This week there's a bit of down time in my schedule. Not "off time" mind you. There's still plenty to do in order to meet the next round of deadlines. This made a perfect opportunity to do some maintenance and repair to the 4Runner.
I've driven a lot lately, and it was time for an oil change.
With all the miles I drive and with the amount I paid (I bought it used, but it was still a lot) for my 4Runner, I've decided it's worth it to put Amsoil in my engine. I want peace of mind, and I want to protect my investment. Laboratory and real-world tests have shown that Amsoil protects engines better against wear compared to standard petroleum oil.
If there's a bummer about using Amsoil, it's that most of the time you have to go to an independent dealer or order off of the Amsoil website. It's not on the shelf at the corner parts store.
Lucky for me, Jackson's Auto Supply in Brea, Ca. carries a limited stock of Amsoil. I paid them a visit, hoping to buy five or six quarts of the "OEM" style Amsoil synthetic oil. No such luck, at least in the 5W-30 weight I needed. Instead, the Amsoil "Signature Series" was there, hoping I'd take it home. This stuff is expensive! It's about three bucks more per quart compared to the standard-issue Amsoil product. I ponied up and took it home, lightening my wallet in the process.
Amsoil Signature Series offers extended drain intervals, extended well beyond the standard Amsoil product. Under "normal use" you can use a drain interval of 25,000 mile or one year, whichever comes first. Under "severe use" you can use a drain interval of 15,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first. I can't quite wrap my brain around leaving oil in for 15,000 miles, and since I drive in a lot of adverse conditions including heavy dust, hot weather, and stop-and-go traffic, I'll probably hedge my bet and change this oil at 10,000 miles. Besides, 10,000-mile intervals are easy to remember.
Think of it this way: using standard petroleum oil, you'd change your oil every 3,000 miles, and that same petroleum oil wouldn't protect your engine as well as Amsoil. With Amsoil Signature Series, your engine's better protected, and you'll spend less overall. That sounds like a bargain to me.