2011 Oil Change Interval

I know that Toyota has began the transition to 0W-20 full synthetic. I had the sticker on my 2011 stating that the vehicle was equipped with 0W-20 from the factory and that they recommended 0W-20 full synthetic. My oil cap says 5w-30 makes no reference to full synthetic. The owners manual says nothing about recommending full synthetic.

I was under the impression that 2012+ were full synthetic, and that the 05-11 were conventional. I went in for my 5k service today and the dealer informed me that the vehicle had synthetic and that it did not need to be changed until 10k. Now, I'm going to replace with synthetic myself tomorrow, because I want to, however I'm curious if anyone else knows whether it actually has conventional or synthetic in the engine at the moment. The dealer told me that the last set of 2011's came with synthetic, but they didn't change the caps or manuals because it was only about the last month of manufacture before the 2012's came out.

Sound fishy to you? Either way, Toyota care is going to give me full synthetic oil for free whooooo...

 

My '11 4Banger came with 0W-20W synthetic and says so on cap and in manual and calls for changing every 5K or 6 months.
But for the V6s it's 10K.

 

MMMMMMMMMMM Interesting.
Mine says 5/30 and that's what's going in.
I don't know if we have a 11 left on the lot but I'm going to look at this.

 

My 2012 V6 came with 5w-30 on the cap. The dealer said that I could pay the difference for synthetic when I bring it in for the 5,000 mile oil change. It will be about $25 difference.

 

Not all synthetic oils are alike and 10K may be pushing the limits of some especially if you drive under harsh conditions and the definition of harsh is not as harsh as one would think.

7 - 7.5K is more like it. Most off the shelf synthetics today are made from conventional hydrocracked oil. This is just a method of super refining standard dino to get a lot of contaminants out and calling it synthetic as per a lawsuit Mobil lost to Casterol.

 

I still like the idea of changing the synthetic every 5k, needed or not. I just thought that the 4 bangers got the synthetic from factory and that the v6 got the "dino" oil.

 

I think it is plugs that are different between the two.

 

We had one 2011 v6 left. didn't see anything saying synthetic on it. Cap says 5/30. No one in sales, parts, or service has heard of this. So be that as it may IMO what's on the cap goes in. I don't like the 10k changes or the thin oil. Yes it's been tested yada yada and it's approved but that's me.
There are some vehicles that the V6 gets the synthetic but haven't seen it in the V6 truck. YET !!!!! hehehehe.
Just wait a few weeks and it will all change again.

 

Toyota website says 0w-20 sunthetic for 2011 but it also calls for 5K intervals.
http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/resources/maintenance/synthetic-motor-oil

 

My 2011 2.7 calls for 0W20 in manual and on cap. No mention of synthetic but 0w20 is only available in syn. so I guess that's what will go in every 4 months or 8000 km whichever comes first.

 

My 2011 SR5 4x4 2.7ltr came with 0-20 synthetic and also has that on the oil cap. manuel states every 5k

 

hey new member here, i bought my v6 sr5 tacoma in 2010 and have been putting Mobil 1 0w20 synthetic in it since i got it off the lot, (oil changes every 5-7000) but after talking to a few fellow mechanics, they say its better to use the non-synthetic for engine break in but after 50,000 miles or so to switch to synthetic, BUT is it bad to change from synthetic to non after about 20,000 miles?

 

My dealer told me my '11 v6 gets conventional oil only....

 

Guys - Look in your owners manual.
My 2011 owners manual clearly states the 4cyl runs 0W20 and the V6 runs 5W30

 

One of the first things the guys at my dealership asked me was "is your truck a 0-20 or 5-30 truck"? That's right, they asked me.

My friend has a 2010 tundra and gets it changed at the dealer per the free changes in the purchase. When he came in to get his first change, he asked for synthetic, they obliged, but basically said that since it costs more, they'd give him HALF the number of changes complimentary, beyond that he's got to pay.

I say go with what you want to put in, either way you're probably okay. When in doubt, follow what the manual says, which is exactly what bizjettech said.

Go from dino to synthetic = good.
Go from synthetic to dino = bad.

that is all,
d

 

Same situation here. So far, 2 different dealerships had confirmed that. I did encounter 1 that kept telling me I am reading the owners manual wrong. Idiots.

 

You can use synthetic oil any time you want, even in a new engine. You can switch back to conventional oil at any mileage if you want. You can mix synthetic and conventional oil as long as the two oils are the same grade, but different brands will have different additives. Many vehicles are coming from the factory with synthetic oil and their engines break in just fine. I'm pretty sure the V-6 engine uses 0W-30 or 5W-30?

 

Yep. My oil cap says 0W-20. Once my complimentary service runs out, it is 10k mi change for me