Can you go from synthetic back to normal oil?

Unless you're north of the 49th parallel, where oil change is 8000 km (~5000 mi) or 6 months. Two highlights of the year for me: crawling under the car, the first weekend in April and October.

Well, unless you're in Alaska.

Or Oz.

 

frankly, i don't believe there are extra benefits (e.g., gum, varnish, quality of protection) of synth oil every 10,000 miles over mineral oil every 5,000 miles. at least not in non-turbo engines. one has to consider that today's "synth" oils are not the same quality as the synth oils say 15 years ago (cost cutting) and at the same time the regular oils are much improved over what was available say 15 years ago.

edit: i guess i should qualify that i'm doing the 10,000 mile intervals myself due to inconvenience of oil change in prius and like the extra edge in FE 0W20 oil provides (in city driving at least). but i have no illusion that this will prevent gum & varnish as various people experienced with gummed up oil control rings over 100,000 miles. i plan to deal with that by piston soak and engine flush treatments.

 

My answer would have been Gen2 is still 5000 miles OCI in the USA. Not saying you can't go longer, just saying that's the official rule from Toyota USA. Gen3 has the 10-yr option.

 

Uhoh.

 

Gen3 has the 10-yr option.
WELLLL - That IS certainly one way to save money on oil changes.

 

Oops! I meant 10000 miles!!

 

Yeah - I think we KNEW that LOL NOT a problem........... just a lil razzin'

 

HI!

I know this is an old thread and reviving it with a question.
I have a 2006 Prius and have been doing conventional oil changes for several years now. When times were better I did do synthetic in the beginning for some time.
Can I go back to getting a full synthetic oil change or is it best to keep doing conventional since that's what most of the life of my car has had?
Im getting ready to change the oil this week for a 16 hr road trip soon.

Thanks!
Joy

HI

 

You didn't mention car mileage or oil usage, but going back to synthetic at this point shouldn't make any difference on your trip.

 

Milage is 145,000.
I have been getting Jiffy Lube oil changes for the most part with conventional. Not sure what is used.
I would say I used synthetic for first five years and have used conventional for last 10 years aprox.