2012 Tacoma requires 0w-20 oil??

What do you guys make of this chart? My oil cap and manual states 5w-30 conventional. Thoughts?

 

Just put what ever your owners manual said I switch to synthetic just recently 5w-30

 

I should clarify. I know the 2.7 has spec'd this for a few years. However the chart clearly shows the 4.0 does as well. Could this be Canadian? The toyo brand

$52 0w20 oil Toyota/ exxon mobil Case of 6 Quarts Full Synthetic TGMO SN 0W-20 Oil

0w20 oil is top notch with more moly and good additives than other comparably priced oil. I want to use it, but want to follow Toyotas recs.

 

What does your Owner's manual say?

 

i am not reading the chart as REQUIRES but acceptable choiced for oil. it all depends on your driving style and climate.

 

my manual says "my vehicle may qualify for low friction 0-10" . Toyota owners manuals are usually printed with many section that are used for many other models.

the cap says 5-30, that what i use and thats what toyota puts in

 

The Owner's Manual for my 2007 is printed for the Tacoma with the 2 engines Toyota put in the Tacoma, the 2.7 and the 4.0L. It gives the acceptable oil choices for each engine. Unless they changed the format for the 2012's, yours should have the same information.

 

Just took my 2010 V6 in for a blower motor swap the other day, and had them do a synthetic oil change & tire rotation while I was there. They filled it with 0w20. The service manager said this came down from on high at Toyota corporate. Said it's the new standard for all the 4.0L V6s.

 

Fuel economy and emissions regulations.
0w20 provides a slight edge in fuel economy... not enough to make a difference in your wallet, but enough to make a difference to Toyota's CAFE rating.


Things like this is why it is laughable that people claim the automakers are in bed with the oil producers and that's why they don't put hydrogen generation systems and 100mpg throttle bodies on our vehicles.

I stick with 5w30.

 

Put the lowest grade you can use per Toyota, as most of the engine use occurs at startup, where oil is sparse, this way you will feed your engine's vital parts quicker when starting, and will save a few % in fuel economy (using 0-20).

 

Double-edged sword.

Lighter oil flows better. That is a good thing.
Lighter oil also runs off of surfaces and back into the pan "better"
That is a bad thing.

Quality synthetic oil has much better film retention than "dino" and is not generally something to be concerned about, but personally, on any vehicle with more than 50k... or in a climate that can see temperatures in excess of 90 degrees, I stick with nothing lighter than 5w30 synthetic.

 

It is said that the most engine wear occurs in the first few seconds of starting a engine. This is reason that the "0" weight oil is being used these days. It is the thinest oil available till they get into negative numbers.
The wear from oil not sticking to metal parts is minimal,compared to the engine cranking, as long as you have good oil pressure, the thinner oil will not cause more wear. I remember when 40 weight oil was all the rage, and 30 weight was considered the cheap thin oil.
As the manufactors have to meet higher gas mileage numbers, all the tricks in the book will be used to get a little bit here and there to get their mileage numbers.