Who uses synthetic fluids?

[eagle1wi]

Since I will be putting synthetic in the car's transmission tonight I was thinking that maybe I should do the same to the Epic 21 as well? 

I've used just the standard DexIII so far but for the little that it takes it would only be about $15 more to go synthetic.  From what I've read, it seems most of us run Synthetic oil after 200 hours or so but who does it in the trans as well?

[eagle1wi]

Any particular brands?

Redline, Royal Purple, Mobil 1, Syntec etc.

[cyclone]

I use Mobil 1 trans fluid.

[toyotafreak]

Picture's worth eleven words. BTW, in the old pickup, I used Syntec in the engine for 100K then dino, and Valvoline synthetic in the rear end and tranny the whole time. In the Sequoia, I'm not allowed to run Mobil1 anywhere but the engine and power steering (which I do use M1 ATF in). I have exactly one choice for transmission (Toyota T-IV) and in the differential, the only fluid allowed to go beyond 5K in special conditions is Toyota Synthetic. End rant. On with the boat:

[eagle1wi]

Yes Derek I know what you mean.  I was going to put Synthetic in my GS300 and I was told NOT to do that.  Toyota Type IV is the only option - that sucks and it is not cheap either.

I remember you posting that picture before.  I take it you use the gear lube in the v-drive box?

 

[toyotafreak]

Yessir. You know what's REEEEALLY not cheap...the TOYOTA synthetic gear oil. Four quarts at $14.59/quart. Hey, that's only 50% higher than Mobil1, and Mobil1's only 50% overpriced ;-)

At least that stuff's synthetic. The T-IV stuff isn't. And there's 14 quarts of it in my tranny :-(

[ScarabEpic22]

Just to let you guys know, I know the RX300 uses the Toyota T-IV trans fluid and I put synthetic Amsoil ATF in it and it runs great.  Im like Derek, except with Amsoil.

Fluids:
99 Epic 22:
Amsoil 5W-30 Heavy Duty Diesel (what I had, next year will be 0W-30)<--- engine
stock trans fluid (need a suction pump)

Tow vehicle:
02 Chevy TrailBlazer:
Amsoil 5W-30 Heavy Duty Diesel
Amsoil ATF
Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-90 (fr and rear diffs)
Valvoline Power Steering

Rx300:
Amsoil Series 3000 0W-30
Amsoil ATF
Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-90 (rear diff. only)

[HCollado]

 
Why do I want to say that Cap't Rick said not to use synthetic in the transimission???

[Capt Rick]

No,  I said don't use synthetic until engine has 200 hours,  that is the real break in time for the rings.If you use synthetic in gear it will only make a little less noise under 1000 rpm otherwise it is only for those who like to spend money.
Capt Rick

[eagle1wi]

Some of us like spending money that's why we own boats.

For a direct drive putting Mobil 1 in the trans costs the DIY'r about $15.

If I spend the extra $$$ putting synthetic in the engine I figured I might as well do it in the transmission.  I know we aren't building the temps up like an automatic drag racing car but I used to pay a half hour of shop rate to have the trans fluid done.

Now I bought my own pump and use Synthetic ATF and thanks to this site there is still money left in my pocket that I would have been giving to someone else.

[PSullivan3]

I'm with you Capt...if I don't have to spend money I don't I do the maintenance for the right price (shop around get my best deal)

[toyotafreak]

Hey, we don't buy generic baby food - and only the good stuff for the precious !!

I always rationalized using sunthetics by saying for the same price as taking it through Jiffy Lube, I can DIY with the very best mainstream fluid money can buy. Also, I've seen first hand how dino oil will gum up and stain when the unfortuante overheat/neglect/low oil level happens. At 100K in the pickup, after running syntec the whole time...the innards looked brand new (what I can see on the dipstick and in the valve cover anyway. Started running dino and the thing began to stain. No going back now with that one. Won't make the same mistake with the Seq or S22.

OTOH...if you add up the cost of 7 quarts of M1 and a $11 M1 filter every 5K for say 150K, you're talking like $1500, which might not be too far off what an overhaul would cost (not saying that with synthetics you're immune to other problems). I will claim that all things being equal, an engine run at these intervals with these fluids will be cleaner and tighter later in life and will be able to withstand any bonehead move a little better than a dino engine.

Yes, if you're gonna throw money at an engine, there are probably better areas to serve (like maybe spend some of that $1500 on extra tune ups or something).

[PSullivan3]

I have always done my own oil changes and only use reg oil (whats on sale)and our last 2 vehicles had 400k '96 F150 5.0 ,2000 mercury mountaineer 5.0 195k every 2500 to 3000 miles,never in the shop for any major work ,everybody has their opinion and I respect that. I just don't think it makes a difference has long as you do it on a regular basis it is possibly the cheapest thing you can do for your engine,but has the biggest impact has far the life of it.So synthetic or regular just do it regularly. My .02

[Rambling Wreck]

It is interesting to read everyone's opinions and to see how varied the results have been. I have no opinion (been married so long that I have forgotten how to form one- JK). There was a Consumer Reports test a few years back. They tested oil in NYC taxi cabs. They ran them several hundred thousands miles before tearing the engines down. The oil change intervals ranged from 3,000-25,000.
The results shocked me - a guy that changes oil every 5,000 miles (easy to remember). There was no measurable difference in wear in the engines that had oil changed every 25,000 miles from the engines where the oil was changed every 3,000 miles. The amazing results were attributed to how advanced current oils have become. I think synthetics were included in the tests but I am not sure. The conclusion by Consumer's Reports was that the cheapest oil available works as well as the most expensive and that we all waste a lot of money changing oil too frequently. They felt the limiting factor was the FILTER. The suggestion was to frequently change just the filter but go up on the oil change intervals. Great scientific basis for the recomemdation. I wish someone would do it and report the results - it just won't be me-

However, we have Toyota, another organization that has my respect, saying that synthetic oil is just too slick to allow the engine to wear in a little so use dino oil at first but then insist that synthetic be used. Hey, if these two organizations can't agree, why should we think we will???

I don't think Consumers Reports has a dog in the hunt. I wish I knew what is behind Toyota's recommendations. Most corporations do have mixed motives - selling transmission fluid at $15/qt is an obvious one.

[Rambling Wreck]

TF, I am not sure if you were sayinig that one will spend an ADDITIONAL $1500 using synthetic oil or not. If you were, you need to subtract out the cost of dino oil and filters for the same number of changes.