My RX300 has been running well, and need to take it for an oil change this week. Everytime I visit the Toyota dealership for an oil change, I look at the sign and wonder if I should siwtch to syntheic or a blended oil. I am at 82K, and hope to keep the car for a long long time. Any ideas whether I should continue with dino oil as is? or make a switch?

I live in Dallas and the summer is hot. If there are any DFW folks with local recommendation, I'm all ears....

 

You can make the switch, the question is what to switch to.

Over the years, Castrol 0W30 has stuck out for me as my favorite oil, but I also like the Amsoil 0W30/5W30 and Pennzoil Platinum 5W30. Right now I am experimenting with Pennzoil Ultra 5W30 (I wanted to try the Euro version of this, but it isn't out yet, so I am going with the Ultra). My girl's V8 4Runner is going to be running Eneos 5W30 shortly, and I may try that in the RX300 next.

 

I agree with Lexmex you can make the change but the hardest part is deciding which oil is right for you. With the hot dallas summers. I'd probably suggest Castrol Syntec 0W-30 (Made in Germany) because it's a big on the thicker side of the 30 weight.
Some people say that changing to synthetic can cause leaks but I don't buy that. I personally think thats B.S. if a leak starts it just means that the synthetic oil is doing it's job and cleaning all the crud out.

 

There's a contingent out there that believes switching to synthetic at high mileage (> 80k) will cause seal leaks. And there's a contingent that says "rubbish"! When I switched over from dino oil to synthetic oil in my RX300 at about 80k, I had cam seal leaks within 10,000 miles. Make what you will of that.

 

I started my daughter's '99 with synthetic when we got it with over 100,000 miles. Now, about 25,000 miles later, it still doesn't use or leak a drop of oil. I use Mobil One in the 5W-30 weight recommended by Lexus. We're in Iowa with hot summers (not quite as hot as yours, but more humid!!) and cold winters.

 

I started using Castrol Edge in my RX300 w/110k on it, but since I only put 6 or 7k on a yr. I don't know how long to leave it in.

 

Your average July high temp in Dallas is 96 degrees. Where I live in Roanoke VA is 87 degrees. I doubt that a 9 degree ambient temperature has any real effect on oil temperatures or how quickly the oil breaks down. No one has shown me an independent study showing that synthetic oil makes your engine last longer. In fact Consumers Union shows that there is no difference. The only argument I have ever heard that makes sense that everyone agrees on is the fact that synthetic oil lasts a lot longer. If someone can show me a study that is not funded by the oil companies that show synthetics make an engine last longer please send me a link.

 

I have a 2000 RX 300 with about 130,000 and I switched to Syn 10w 50 oil. As the miles build up and the clearences get greater the heaver oil wil make up the difference. Carl

 

I switched to Mobil 1 5w30 since it had 50k miles. I have 170k miles on the clock. My RX runs 95% fwy and it does not have any leak or burn oil.

 

I have a 2001 RX 300 with 92K...I got it as second owner with 60K...I switched to synthetic after the first oil change...Running PP 5W-30....I like the idea of a synthetic oil in these potential "sludge" engines....So far so good! I really like PP