Normal for Synthetic Upgrade at 10K service?

More searching, more conflicting info. Long story short, seems 5/30 is standard. 0/20 shouldn't do any damage, especially if not subjecting to very high temps/load.

My only concern would be towing...which if I did would probably be 1-3 times before the next change, assuming again I don't get this stuff replaced.

 

Just look at your oil filler cap.
THAT is the oil weight that Toyota specifies for your engine.

No conflicting information on that cap.

 

exactly

You should be fine with the 0 weight as you are in a colder climate. However I would switch back to the 5w-30 that is spec'd for your motor and only go up from there.

You can always go back....

 

You can't go back as in:

You can't go back to conventional oil? Myth
You can't go back to 5w30? Not true
You can't go back to the dealer?
If they did not use the oil specified by Toyota, you bet your ass you can go back and they need to correct it.

 

And correct it for free as they were the ones that fucked up. Unless that is the code they bill everything out on. If you got a shady writer or tech he could have up charged you and only put in the regular.....

 

Back to conventional, that's what I've always heard. I'm not opposed to synthetic I was just surprised to see it. My only concern is the weight of the oil that they used.

 

Oh, the service was free. I have free service for 3 years or 60 k (or something like that, I can't remember exactly anymore).

 

But if you get a proper technician next time that knows your truck doesn't need synthetic, the dealership will charge you extra for synthetic. It won't be free. You'll either have to pay their price for synthetic or bring your own oil with you.

 

You can go back, however why you would is beyond me? If you do the math on synthetic vs conventional you end up saving a couple bucks by doing Syn as you can go between 10-15k on synthetics. Granted 15 is pushing its life span quite a bit. As compared to conventional with only 3k in changes......

 

No one recommends 3k change intervals anymore, even with conventional oil. Toyota recommends 5K, even with most of their cars that come with 0W-20 synthetic.

 

5k on synthetic is a waste. And I don't trust conventional beyond 3k

 

Why not?

Have you run UOA to provide any support that conventional oil is done at 3001?

It is nonsense marketing pushed by oil manufacturers, auto parts retailers, and oil-change places.
No auto manufacturer has recommended 3k oil changes in the last 40 years, and Toyota used to allow for up to 7500 on conventional oil before they started putting the "Maintenance Required" idiot light on the dash.. that started in the early 2000 series. My '03 Tundra had no light and allowed 7500. Wife's '04 Rav4 got a facelifted dash and got the light, 5k only.
The Tacoma probably got the light with the 2001 facelift. Betcha the owner's manual for a 2000 Tacoma allows 7500.

And on 5k on synthetic being a waste, it's not.
Synthetic has many advantaged over conventional. Extended drain intervals is ONE of those advantages, but by going to extended drain intervals, you begin to compromise the other advantages.

Like the 3k drain intervals on conventional being marketing, extended drain intervals on synthetic are also a marketing tactic to get consumers to be more accepting of the higher price.
A conventional oil change costs you $25 every 3000 miles, or synthetic (overpriced Amsoil/EAO filter) costs you $75 every 15,000.
The Amsoil has actually SAVED you $50.

But by going to 15k intervals, you begin to give up the superior qualities of synthetic with respect to shear stability, film retention, and coking resistance.

 

I find it hard to buy that the engines have been redesigned to a point that they are that much tighter that they need

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

0W-20 oil in the last few years vs. the same engine of lets say 5-8 years ago.

Do ya tink dat EPA mileage regs may have somptin' to do wit it????????????

My 05 V6 calls for 5W-30 or 10W-30 under emergency conditions when 5W-30 is not available. I just don't think the engine has been redone to a point that warrants a change to 0W-20 unless it is for EPA mandates.

 

Part of it is EPA requirements.
Part of it is advancements in engine design and construction.
Part of it is advancements in oil technology.

The best oil to run in any engine is the LIGHTEST oil that meets the acceptable weight for your operating conditions and temperatures.
If you are not seeing an oil pressure light at idle on a hot engine, and that oil is specified by the manufacturer, your oil is heavy enough.
In some engines, such as our VVTi engines, the cam timing is controlled by oil pressure. Using an oil weight other than recommended by Toyota COULD cause the valve timing to be off.

And WRT your '05 V6... even the '14 V6 calls for 5w30,
The spec has not yet been changed for the 4.0

 

I'm leaning towards keeping this oil at least until the next oil change and see how it goes. If there is no danger of damage I'll give it a shot.

 

According to Rich, and I'd take his advice, you could do some damage running oil that is below the recommended weight. I wouldn't push it, but it's not my truck.

 

I would not be concerned about actual damage... but the VVTi system operates from oil pressure. The software that operates the valves senses ambient and engine coolant temperature, and for the 4.0, it is going to be programmed for 5w30.

Worst case, cam timing is slightly off. It's not going to hurt anything, except maybe a slight change in power/MPG.

Main point is that the dealer screwed up and installed the incorrect "part" for the vehicle.