Can I just use synthetic 5w-20 instead of 0w-20?

Here is a used oil analysis on

$121 Toyota 0w20 Toyota Case of 12 Quarts Full Synthetic 0W-20 Oil

Toyota 0w20 in a Lexus at 10k miles. He also had it done at 6k on the same oil

 

Brand doesn't matter

 

That’s actually pretty cool report. I was gonna have them do a sample for me at 10k just to see. I guess now I can skip. Thanks for the info

 

Oil is a science. Just because you 'feel' or 'think' something - that has no relation to the engineering or performance of the product. You 'think' that oil can't last 10K? You 'feel' that 5W30 is better for your 3.5? That's fine but the SCIENCE says we are good with 0W20. If you are still on the fence, go get a 3rd party oil analysis of your own oil. But, please, stop the oil religion threads!!

 

Every engine wears out oil different, style of driving, and conditions of driving all play a role. Getting the test done your self is still a worth while thing

 

Walmart sells 0W less expensively than anyone. Even European car formula.

 

IMHO, the 10K interval is worst case scenario, CYA/CMA to allow reasonable deniability and accountability for engine warranty claims. Keep your receipts: filters, oil, et.al. so you can back up your interval documentation and maintenance log signatures.

 

oil from toyota isnt even expensive...

 

Keep in mind that oil is coolant in the engine. Circulation is critical in order to maintain proper engine cooling. I use to ignore the owner's manual and put Castrol 20-50 in everything I owned. On day I was watching Pat Goss on Auto Week. Suddenly I realized the importance of circulation. A Chevy 250 straight 6 is perfect with 30W straight outta the barrel, however, your 2017 tacoma has some tighter spots that require a thinner oil. Too thick of and oil and you restrict circulation and volume. Sludge soon forms and circulation restricted. 5w-20 vs 0-20 doesn't seem like a big difference but I have been convinced to go with what the engineers and millions of dollars of testing have concluded is the best oil to run in my equipment.

 

No it isn't. I've had my oil tested. They even recommended going for 12K. While not exactly the same, I've got turbines with 10+ years on oil.

 

You can check the results in my signature.

 

https://offroadingpro.com/0w20-vs-5w20/

 

My 03 Tundra OR4x4 got synthetics around 100k. I did 10k intervals (manual said 7500) and did a blackstone at 120k and they recommended going 12k and retesting. No thanks, 10k intervals are easy to remember! That oil (Castrol 5/30) was a nice caramel color at each change until i sold it at 175k. There was a guy posting blackstone results on a Tundra forum at 23000 intervals and they were recommending him to go 25000.
My new taco says 10k and why would i think twice about it being too long? Only 3500 until its first free oil change and the oil is still clear. Not even piss yellow but clear!

 

Wow. Perfect and thanks. I have a slightly better way to tell the story.
There's a guy in Tokyo that sits in a big leather chair, and makes gobs of money. Like more money that anyone on this forum. He's a smart guy, probably a engineer or scientist. You know, the guy that told you to run sewing machine oil in your truck. Scientist are like really smart. Like more smarter than most of the folks on this forum. When they went to school and learned how to design motors, they did not have Wilbur standing over their shoulder telling them about how they used 10-40 and a jug of Lucas oil treatment in all their cars since 1943. Everything Dad told me about cars was correct. Correct for the years he worked on cars. He was wrong on everything I have driven since I got my license. It's okay to love your Dad. Just don't pull the positive cable off the battery to check your alternator, or add fluid to your maintenance free battery. LMAO
Zim

 

honestly it shouldn't be a problem. that said, I have no problem finding full synthetic 0w-20 at walmart, orielly, autozone, abc...etc etc...not sure why you can't find it in your area. buy from amsoil, better oil than anything you can buy on the shelf and they ship to you, plus you don't need to change it very often so the higher cost is offset by the longer change interval...but you still need to change the filter every 5k and top off with maybe a quart

 

This post was from 2018. Hopefully the OP figured it out by now.

 

I just resurrected this thread after looking at some Shell Rotella oil 5w20 viscosity for $15 5quarts https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shell-Ro...MIuYuV6rqX7QIVR4VaBR0MHw_IEAQYAiABEgJYw_D_BwE vs. Rotella 0w20 for $44 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shell-Ro...-006-175f29baf7066c&athancid=null&athena=true at WALMART. was looking for what the major differences were other than thinner 0w20 at -31*F vs 5w20 -22*F. Funk it ill just get the SUPERTECH for $14.67 5 qt. jugs 0w20

 

5/20 is fine. 5/30 is not. 5/30 will fuk with your valve timing, unless Toyota set them up for 30w oil.

 

yeah my manual says I could use the 5w20 if no 0w20 was available for one time if needed, the ROTELLA 5w20 is available at half the cost plus over the ROTELLA 0w20, the temps where I live get no way over -10-20*F not even close

 

The 0-20 is .005 seconds faster 0-60