The owner manual specifies the viscosity of the oil needed for the 460 engine, but no mention is made of whether the car takes fossil or synthetic oil. Is either ok to use?

 

Use synthetic, it's better.
Especially as engine tolerances get finer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_oil

Lot's of info there

 

you can use synthetic, and i would. i did my first oil change and it's on synthetic now already

 

I believe synthetic is better but if the car is a 36 mo. lease it is probably just wasting your money as the true benefit would not show up in that amount of time.

Dave Mac

 

0W 20 oil is synthetic. It's made by Mobil 1 packaged for Toyota...

Craig

 

I've only used synthetics in all my cars and motorcycles. To Dave's point, if you are leasing, or own but plan to sell in a couple years, then don't spend the extra money.

 

That is true, however there is proof you will save fuel by using synthetic and every penny counts no?

 

I use synthetic in all my vehicles...

Just good practice.

 

I am on my 4th oil change using Mobil 1 0-20 for the oil changes except for the summer change when I used Mobil 1 5-20 because it is so damn hot here in Vegas in the summer. BTW I didn't notice any difference with the car on either the 0-20 or the 5-20 but that could have been because it was the right oil for the outside temps or just because it doesn't matter.

Either way I figure that the engineers who made the engine know a lot more than I do and since they recommend the synthetic, who am I to decide that I know more than they do.

BTW, I do plan on keeping the car for at least 5-7 years so it will come in handy later in the cars life.

 

Speaking from seeing more than a hundred years worth of personal Lexus's, just stick to the maintenence schedule and spend the cash. I honestly think I could still drive my old LS400 if I didn't feel the urge of more power of the LS430. It'd be at more than 300k miles now.

 

while the 0-20 is the written recommended oil, 5-20 will work. in fact, some dealerships they actually offer to use 5-20 when customers complain that oil change is "too expensive". 0-20 oil is usually a bit more expensive than 5-20

 

do they automatically use synthetic at the dealership? or do you have to ask for it?

 

What ever happened to 30W and 40W oils?

 

They use a thinner oil for better fuel economy.

Craig

 

Does it hurt to switch from fossil to synthetic oil if you have, say, 15,000 miles on your vehicle already?