil will flow better than regular oil so the car will start easier. Read your owners manual. Theres no mention to use synthetic oil in it. Change your oil per the oners manual. I believe the interval is 6000 miles or six months, whichever comes first.

06-05-2010, 04:09 PM	#5
mrb3990 Drives: 2010 Yaris Blcksandpearl sdn Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 25	Hi Judy, 1. Owner's manual says to change the oil every 5,000 miles or six months. If you use the car for a lot of short trips (10 min or less) you could use a 3,000 mile or 3 months schedule. 3,000 miles/3 months is what is known as the severe use schedule. 2. Living in Louisiana, there is no need for synthetic oil unless you are drag racing your Yaris ;). Just use regular oil.

06-05-2010, 06:11 PM	#6
vwtech Banned Drives: 09 jetta tdi dsg Join Date: May 2010 Location: mary esther fl Posts: 91	only reason to use synthetic oil is to extend your interval. but 5k on regular oil is just fine, go by the owners manual and use quality name brand oil. my jetta has 10k oil change intervals and I love it I change the oil about once a year. Listen to the owners manual not your dealer.

06-05-2010, 07:53 PM	#7
UTVitz Drives: Black Vitz Liftback Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 238	Every 3000-5000 is a very good rule to stick to if you plan to keep the car long term-10 or more years and a few 100k miles. Synthetic vs. Conventional-it's a personal and econmic choice. Both perform very well in all conditions when new, synthetic just tends to have a longer operating life in the engine. Just keep up on your oil/filter changes to keep the inside of your engine clean.

06-05-2010, 09:21 PM	#8
Yaris Hilton Half a Bubble Off Plumb Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 1,593	There's nothing to say about oil that hasn't been said over and over and over...

06-06-2010, 04:40 AM	#9
jambo101 Drives: yaris 08 sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Montreal Canada Posts: 1,286	I do synthetic every 10k,usually works out to a change in the fall and another in the spring. Last 2 of my cars have done well over 220K with no oil loss between oil changes.

06-06-2010, 08:41 AM	#10
TheSilkySmooth Drives: 08 3DR 5M Bayou Blue; 09 Fos Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 622	Just rememeber that an oil bottle labeled " Fully Synthetic Oil" in the USA market does not get you synthetic oil, but rather highly refined mineral oil with possibly more additive than Conventional oil. For example M1 5w30, Syntec and Synpower are not "traditional" full synthetic oils. Look at the data sheet on the manufacturer's website to insure you get what your Owners manual recommends or requires. Toyota recommends nothing more than conventional detergent oil for the Yaris. I drive aggressively and use a highly additised oil in mine that meets the older API SJ spec when more antiwear additives were allowed.

06-06-2010, 12:58 PM	#11
Yaris Hilton Half a Bubble Off Plumb Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 1,593	If you look at oils first approved with a Diesel service rating beginning with a C, then approved for SM, they have the SJ level ZDP additive. Loophole in the specs. May be hard finding one in the viscosity rating you want...

06-06-2010, 04:00 PM	#12
JetfireK View User's Garage Drives: 2008 3 Dr Liftback Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Slidell, LA Posts: 113	Thanks everyone. I will use regular oil and I appreciate all the replies. Judy CAN YOU TELL ME: How many miles before you change the oil? Do you recommend Synthetic or the Regular Oil? Thank you in advance, Judy[/QUOTE]

06-06-2010, 05:44 PM	#14
Vang Drives: 2008 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: CA Posts: 158	plain old dino oil is what i use..

06-07-2010, 09:28 PM	#17
Yaris Hilton Half a Bubble Off Plumb Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 1,593	My neighborhood oil change shop (where I get my Castrol GTX put in) and my neighborhood BP convenience store/gas station are run by local folks who don't deserve to pay the penalty for BP's mismanagement of their drill rig. I suppose I could get the oil change place to put in Valvoline or Pennzoil next time, though.

06-07-2010, 11:21 PM	#18
Hershey Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: northeast Posts: 2,897	PENNZOIL conventional 5w-30 be fine . The new YELLOW BOTTLE is now a SN oil . Apparently a better performer .