Newbie-retard questions

[Johnpfw]

Posting on behalf of my girlfriend who owns a 2002 or 2003 Solara V6 auto.

1) Is there something special about the Toyota oil filter to the point where we must use one? If not, does anyone use an oversized filter (from another car) in the Solara to get better oil filtration? I do this with my Pontiac Grand Prix. Instead of the stock size, I use one for a 4.3L Chevy.

2) What oil weight would be recommended for a very hot climate (Las Vegas, Nevada) in the Solara?

3) What are the most common mods you guys do to this car? (not including engine related such as headers, rockers, cam etc). Is there a chip or reprogrammed computer module available? Tranny cooler perhaps?

Thanks

-John

[Hsakuragi]

1) look for toyota v8 filters...sequoia, 4 runner....they are the same size, i'm using sequoia filters...no problems at all

2) 10-40 maybe? but 10-30 will do good enough

3) no chips is availabe for this car yet....but yes some people here did install tranny cooler to the car

[bkp_duke]

1) Use the OEM filter. Despite them being smaller than what you are used to the Toyotas are known to be better filters than just about all the aftermarkets (exception being the really expensive Mobile 1 filter).

2) 5W-30 synthetic seems to be what most people here prefer, with Mobile 1 synthetic being the most popular. Just remember if you start to use a synthetic, you can never go back to conventional oil because of the way the synthetics sit in the seals.

3) Lowering, body kit, supercharger (w/ and w/o pully upgrades), muffler replacements, cold-air intakes (short intakes don't help any with these engines). Despite what you might read on eBay and the like, there are no performance chips for our cars. The 1MZ-FE is a pretty efficient engine to begin with, so a chip enhancement wouldn't have a lot of room to improve over the stock timings (this is different if you have the supercharger, which included an ECU with it to adjust the air/fuel ratio so the S/C can breathe appropriately). Tranny coolers are pretty overrated on these cars. Just switch to a synthetic ATF and you will do wonders for the life of the tranny (Mobile 1 makes a good syn. ATF - see a pattern here?)

Happy driving!

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

2) 5W-30 synthetic seems to be what most people here prefer, with Mobile 1 synthetic being the most popular. Just remember if you start to use a synthetic, you can never go back to conventional oil because of the way the synthetics sit in the seals.

Not always true...If i go a place with COLD winters (like when i visit wisconsin in the winter time) yeah, then i have the guys fill in 5w-30, but for houston weather..(hot yearround) i use 10w30 (as do dealerships). As far as going from synthetic to normal oil.....You can use synthetic till your in upper 70's..but then i'd switch to SEMI-synthetic...

[TadS]

Tranny coolers are pretty overrated on these cars.

I disagree. For less than $100 you can greatly extend transaxle life. After overheating 4 (at $2500 a rebuild) of them in my Celica, I can say these are a great investment in piece of mind.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

I disagree. For less than $100 you can greatly extend transaxle life. After overheating 4 (at $2500 a rebuild) of them in my Celica, I can say these are a great investment in piece of mind.

FOUR... WOV! What celica..has to be one of the gt4's, i doubt it was a 5s or a zz engine.

[SolaraT]

Jet can modify the ECU/PCM aka "THE CHIP" but it's expensive. The pros and cons have been hammered here...http://www.zer0.info/solaraguy/viewtopi ... hlight=jet

You might want to catch up on some lingo first.

Tranny cooler is worth the investment.

[TadS]

I disagree. For less than $100 you can greatly extend transaxle life. After overheating 4 (at $2500 a rebuild) of them in my Celica, I can say these are a great investment in piece of mind.

FOUR... WOV! What celica..has to be one of the gt4's, i doubt it was a 5s or a zz engine.

It was a GTS sporting a modded 3S-GELC, and a stupidly aggressive driver with a constant desire to street race. Hehehe good thing I out grew that rather expensive phase of my life .

[Poman]

I found 15W-50 Mobile 1 synthetic oil suitable for the supercharged /turbo engines (stated on the bottle) and I'm trying it out now...suppose to be good i guess

[trdkamuri51o]

jet also has several lawsuits against them for false advertising.

5w30 mobil 1 trisyn is what i use in my 97

on a side note: im at 99987k on my car. 13 more until i hit 100k YAY!!!

[boneezy]

1) OEM filters are best, i use bosch premium filters, but oem are your best bet
2) i use 10w-30 here in vegas, go with that man.. looks like its gonna be HELLA hot again this summer
3) level10 has the best for the tranny