You'll be okay to switch to synthetic. In terms of safety, I always use gloves when changing oil and I currently use synthetic. The only time my gloves come into contact with the oil is when I remove the drain plug & when I'm placing oil around the seal of my new filter.

 

I just changed my oil and replaced with Mobil 1 5w30 synthectic. Does anyone drive more then the 5000 recommended oil change interval on synthectic?

 

7,500 miles or 6 months whichever comes first on Pennzoil Platinum.

 

There's no hazard specific to SYNTHETIC oil. Any oil, especially used, is hazardous. Throw on a pair of disposable latex gloves (you know the kind the doc checks your prostate with??!!) and you're good to go.

BTW, to answer your specific question, yes, switch to synthetic - no problems.
I might recommend the Toyota 0w20 for your vehicle. It's synthetic and the VOA on it shows it to be a robust oil with a high VI.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...57#Post1673357

It's fine (per Toyota) to run the 0w20 in our engines btw.

 

Thanks RCY, I appreciate the info. I will look into the 0w20. You think that might be a better alternative to the 5w30 Mobil 1 I just installed.
Mike

 

I didn`t think it back spec. to 2004? (for 5W-20) Are you Certain about that?

 

The TSB includes the 3MZ-FE, which is the engine in the 2nd gen RX.

 

So is it 0w20 or 5w20? Or should my RX just be content with the Mobil 1 5w30? Either way it is better then conventional oil.

 

Good to know that thanx.

 

You will be fine with the Mobil-1. I`m using Pennzoil YB 5W-30,and it`s fine.

 

Either is fine - I guess it depends on how cold it gets where you are - the 0 weight will flow better in colder weather.

The 5w30 will be fine as well. The owner's manual originally spec'd 5w30. It's only been in the past few years that the Xw20's have become popular. Honda and Ford have been spec'ing 20 weights for quite a while now (almost 10 years maybe), and Toyota has only recently jumped on that bandwagon.

When I bought a case of the 0w20 at my local dealer, I asked the parts guy to confirm it was synthetic (since it doesn't say synthetic on the bottle like the other 5w30 and 5w20 Toyota oils). He showed me an internal Toyota memo (and an email from Toyota Canada) confirming it was synthetic. The internal memo went on for four pages, also indicating that 0w20 would soon be the only oil spec'd for Toyota/Lexus engines in the future.

In fact, bring up the 2010 RX350 owner's manual and you'll see that 0w20 is the oil specified...

https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...html&locale=en