Oil Change - 5w-20 or 5w-30? What everyone is using?
09-02-10, 09:23 AM
#106
At 41000 miles, switched from mobil 1 5w30 synthetic to amsoil 0w-30 signature series. I have noticed that the gear shifts are definitely smoother, especially from 1st gear to 2nd gear on my auto transmission. However, the cost for 7 quarts set me back about $62 bucks. Definitely worth it. 
The cost at least shouldn't be much of an issue since you'd only need to change 1/yr with that stuff anyway
09-02-10, 03:19 PM
#107
^right on! The Mobile 1 0W-30 seems to actually make the car idle smoother, or maybe its just my imagination. The best part is when I watch my mechanic drain and refill the oil...the used oil is like a dark honey color, and the new stuff is like Crisco! Glad to see it doing its job... MOBIL 1 0W-30 FTW!
09-02-10, 06:32 PM
#109
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
09-02-10, 08:45 PM
#111
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ca
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maybe it's just my imagination but I feel that the car doesn't shift as hard as before. I just put the oil in so I'll see after driving it more.
09-02-10, 10:09 PM
#112
Lexus Fanatic
Bingo, lots of imagination and feel good factor of such and such oil changed every 3000 miles in normal driving conditions, some still do it. The imaginary benefits are spectacular.
09-03-10, 05:54 AM
#113
Do you guys have your oil changes done at the dealer, local shop, or do it on your own? If I bring my own oil to the dealer, should they have a problem using that instead? I'm nearly ready for another oil change. I wouldn't mind picking up a quality synthetic on my own then waiting 10k for the next change.
09-03-10, 07:24 AM
#114
Lexus Fanatic
Do you guys have your oil changes done at the dealer, local shop, or do it on your own? If I bring my own oil to the dealer, should they have a problem using that instead? I'm nearly ready for another oil change. I wouldn't mind picking up a quality synthetic on my own then waiting 10k for the next change.
10-06-10, 05:57 AM
#115
Lead Lap
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: MD
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you guys have your oil changes done at the dealer, local shop, or do it on your own? If I bring my own oil to the dealer, should they have a problem using that instead? I'm nearly ready for another oil change. I wouldn't mind picking up a quality synthetic on my own then waiting 10k for the next change.
It is good.
But it would be even better if you only had to change it half as often for the exact same results.
Which is the case with the 2IS in real life compared to the manual. (and even less often using synthetic)
I mean, you'd probably have terrific driving results if you replaced your tires every 5k miles too... but you'd be wasting a lot of the useful life of the item everytime you replaced it. That's what you're doing with motor oil doing 5k changes in a 2IS under normal driving conditions.
But it would be even better if you only had to change it half as often for the exact same results.
Which is the case with the 2IS in real life compared to the manual. (and even less often using synthetic)
I mean, you'd probably have terrific driving results if you replaced your tires every 5k miles too... but you'd be wasting a lot of the useful life of the item everytime you replaced it. That's what you're doing with motor oil doing 5k changes in a 2IS under normal driving conditions.
10-06-10, 10:54 AM
#118
UOA is the only way to be sure, because there are certainly types of driving that can shorten oil life significantly (lots of idling, lots of short trips where the engine never reaches or spends much time at operating temp, etc...).
But I would expect with "normal" driving that 15k would be the bare minimum you'd want to consider changing synthetic oil, given as I said dino does fine at 10k or more... and I'd certainly have no worries running something like Amsoil for 20-25k between changes, though again UOA to be sure.
You'll probably want to change your filter more often though, given I don't think any makes synthetic media oil filters for the 2IS. Every 7500-10k miles is probably about right there.
10-06-10, 03:53 PM
#119
Lead Lap
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: MD
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
^ Thanks for the response, thought I'd recap to make I'm understanding correctly
1) so when you say " I'd be pretty comfortable that you're not pushing anything at 11.5k on synthetic," you're saying 11.5k on Mobil 1 5w-30 I should be fine. I did have the dealer fill up a used oil analysis container to mail today to (I think) blackstone to have it checked out. Let's see how it comes back. Dealer didn't say anything of note like "oil looks like it was used too far" so hopefully you're right.
2) The problem is oil filters which should be changed at 7500-1000k miles. This is all the more incentive for me to learn how to change my own oil because then I Could just pull the oil out, change the filter and put the same oil back in. I wish there was something for extended use w/ the oil filter. I remember back w/ my 2004 Accord, as per the manual under normal driving conditions, the oil was to be changed every 10k miles, but the filter every 20k. I just changed everything out every 10k miles because I wasn't sure how to check that or whatever
1) so when you say " I'd be pretty comfortable that you're not pushing anything at 11.5k on synthetic," you're saying 11.5k on Mobil 1 5w-30 I should be fine. I did have the dealer fill up a used oil analysis container to mail today to (I think) blackstone to have it checked out. Let's see how it comes back. Dealer didn't say anything of note like "oil looks like it was used too far" so hopefully you're right.
2) The problem is oil filters which should be changed at 7500-1000k miles. This is all the more incentive for me to learn how to change my own oil because then I Could just pull the oil out, change the filter and put the same oil back in. I wish there was something for extended use w/ the oil filter. I remember back w/ my 2004 Accord, as per the manual under normal driving conditions, the oil was to be changed every 10k miles, but the filter every 20k. I just changed everything out every 10k miles because I wasn't sure how to check that or whatever
10-06-10, 04:17 PM
#120
You don't need to drain all the oil out to change the filter... (nor would you re-use drained stuff anyway)
Generally at worst you'll have to top it off a bit after the change as you lose whatever was in the filter.
And yes, I'd expect your UOA to come back just fine with 11.5k on synthetic assuming normal driving.
Generally at worst you'll have to top it off a bit after the change as you lose whatever was in the filter.
And yes, I'd expect your UOA to come back just fine with 11.5k on synthetic assuming normal driving.