UOA Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5w30 - 2zrfe

[06YarisRS]

After following this thread, I think I'll extend my intervals a bit. Although I'm currently running conventional, I think a 8K - 9K interval - with my somewhat conservative driving style - would be quite acceptable. Impressive results!

[myfirstyota]

Originally Posted by 06YarisRS

After following this thread, I think I'll extend my intervals a bit. Although I'm currently running conventional, I think a 8K - 9K interval - with my somewhat conservative driving style - would be quite acceptable. Impressive results!

And here I am changing oil every 5k. I've always had this thought:

-Nothing is built to last anymore.
-Manufacturers don't make money by selling a product that never needs to be replaced.
-Why would I believe its safe to run oil 8-12,000 km when for the last 80 years we changed at 5000km?

Apparently, I'm wrong! Lol

I do flog my car hard. Wot multiple times a day. Constant redline shifts. I'm gonna stick to my routine but totally wont feel bad to go over anymore lol

[tmontague]

Originally Posted by suprf1y

Have you ever looked into Amsoil? I've been using it in my race bikes for about 10 years now and it can be very reasonably priced compared to the competition. The marketing is a little hokey but you can become a 'dealer' (paid membership) and get decent discounts.

I have quite a bit and I have also used their products before (MTG trans oil, Coolant booster etc) but never their oil. Tom was actually a dealer for a while but recently dropped it based on his good UOA's he found running Mobil1.

As I mentioned above, I'm sure they have great products and are superior than OTS oils - plus they have good empirical data to prove it - but the point is, I have not found it necessary. I'm an empiricist but that is nothing if you cannot apply that data to real world applications. They boutique oils may be better but based on various OTS oils I have run and my UOA's I have hit a point of diminishing returns. OTS oil are very very good now a days and the 2zr (and 1nz) does not need anything more. This is while doing OCI 's that fly in the face of the decade old logic that seems to continually be carried forward.

Down the road when I do engine work I will have to consult with an engine builder/part supplier to what they recommend and then I will start with that while running UOA's to confirm what works. But until then, I'm sticking with OTS oils at a good price.

FWIW Amsoil is a 1hr drive for me to pick up locally and it would still run me just over $40 for 5L at the minimum. The other option is have it shipped but have to pay and oil is heavy and not cheap. It just isn't accessible for me as many other oils are. Redline is carried by my local importer shop and I use them for my m/t fluid but thats just under $20 a quart. I pay it because based on my complicated set up of a clutch type lsd in a transaxle it is one of the few accessible fluids that works as well as the pricey Kaaz/Cusco fluid with clutch chatter/grip balance.

Originally Posted by myfirstyota

And here I am changing oil every 5k. I've always had this thought:

-Nothing is built to last anymore.
-Manufacturers don't make money by selling a product that never needs to be replaced.
-Why would I believe its safe to run oil 8-12,000 km when for the last 80 years we changed at 5000km?

Apparently, I'm wrong! Lol

I do flog my car hard. Wot multiple times a day. Constant redline shifts. I'm gonna stick to my routine but totally wont feel bad to go over anymore lol

I agree that nothing it built to last anymore for the majority of things (reason #1 why I don't buy Apple products and I'm not a fan of tech in general). However, I would argue that some manufacturers use that to their advantage and play to reliability (Toyota being one of the few). They are far from perfect and they have had issues, but they are easily one of the top for engine reliability.

To your second point, playing to reliability can actually help you make money but only if you look far enough ahead beyond quarterly profits. Toyota has done that when they entered the NA market and it was paid off for them very well.

Your third point is the single reason I decided to pay for UOA's and push the OCI longer. As well as the reason I ran the same oil all summer while hitting the track a couple times a month - despite people saying they would never do it. Oil technology has come leaps and bounds in the past 80 years. Hell, it's the same reason Mercury is no longer given as a teething medicine, or blood letting is no longer the go to for head ache. If we stuck to things based on the logic that we've always done it that way, we would halt improvements in many things.

If people want to change their oil out every 5k because it makes them feel warm and fuzzy then that's their prerogative and all the power to them. I'm not recommending longer OCI's to save the environment or save people cash. I simple do them because I'd rather save the $50 and time and spend it on another area of my car. Plus it's a principle thing for me. The more people that believe in something based off tradition when there is empirical evidence showing otherwise, I am more motivated to do that.

I do think their are certain applications where changing the oil every race, track day or other is beneficial. I just don't think it is for a stock tuned, stock Toyota engine driving at its limit.

[suprf1y]

I've never looked at the pricing for 4 stroke oil but, including the membership cost, buying by the case I was able to cut my oil costs in half by using Amsoil. I never really considered Amsoil to be a boutique oil, just another decent synthetic. I didnt think it was more expensive than Mobil1.
I buy my automotive oil from Walmart. They frequently have jugs of synthetic on sale for under ~$25, typically Castrol or Valvoline, and when they do I grab at least a couple. I've been doing it for years and one day my kids are going to inherit a substantial synthetic oil collection
FWIW I have a friend that does oil analysis for a living and he swears by the Walmart brand synthetic.

Your third point is the single reason I decided to pay for UOA's and push the OCI longer. As well as the reason I ran the same oil all summer while hitting the track a couple times a month - despite people saying they would never do it. Oil technology has come leaps and bounds in the past 80 years.

You can also thank modern engine materials and electronic controls, which, IMO is one of the most important factors in the ability to push your OCI's longer.

Though nothing is built to last forever, I would suggest that the modern automobile is significantly better in just about every way than it's predecessors... and I won't venture into the Apple debate :)