Ow/20 Oil Weight

I drained and replaced my engine oil last night. I've never used 0W-20 before, but holy lord almighty, that stuff seems to be ridiculously thin. Looking at the owner's manual, it says something to the effect that using 5w-20 would be fine, but if you do, you have to put 0w-20 back in at the next interval.

I get that in order to hit the advertised MPG, you probably need to use the recommended weight, but lets be honest, AINT NOBODY GETTIN THE ADVERTISED MPG. With that being said, I live in the southeast where we don't really know what winter feels like....you think I'd be wrong/crazy to use a thicker weight? Or should I stop worrying because in the grand scheme this ultra thin fully synthetic stuff is A-OK....

 

I've used 0w20 synthetic for years in my Honda Civic and when I had my 2008 Tacoma 2.7. Never had an issue.

 

Unless I'm reading the owners manual wrong, it doesn't say that you have to switch back. It just says that you need to change every 5k if you are using 5w-20 whereas the 0w-20 can go 10k between changes.

 

5w-20 blend or dino maybe but why would interval be any different for 0-20 vs 5-20 full syn?

 

Auto manufacturers actually spend quite a bit of time, money, effort, thrashing their automobiles to figure out what the best oil to use is. I've talked with people that worked on Lubrication Testing at a major auto maker.... when they have an oil recommendation, it is no BS. I consider myself a pretty smart fella, but I don't have the knowledge to recommend something "better" than what Toyota recommended. If you want to be an oil guinea pig, you can take that risk..... but you can bet Toyota already tested 5W-20 and has a good idea what the best oil to use would be.

I'd just use what the manufacturer recommends.

 

Here is a pretty good explanation of what the numbers actually mean...... http://www.driverstechnology.co.uk/oils.htm

In short:
As far as 0W-20 and 5W-20 @100C, both oils should exhibit the same viscosity. @ winter temperatures (cold start), the 0W-20 will be a little thinner (which is a good thing).

 

Thanks man-I thought about that. Watching that stuff just come screaming out was a bit of a shock-I'm so use to watching it drain out in a much darker color from a much older engine...

 

couldn't tell you. I'm just repeating what the manual says. For the normal schedule (not severe) there is no mention of an oil change at 5k since it comes with 0-20 from factory. The first time it says to change the oil is 10k. Then at 15k, it has this: Note: If

$54 0W-20 oil Toyota/ exxon mobil Case of 6 Quarts Full Synthetic TGMO SN 0W-20 Oil

0W-20 oil WAS NOT used at the last oil change, replace engine oil and oil filter."...meaning after 5k. It says that for every interval of 15, 25, 35, etc.

Basically it says to replace every 10k if you stick with 0-20 and do it every 5k if you use 5-20. That may be simply because 5-20 is available as traditional and 0-20 is always synthetic.

 

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/motor-oil-101/

Maybe this will help to put your mind at ease. It's a good read. Also, an oil analisis is the only way to truly tell what your oils useful life is.

 

Used oil analyses on high mileage engines running 0w-20 are coming out just fine. No worries.

 

Once I am out of warranty I am running 5w30 or 0w40/5w40

 

Why?

 

People don't understand that newer engines have much tighter tolerances than ten years ago. Using a thicker oil will only cause more friction in the engine... 0w-20 is just fine.. Some cars are now using 0w-10

 

Margin of error and that would help me by not requiring me to keep another weight of oil around. The 2.7 used to be speced for 5w30 if I am correct and I don't see any reason why it would cause any issues other than maybe some very small decrease in miles per gallon. If it taps or something I will go back to 0w20.

 

Tighter tolerances need lighter oil....if not you get wear cuz heavier oil don't get in there as easy as lighter oil...!!

Simple as dat..! Heavier oil in this engine is not smart.

 

Tighter tolerances in what? Bearings? I am happy to be convinced otherwise, but I don't see how 0w20 was anything other than a way to eek out a little better mpg.

 

Read the link in post #9.

 

I've never understood the concern of this oil seems too thin when I drain it out. I agree, it is definitely thinner than what most are used to. But how thick do ya'll think 5w-20 is at 180 degrees? Oil is pretty thin once it warms up. And it's not a bad thing that it's thin when it's cold. If you're debating 5w-20 vs 0w-20, don't. Most 5w-20's are not any thicker at operating temps unless you get redline or a euro formula or something like that which do not meet the ILSAC GF-5 spec called for. If you have special operating conditions that warrant a thicker oil because you typically run higher engine temps, you probably already know who you are. If you're not sure, use what the mfr recommends.

 

wal-mart has these mobile 1 0w-20 for $22.xx on sale