BoostAddct

I just picked up a '98 GS400 with 195K on it and am going to be going through all the maintenance and swapping all the fluids.....What's everyone's opinion on switching to all AMSOIL fluids (i.e oil, trans fluid, rear end)? Any risks or negatives you guys see from doing this? Thanks!

mitsuguy

iTrader: (2)

no negatives other than the money spent...

1sWt2GS

iTrader: (6)

once you go synthetic you cant go back.

IMHO the GS runs fine ex. on reg oil and no need to switch to synthetics.

mitsuguy

iTrader: (2)

not true, in fact, you can switch back and forth as often as you would like...

sure, it runs fine on regular oil, but what does it hurt to give yourself some peace of mind and the potential for it to last that much longer (again, except the pocketbook)

Wanderson

For tranny & diff I always use synthetics since they're not going to be changed out in less than 30k miles and aren't exposed to contaminates like engine oil. But on an engine with 200k miles, I'd use a good dino oil and change more frequently, since the motor is probably 'looser' and creating more blowback, contaminating your oil much faster.

GS4_Fiend

iTrader: (22)

With that kind of mileage, i would go regular.

BoostAddct

So standard oil is better on a high mileage car? I guess I can see the reasoning, but I've also been told synthetic provides better lubrication due to less breakdown.

Wanderson

That's true, at 5k miles a synthetic will not break down as much as regular 'dino' oil. But we don't change oil just because it's losing it's viscosity, it's to get all that 'crud' out of your crankcase. And after 100k miles that becomes a bigger issue. If you can afford synth oil it's a little more protection, it's just my opinion that the same money can be put to better use running dino oil and changing more frequently on a motor with a lot of wear that is contaminating and/or using much more oil than a new motor. The only thing I don't agree with is when some high $$$ oils suggest stretching your oil change interval to offset the cost of their product.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

I rather run regular dino oil than synthetic for a daily driver (excluding extreme climates). Sure your oil change interval is shortened, but that may be a good thing because you'll change your filter more frequently.

With that being said, I run synthetic in my car only because I keep on getting boxes of them for Christmas.

snowmaker

Ya and the world is flat too! Dino is great if you like high wears, crappy pour points etc.....YMMV.

Vader300

iTrader: (3)

I had a 99 4runner that I ran amsoil in the transfer/engine/diff. I felt a smoother drivetrain, I also noticed slightly better mpg's. Even after the 5k oil change it always came out looking clean. With those few improvemnets it was worth it to me to keep amsoil in it.

snowmaker

I agree on the Amsoil. I LOVE the ATF...Run the car for hours and then pull the ATF stick...just warm!!!

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

There are probably more cars out there using regular dino oil than synthetic. Most failure occurs because of negligence, but not by using dino oil. Synthetic oil may offer less wear, but it's an exaggeration to say dino oil have high wear. Relatively speaking, yes..but not absolutely. Most cars are fine with just dino unless you drive a car that are extraordinary.

gemigniani

No one on the forum, to my knowledge, has ever posted a photo of an internal part of a Toyota engine or transmission that suffered a high amount of wear or failure due to the owner's use of dino (conventional) oils instead of synthetics. There have been some engine sludge and heavy varnish photos, but those were attributable to the owner's extending oil changes. Their have been reports of spun main or connecting rod bearings, but those were attributable to engine overreving or running the engine low on oil.

Thus all the concern about "extra wear" if one uses dino oil is imaginary rather than real.

snowmaker

All I am saying is if you did a UOA, which it seems you do not, you will see a differance. I did not spend thousands on auto to buy walfart oil..