Can I run 5w-30 in my 2016 Tacoma?

I don’t have a ton of info to combat that since I really don’t know anything about those motors and I likely never will. Mostly focus on what I own or what I’m interested. I would say plain Jane is probably right about them too. I google searched the quotes and found the RAV4 forum where I think you got them from. The ONLY hangup I have that keeps me from going against that guy’s claims is that maybe the electronically controlled pump keeps an eye on engine temp to estimate the thickness of the oil and acts accordingly? IF (and that’s a big if) it actually factors in that data then I could see maybe sticking with 0w-16 being an important thing. But I mean looking at what plain Jane said above he isn’t doing that and they are going just fine as well.

I would agree the Australian or other country spec engines might have different programming so no telling, BUT if Australia owners are allowed a range (aka “anything from 0w-16 to 15w-40 is fine”), then I don’t see how any of this could matter that much because the engine wouldn’t know which one you threw in there and wouldn’t know how to act accordingly. Either way sounds like that engine could have been designed around a specific oil and it may matter more there depending.

For us and other vehicles, I don’t think they design many engines around specific oils for the most part. I think they design the engine and then throw in whatever oil they wanted to throw in which this day and age is naturally a thin one for EPA/CAFE reasons. Just like 15-20 years ago they would have thrown in 5w-30 or 5w-20 (depending on manufacturer mostly) and just like 30 years ago 10w-30 or 5w-30.

Based on the recommendations in other countries, I don’t see how they could possibly design the engine for anything other than “oil” and then just tell you what they think is best in each specific manual based on location (factoring in things like CAFE here, resulting in their 0w-20 and temporary 5W-20) recommendation. The funny thing about the 5W-20 recommendation is it’s pretty obvious that it doesn’t mean much. You can run it for one oil change but not for two? Why, the engine likes it for 10k but stops liking it at 10,001 miles? Just doesn’t make any sense. Clearly sounds like a EPA driven statement.

 

You only supposed to run the 5w-20 for 5k, your supposed to swap it out for 0w-20 at the next 5k maintenance interval.

 

I've researched the owner's manual on the following vehicles I own(ed):

• 2GR-FE Avalon
• 2TR-FE Tacoma
• 1GR-FE 4Runner
• M20A-FKS Corolla
• M25A-FKS Camry
• 2GR-FKS Tacoma

all of them say:

• if XX-XX oil not available, use XX-XX oil (a little bit higher viscosity), and change back the next oil change interval
• in some application, such as towing, high speed driving, higher viscosity is more suited

I really wish they could elaborate on the bold portion.

 

Whoops, I’m gonna be honest I didn’t refresh myself on the statement and it’s been a while since I read it. Still, makes no sense at 5k either.

 

Would be nice.

 

I would agree with the mechanic.

Many many opinions here, 0w20 would likely be fine, but 5W30 syn would be a better choice.

I've heard some dealers in AZ do this as well.

 

Get the FK outta there then.

 

It runs fine in mine?

 

Car Care nut guy on youtube says if 0w20 is too thin, the next step up is 5w30. I'm using full synthetic 0w30 which meets the latest GF standard, in a hot climate, and wouldn't want or need anything thicker.

 

0w20 oils are all synthetic. 5w20 oils can be conventional, synthetic or blends. Toyota bases their recommendations on whatever TGMO is. Their 5w20 is conventional. So they have to assume all 5w20 is conventional (they don't actually think that) to play it safe. They know the average person hasn't a clue what's in the crank case. What they don't want is someone running around for 10k miles on conventional oil. If the 5w20 you're using is synthetic then you don't have to change it.

 

Fwiw

At 40 degrees centrgrade the 0w20 Penzoil Platinum has a viscosity of 44.0, the 5w30 has a viscosity of 56.4. This may sound like a big difference but by 100 degrees centegrade that viscosity is 8.3 and 10.1 respectively.

On top of that, SAE J300 only defines the TEMPERATURE for the cold temp rating, not the viscosity exactly. Per the standard 0W and 5W have to be below the SAME dynamic viscosity but 0W has to do it at 5 degrees colder (-40 and -35 C respectively). The 20 or 30 is actually closer to starting temps in hot climates (40 degrees C) and the first value MAY not indicate an actual difference at hot weather starting temp (not specifically anyways)

Even that may sound like a big enough difference until you realize that the cold crank viscosity is 5,396 and 4871 for each of those oils, or over a hundred times thicker.

Point being, you are not changing much so don't worry about it.

https://pqia.org/pennzoil-platinum-sae-0w-20-full-synthetic-motor-oil/

https://pqia.org/pennzoil-ultra-platinum-sae-5w-30-full-synthetic-motor-oil/

 

That makes more sense. Still weird they say you must return to 0w-20. Well, not weird, I’m sure it’s an EPA thing, but still dumb.

 

Well....they say that for 2 reasons. One, they would rather you have synthetic in the engine. And by saying that, they are tipping their hat to the EPA.

I encourage everyone to back up a 2 or 3 pages. There's a lot of good info.

Also.....something to ponder. Millions and millions of oil changes every year on Toyota engines, be it mom/pop garages, dealerships, instant oil change shops, tire shops, DIYs, etc. Trust me, there's been countless times 5w30 has been put in "0w20 engines".

Also....has I stated early, Toyota even goes so far as to say "an oil of a heavier weight may be more appropriate for XXXX conditions. Do you think they would say this if it were harmful to do so?

And certainly it would be listed in the manual in bold print: DO NOT USE Xw-XX OIL AS DAMAGE MAY OCCURE.....or something along those lines. Not a mention of any such things.

 

I'm sure the average person doesn't realize that a particular viscosity is not specific point, but rather a number on a spectrum. The viscosity of 2 different 0w20s, lets say, can vary some from brand to brand and still both be 0w20.

But your absolutely correct. There isn't a massive difference between 0w and 5w for cold flow. In fact, it's really negligible. And operating temperature viscosity is in the same universe. I would tip my hat to the 5w30 having a bit more film strength and slightly more resistant to slipping a grade over time in a DI engine

 

Heck, most folks don't realize that 5W30 and 75W90 gear oil can be closer to each other at operating temp than 5W30 is to itself just between warming up and warmed up.

 

That's why when I hear people say things like "5w30 is too thick" I just shake my head. Too thick for what? That 0w20 you have in your engine is many times more viscous at startup and for the first few miles than the 5w30 is at operating temperature.

 

Lived there for 10 years.

 

im originally Lebanese and my family is here. I’ll eventually come back to Texas but not yet.

 

All i've been told by one of the senior service tech's at the toyota dealers is these engines today have been manufacture with tighter more precision machining and components that they no longer need the viscosity motor oils of yesterday, but they do throw more heat running more efficient the reason for synthetics.

 

Oil threads are awesome!