Anyone Else Running 0W-20 in Their 2.7?

Seeing you two post get's me homesick. Grew up on Merritt Island, and spent hundreds of nights at the Inlet fishing for Snook and Reds, and the occasional "Doormats". The size fish they eat up here we used to call baitfish.....Still get to go down to Everglades City and Chokoloskee Bay every now and then,but sure do miss the inlet,except for them darn flying teeth at sunset,eat you alive....

 

No, I use 5w20. I don't feel the need to spend the extra on 0w20s.

Around here (Ohio) Central Locating (a utilities locating company, we have to call them a lot where I work) use 2nd gen 4cly 5-lugs as their fleet vehicles and many of them have 200+k on them and I know that they all use bulk 5w20 or 5w30 (whatever they can get cheaper).

 

I pay the same price for 0W-20 or 5W-20 Mobil 1 Full Syn at Wal-mart? I agree, no need to pay extra but for the same price its a no brainer

 

I've been running 0W-20 for 25k+ miles.

 

I just switched to 0w-20 Mobil 1 yesterday for my tuneup. Seems good so far.

 

Well I picked up some more Mobil 1 0W-20 on sale today, so I will be sticking with it for the next change. Only comes in a 4.4L jug though, so now I have to wait for the 1L bottles to go on sale.

 

yup sure do. came from the factory that way for me. and theyve been putting it in there ever since

 

It is still a few bucks more a qt around me so it isn't worth it now. It's the same 20 weight once it's warmed up anyway, so I fail to see how it improves mileage over 5w-20 unless you are starting and going full out on the highway with cold engine.

 

I was running 5w-20 changed to 0w-30 full synthetic milage jumped bout 2 at 8000 miles on it still looked as clean as the day i put it in. Couldn't find any 0w-20 so used the 30. Engine has run smoother and i am all bout as much mileage as i can get. Truck has 71k on it. Been thinkin bout tryin a hydrogen cell on it n see how my mileage is when i run to wyoming this summer @ 80mph.

 

Agreed. My 2006 owner's manual recommends conventional or synthetic 5W-30 for both the V6 and I4, and that it's protective down to -20°F. The reduction in oil weight requirements over the years for the 2TR engine is to help with fleet fuel efficiency ratings, that's all. I suspect the requirement for synthetic 0W-20 (rather than conventional) is to make up for the lower viscosity that the originally-recommended 5W-30 provides.

 

I've heard the CAFE argument many times and don't buy it. Any difference in fuel economy large enough to make a difference when averaged over an automaker's entire fleet is big enough to be noticeable to the customer.

I'd rather have a 0W oil than a 5W for winter operation. The 20 vs 30 argument may come into play for older engines but for a newer engine 20 is adequate IMO.

 

This is just plain not true. Take a look, Page 81

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regulations/420r10901.pdf

Remember that government rules rely on stakeholder input and data. This is just one of many combined methods that help to enhance fuel efficiency on a fleetwide basis.

 

My point was that if a lighter weight oil makes a difference to CAFE numbers then it makes a difference to me at the pump.

A -30 oil does not automatically offer better protection than a -20. It is likely the reverse given that the -20 is thinner at startup, where most of the wear occurs.

 

I see your point, and was not arguing for or against using 0W-20, 5W-20, or 5W-30 oil. I was only trying to point out that Toyota's main objective in making the various recommendations over the years was to meet or stay ahead of emerging fuel economy and greenhouse gas regulations. Given that, I don't think they'd make themselves liable in writing for recommending an oil weight or viscosity that would destroy the engine, so it makes sense that sticking with the owner's manual is the best choice.

For the '06-'07 model years they approved using 5W-20 weight rather than 5W-30 in the 2TR-FE in a TSB after many of the vehicles were built, but did not recommend 0W-20. I don't know if any changes were made to the engine (or oils) when they began recommending 0W-20 for these engines?

Toyota Tech Service Bulletin # EG018-06