Engine Oil, Climate, and Use.

"Or is the best method to just stick with 0w-20 and get on with life?"

Uh or duh ya

 

I Use 0w30 and it runs extremely smooth in all weather conditions

 

I love how the component with the least amount of failures for all vehicles gets the most discussion and arguments. Regardless….everyone’s engine keeps plugging on if you change the oil often. I think the 10k oil changes are more of a scam then the oil weights getting thinner.

 

Well looks like I missed a lot of posts; I won't bore y'all with my creds, but I have worked as an engineer for three auto makers, and I stand my my statements; believe them or don't, I honestly don't give a crap.

 

0w20 came out because newer engines had thinner passageways including in their VVT required to function, or better fuel economy from it to advertise MPG and meet fleet emissions standards, or both.

depends on the car and manual.

a good 0w20 is still strong.

 

I have no doubt you worked as an engineer for 3 automakers. However, I fail to see how that has any relevance to the thread or works to refute any of the facts about Toyota’s specs and recommendations in this thread. It’s simple - you get the age old chart if you live in Mexico, you get the fuel economy chart if you live in US/Canada. You get the same engine from Alabama no matter what country you live in.

It’s probably not worth arguing - at one point you said only an idiot would run 15W-40, so I know I won’t be changing any minds, even with paperwork straight from the smart engineers.

 

What’s crazy to me is people are still pedaling the 2GR-FZE is “designed” for 0w-20 and this whole small passageway misinformation. It does not make sense. This engine is not designed for any specific weight. Oil weight choice should be made based on climate and type of driving. The range is between 0w-20 being the thinnest economy oil up to 15w-40 being the thickest multi-grade. The reason there is no oil chart in the US manual is solely due to Corporate Average Fuel Economy / CAFE regulations, absolutely nothing to do with the motor itself.

Also, if you guys want to see what the engineers wrote, buy that factory service manual. The owners manual is written by the marketing department.

 

Just want to clarify for the record that thinner oil is not due to passageways or vvt. This is debunked by anyone that's started the vehicle in -40*. Noises are made but you will have oil pressure and your vvt will function if you drove off right away. 0w20 is much thicker cold than 15w40 would be at operating temperature.
In -40 sometimes the vehicle never even reaches operating temperature

 

Rust will be the first, and last issue in the northeast.. save your money, do the 10k oil changes with the 0-20 weight..

 

If you live in the northeast, like I do, spray 0w20 on the undercarriage. Reapply every 10k miles and you won't have frame rust. But you will then have to consider what engine oil to use since the truck will last more than 10 years.

 

Straight from the owner’s manual. You can use heavier grades of oil. This makes natural sense since oil viscosity changes much more with temperature than grade. If the truck can’t run with 5w-30 then it could never run on cold 0W-20.

Obviously you should make your own decisions and choose the appropriate oil for your use case. Don’t run 15W-40 where it’s very cold.

 

Could you point me towards a copy of this version of the manual?

 

412-414.

 

Are there any examples of anyone using 15w-40 in their Tacoma?

 

Well…….its -6*F here this morning, so not today.

 

Unfortunately this still will never silence the 0w20 bible thumpers on this forum.

 

Funny how many ignore the temperature range on the chart.

 

OP, this thread shows you why people buy Toyotas. They are so reliable that all the owners have so much free time on their hands, they just spend time arguing over engine syrup.

For what it is worth, I prefer Mrs. Butterworth's and change it twice a day give or take depending on the weather forcast.