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Isuzu Owners Maintenance and Repair - READ ONLY

3299 messages,  Last post on Dec 20, 2011 at 8:53 AM

You are in the Isuzu Trooper Forum.

What is this discussion about? Isuzu Ascender, Isuzu Trooper, SUV

Your Community Leader is paisan.

Messages Page 142 of 331

#1402 of 3299 How about Synthetic Oil in these vehicles ... by cwmoser

Jan 29, 2002 (3:03 pm)

None of the following vehicles have used synthetic oil:
 
1983 Mercedes - 34,000 miles
1999 Isuzu Trooper - 35,000 miles
1999 Toyota Sienna - 49,000 miles
 
Again, all appear to be mechanically ok but have never used synthetic oil. Would you go with say Mobil-1 in all of these?
 
Also, is Mobil-1 synthetic really a better oil as far as elimination of oil sludge buildup?
 
Also - synthetic in an 18hp lawn tractor that does not use an oil filter?

#1403 of 3299 I am biased by armtdm

Jan 30, 2002 (6:29 am)

But when I started using synthetics 10 years ago I never believed the claims of exctended drains. So, I started by changing the oil and 3000 and having it analyzed and have gradually built up a comfort level so that based upon the type of driving on a particular car I can determine when to change. Other then my twin turbo toy the minimum interval for me is 7,500 miles and that includes two daily commuters. More highway car goes to 12,000. My toy because it is a twin trubo and gets liitle use is 5000 but that has now or will be a year since the last change.
 
I would switch to synthetic on any engine under 100,000. Over that and running fine I may leave it alone. On the Sienna, due to the many reports of sludging on these I would probably go 5000-7,500 between changes. Mobil 1 is a fine oil. I use Amsoil only because I started with it and the person I get it from has inventory, no shipping charges, and for my $20/year fee I get it for $4.35/qt. With 5 cars to service it is worth it for me.
 
The 97 Rodeo I switched at 58,000 is running fine. It did and does have a yellowish coating on in the oil filler neck area and inside of the valve cover that I was hoping the synthetic would remove, not sludge but a very fine varnish so to speak. To date after 14,000 miles of synthetic usage the color is still there but runs fien and analysis has been fine.
 
The engine had two oil seepages upon purchase which remain with the synthetic, I just can't seem to locate where they are coming from, one above the alternator and another above the oil pan. Oh well, it is pretty minimal seepage.

#1404 of 3299 Synthetics by fiveharpers

Jan 30, 2002 (7:43 am)

cwmoser - Edmunds has a great discussion going in the Town Hall forums about Synthetic Oils. It is located under the maintenance and repair topic. After going through these, I was convinced that synthetics are the way to go and Mobil 1 was good choice considering the quality for the cost. Anyway you may want read through that discussion if this interest you.

#1405 of 3299 cwmoser - switching from dino to synthetic by bluedevils

Jan 31, 2002 (5:56 am)

most folks who are interested in, or knowledgeable about, synthetic oil will say that it's fine to switch on lower-mileage engines. This means different mileage to different people, but at 50k miles or so you are probably safe to switch, as armtdm has pointed out.

#1406 of 3299 declining quality of Hondas and Toyotas by bluedevils

Jan 31, 2002 (6:12 am)

I am still a big proponent of Toyota and Honda vehicles, having owned a rock-solid '91 Camry (never should have sold it) and driven an '89 CRX Si that lasted 170k miles. If buying a new or late-model used vehicle today, I would give strong consideration to both brands. But I totally agree with paisan's post #1381. It's hard for an average consumer to prove, but my perception is that Toyota and Honda vehicles have fallen off in two major areas:
 
1) Initial quality - For example, the 1992-1996 Camry is widely regarded in the automotive press to be built better, with higher-quality materials, than the new model that replaced it in '97. The '92-'96 Camry is much closer to the same-year Lexus ES300 than the '97-'01 Camry.
 
2) Long-term quality/reliability - Over the long run, I don't think the current Toyotas and Hondas are holding up as well as their mid '80s to mid '90s brethren. My perception is that there more problems are popping up with the newer vehicles than on the earlier vehicles.
 
I agree with paisan on the reason why this has happened: Honda and Toyota realized they could cut a few corners and produce vehicles of lower quality, but still gain market share from other brands, especially the American brands.
 
Like fiveharpers, my preference is to identify and purchase vehicles such as the Trooper that provide high quality/long-term reliability at a lower initial cost (i.e. better value) than the Hondas and Toyotas of the world. Several Nissans fit this bill, as do some of the Subarus (though they've gotten rather pricey in the last 3-4 years.).
 
When it comes time to replace our 98 Trooper with a minivan, I have my eye on the first-generation Honda Odyssey/Isuzu Oasis. Much cheaper, and from what I can tell, much better quality than the current-generation Honda Odyssey.

#1407 of 3299 Toyota sludge by bluedevils

Jan 31, 2002 (6:17 am)

Mark me down as another person who has heard plenty about this problem via the internet in the past couple years. It was shocking and disappointing to hear. The worst part is that Toyota seems to deny there is a design problem. This is not a total shock, though. A company like Toyota, which in my opinion has an even better reputation for quality than Honda, cannot afford to admit something like 'hey, the 3.0L V6 that's in lots of our vehicles has had sludge problems for the last 10 model years.'
 
They should admit this, but most companies in their shoes probably would not.
 
Is this problem just with the 3.0L V6 that's gone into the Camry and Sienna (and others?), or is it exhibited in other engines too?

#1408 of 3299 Hyundai by paisan

Jan 31, 2002 (6:29 am)

I believe hyundai is on it's way up as far as quality. Of all the people who have bought in the past 3-5 years I've heard little complaints about them and IMHO the XG300/350 has quite solid build quality. If I were going to buy a commuter car today, it would almost definitely be a low end hyundai. The price/performance is there.
 
-mike

#1409 of 3299 re: engines by sbcooke

Jan 31, 2002 (7:13 am)

Aren't some Toyota engines GM's? I thought I read something about that somewhere? I don't know if it is the sludge'rs in question, but maybe there is a correlation?

#1410 of 3299 Hyundai by sdc2

Jan 31, 2002 (7:22 am)

I too felt that Hyundai was making big strides in improving the quality of their vehicles...then I read a recent article about numerous engine failures in the Santa Fe SUVs.
 
Hopefully they will stand behind their warranty and fix the problems, unlike Toyota is apparently doing with this sludge deal.

#1411 of 3299 Hyundai by bluedevils

Jan 31, 2002 (8:05 am)

Agree with paisan - Hyundai quality is really improving. I am positive on several of their vehicles: XG350, Santa Fe, Sonata, and Elantra. The Elantra GT 5-door is a TREMENDOUS value - $13k base price for a lot of equipment and 140hp). Great warranty, low price, plus improving quality = good choice.
 
If we buy a new vehicle in the next couple years I will be considering Hyundai. I also will probably consider the new Kia Sedona minivan. Sounds like a great package for the money.
 
The Santa Fe engine issues concerns me, though this is the first I've heard of it. Hyundai is now putting the Santa Fe's 2.7L V6 in the Sonata but that's a new change for MY 2002, IIRC.

Messages Page 142 of 331

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