OT -- Best Synthetic for Mini-Van

[DWCox]

I know this is not quite a tractor question . . . but you guys appear to have really done your homework on the oil issues, so I thought I would ask your opinion on the best synthetic for a 2006 Toyota Sienna mini van. It has 15,000 miles and has one year more of warranty (so I am obligated to change out at 5,000 miles). I was looking at the Mobil and Penzoil brands. Suggestions?

 

[sw03]

well then, use a dino group 3 and be done. For oil info, Noria wins hands down on ANY other site.

 

[thatguy]

Just like tractors brands, opinions vary - Generally Amsoil, Penzoil, Mobil 1, Royal Purple all get good reviews.. With 5k oil change intervals even a good dino oil would do OK..

I am running amsoil in most of my stuff..

Check out Bob Is The Oil Guy for all things oil related.. Tons of information there

Brian

 

[DWCox]

Just like tractors brands, opinions vary - Generally Amsoil, Penzoil, Mobil 1, Royal Purple all get good reviews.. With 5k oil change intervals even a good dino oil would do OK..

I am running amsoil in most of my stuff..

Check out Bob Is The Oil Guy for all things oil related.. Tons of information there

Brian

Thanks for your reply. This is likely the last change before warranty will expire so I figured I would just run what I am going to afterward. I will keep digging on the question.

 

[sw03]

Just like tractors brands, opinions vary - Generally Amsoil, Penzoil, Mobil 1, Royal Purple all get good reviews.. With 5k oil change intervals even a good dino oil would do OK..

I am running amsoil in most of my stuff..

Check out Bob Is The Oil Guy for all things oil related.. Tons of information there

Brian

Thanks but for me, I will pass. There are too sales diven over there on BITOG...People banned, sponsors leaving, helen owner PM people to not mess with others........

There site is nice for FYI just take with a HUGE gran of salt.

Again for his short drain any SM rated oil is fine.

 

[Dargo]

Thanks but for me, I will pass. There are too sales diven over there on BITOG...People banned, sponsors leaving, helen owner PM people to not mess with others........

There site is nice for FYI just take with a HUGE gran of salt.

Again for his short drain any SM rated oil is fine.

I am by no means a petrochemist, and don't even want to try to act like one. I have read info on several sites though and have what I think is a reasonable understanding of oils. I do have to agree that BITOG is very sales driven; to the point that I no longer even have the site marked. I am one of those guys who will never, ever go 15,000 between oil changes. I do feel that with high quality oil that I am comfortable going 5k to 7500 between changes though.

I used to buy Amsoil but I honestly got tired of the huge price increases and fees to be a "dealer" etc. By the time I added their shipping costs to the prices it seemed to be the most expensive oil I could buy. That along with the fact that I'll never consider their 25k between changes eliminates them for me. I've been buying Royal Purple and Red Line lately. I guess they are about as good as any? Since I don't go long on my tractors either, I've just used Delvac in them. Is Mobil 1 in the same quality league as Royal Purple and Red Line? It definitely costs less.

 

[RalphVa]

Pennzoil's "synthetic" is probably hydrotreated oil from their hydrotreater plant they started up about 14 years ago; it should be cheaper. Mobil 1 is a true synthetic made from PAO (poly alpha olefin) feedstock.

If you want better protection at startup and some improvement in fuel mileage, the new Mobil 1 0w30 is the way to go. You can go as far as 15,000 miles on it, maybe changing out the filter filter every 5,000 unless you can get those new "Mobil 1" filters.

Before your warranty is up, just use any good multi-grade oil.

Ralph

 

[RWEST]

I was looking at the Mobil and Pennzoil brands. Suggestions?

Good ones. Castrol Syntec, Valvoline all have their devotees. Actually, regardless of all the furor over oil (see here, BITOG, any forum devoted to anything with an engine.. ) I seriously doubt there's a "bad" name brand oil out there for modern gas engines.

I don't know what weight is spec'ed for your Siena, but if it's 5-20, the MotorCraft product consistently tests well, and is pretty inexpensive at Wally's or Advance Auto.

Speaking of long-term change intervals, Ford is now spec'ing 7,500 miles (!!!), at least that's what my new Taurus X's book says.

 

[Dargo]

Mobil 1 is a true synthetic made from PAO (poly alpha olefin) feedstock.

Is it really? I'd been told that Amsoil, Royal Purple and Red Line are made from PAO and, therefore, are some top shelf stuff. If Mobil 1 is as well, considering that I'm never going for record length intervals between drains, wouldn't Mobil 1 be the best deal for guys like me considering that it is less expensive than the others I mentioned?

 

[Rebel]

I'm pretty sure Mobile 1 is NOT a true synthetic, if my cranium serves me correctly it is a Group III oil. To the best of my knowledge, Delvac-1, AMSOil, Redline, and Motul 5100 are the only oils made from pure traditional synthetics.