Telecommunication articles library
Telecommunication articles library
Search:

Home | Z-a Articles | Auto And Moto


Should I use Synthetic in my Toyota Tundra?

By: Jason Lancaster

People ask me if they should use synthetic oil in their new trucks, and I always answer "It depends." Synthetic oil is better than regular oil for a lot of different reasons. Synthetic is a better lubricant, it maintains its integrity at high temperatures, it is usually pure without any contaminants, and it won't become sludge even when it's abused. To many people, the obvious benefits of synthetic oil mean that they should start using it in their new truck tomorrow. However, it really depends on how you take care of your Tundra.

To start with, do you follow the rules and change your oil regularly? If you're diligent in changing your oil, you'll probably never see one of the biggest benefits of synthetic oil. Because synthetic oil is resistant to breaking down over time or over under extended use, it's the best oil to have in your engine if you forget an oil change, or, if your oil changes happen more than six months apart. However, if you're changing your oil regularly and at the proper mileage you'll never be in a situation where your engine is at risk from worn-out oil. Evaluate your maintenance schedule to determine if you would benefit from synthetic oil use.

For example, think about a person who only drives 3,000 miles per year. They may go more than a year without changing the oil in their car. As oil ages, it's effectiveness decreases, and if it gets old enough it will break down and the motor will no longer be protected. In this case, synthetic is the logical choice. Also, if someone accidentally goes past the recommended 5,000 mile oil change interval without changing the regular oil, it will start to "fall-apart" and the engine will be at risk. If you or someone you know might forget an oil change, synthetic is a good way to limit your risk.

If you’re good at changing your oil on time, there’s really only one other common reason you would want to consider using synthetic. As natural oil gets hot, it starts to breakdown. The longer it stays hot, the worse the breakdown. So, if you regularly operate your vehicle in such a way that the engine temperature is always high, you should run synthetic. For example: Letting your vehicle idle for hours at a time (like on a jobsite) will overheat the engine. Because you’re not moving, there is no high-speed air circulating around the engine to keep it cool. In this case, excessive heat can build and normal oil will break down. Also, constant operation in high ambient temperatures (like the desert) or at high altitudes (over 10k feet) will also lead to higher engine temperatures. High temperature desert air has poor cooling properties, and while the air above 10k feet is usually cool, it’s “thin” and also has poor cooling properties.

The only other reason you would want to use synthetic is if you were really being hard on your engine...constant towing, moving heavy loads, etc., would be good reasons to use synthetic.

I've read a lot of articles about using synthetic if you're in a lot of stop-and-go situations. I think that this really depends upon your individual situation. After all, anyone who has been to New York or Los Angeles will tell you stop and go in those places is different than anywhere else. Also, if you drive short trips only, people may recommend synthetic oil as a way to protect you engine. However, short trips, regardless of your choice of oil, damage your motor. No matter whether you use synthetic or regular oil, you engine was designed to be ran for at least 20 minutes. That's the best way to protect your engine from damage due to short trips.

If you do decide that you would see some benefit from running synthetic oil, be conscious of “synthetic blends”. While many manufacturer’s have a synthetic blend as their standard oil, the term synthetic blend is not regulated. Any mixture of regular and synthetic oil is considered a blend, even if it’s just 1% synthetic and 99% regular. If it’s not a manufacturer provided oil (i.e. Motorcraft, Goodwrench, Genuine Toyota Motor Oil, etc.) then it could be a very low percentage of synthetic in the oil. Some companies will state the percentage, but you’d be surprised to find that big names like Valvoline, Penzoil, Quaker State, etc., have very low percentages of synthetic in their blended oils.

Last but not least, what does Toyota have to say about synthetics? “Any oil that meets API standard specifications can be used in your vehicle.” That means normal oil is just fine.

Bottom line: Unless you’re subjecting your new 2007 Toyota Tundra (and the oil that’s in it) to extreme conditions, save money and use regular oil.

Article Source: http://www.article-voip.com

About the author: Jason Lancaster has worked in the car business and with the Toyota Tundra for almost 10 years.

Please Rate this Article

 

# of Ratings = 6 | Rating = 4.8/5

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Auto and moto Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Z-a Articles | Auto And Moto
Sign Up for a free account or learn more.
Submit Articles
Member Login
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds
About Us
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
[SAPE ADS]


Powered by Article Dashboard