2017 Yaris USB and oil question

[iA_b4_07HB]

If you change the oil on time (5,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first - and the time is just as important as the miles, since it corresponds closely to short trips with little to no heat to burn out water and fuel contamination) then yes - you don't need synthetic for pure lubrication. BUT synthetic is less volatile - fewer fumes - so it keeps your engine cleaner (this is so important to GM that they are now specifiying full synthetic - dexos2 - oil changes for all their cars, even the most mundane). Also, there is a cool video explaining how conventional oil thins out over its live (the Viscosity Improvers shear down and can't do their job as well anymore) vs. full synthetic maintaining a more consistent viscosity without the need for VI's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYkg0oDUXs8

Originally Posted by bentjazz

I also have a lifetime powertrain, and I go into the dealer for all of my scheduled maintenance. Costs around $29/oil change for me, which is worth it because I don't change my own oil and in addition to changing my oil they give my car a good once over to see if everything is hunky-dory. The dealer also told me that if I change my oil on time, no need for synthetic.