Lexmexico

I went to Walmart yesterday, and to my surprise, they are now selling Mobil 1 5W-50 for about $7.50 US a liter. Will wait until my next oil change to experiment with this.

Anyone else in the U.S. see 5W-50?

LB Lex

Yup, I use Mobile 1 5w-50. I get the 5 quart jug from Walmart for $20. My engine has 198,000 miles on it and it burns maybe 1/2 quart between oil changes (6,000 miles). If I use the lighter weight oils it burns a little more.

Lexmexico

I had never seen it in the states, when did you first start seeing it up there?

Lexusfreak

I've seen the 5W 50 for years here in Canada & in the states....both Quaker state & Castrol. I used the Castrol syntech 5W 50 for years in my high milage Buick Riviera and it was good stuff! Thicker oil resists burning better than the 5W30, but at a slight increase in fuel consumption. Engine ran a bit quieter because of the thicker grade too. This is the first I've heard that Mobil 1 now offers the 5W 50 grade. Very intresting!!

Lexmex

Lexusfreak,

Changed my name to Lexmex, sounds cooler.

This is also the first time I have seen 5W-50 in Mexico. I contacted Mobil Mexico yesterday and they started importing it on April 1st.

They had gotten too many complaints that all they sold was 15W-50 (it was hard enough for me to locate 5W-30 or 10W-30) and that cars could not handle this regardless of the altitude or climate. Apparently, it is only being sold in certain areas in Mexico. I think Guadalajara is another area. Mexico City would definitely need it.

I go to a lot of auto shows and sponsor a group. One of their members is entering a VW Golf. We put in the new 5W-50 and the car just loves the stuff. We had tried 15W-50 and it was just a slug.

I plan to switch to 5W-50 in about 2,000 miles and will report back to clublexus with my findings.

Perhaps someone along the Mexican border can check in Walmart or with a Mobil distrubutor on the other side of the border to see if they offer it.

HarrierAWD

Just FYI: I've been driving my RX300 in high altitude for over a year, from 5,300 to over 14,000 feet (Mt. Evans in Colorado.) Made several trips across the Rockies at 75 mph. It never burned a bit of oil. I use dino 5W30. I hear some people use 10W40 on old cars to reduce oil consumption. Give it a try if you can find 10W40 in Mexico (or El Paso Walmart.)

I like your new name LexMex. Register your name so maybe Lexus (Lex U.S.) will have to buy it from you when they want to do business in Mexico. (Lex Mex)

Lexmex

Speaking of lexmex. I did notice that Lexus.com.mx has been registered by Toyota for several years.

I was at a car show yesterday and heard varying rumors on their arrival, one said August 2004 and another said early 2005. Biggest issue for me is getting a parts system in place for Lexus as it causes headaches for the 100 or so people who live here full time that have Lexuses in Mexico.

Incidentally, Toyota Mexico told me that Toyotas sold in the States have coverage here in Mexico. I remember reading something in my Lexus owner's manual with regard to Mexico (a phone number) but do not have it off-hand.

I am not surprised that you did not burn any dino oil. I know someone here with an old 91 LS400. He has had it in Mexico since 1990 (incredible given no Toyota until 2002). He used regular 5W-30 for many years given the lack of synthetic and also encountered no consumption issues. However, when he switched about 1.5 years ago on my advice to Mobil 1 5W-30 he encountered consumption issues. He is going to switch to the new 5W-50 in about 1,000 miles. I need 2,000 more miles to change. Will report back my findings on both vehicles.

I think synthetic is a better bet given the sludge issue and the fact we are so far from home.

We don't have 10W-40 here, but he do have 0W-40, but that is not a good idea either.

jtanoyo1

Here in sunny and super hot Indonesia, it is recommended for my car which is a twin turbo to use no less than a 10w-40 (which is the recommended by the handbook) but I took it a step further and went up to 15w-50. I notice better acceleration, smoother engine response and overall seemingly happier car than the previous oil that was used (5w-50 eeeek!)

jtanoyo1

By the way, I read somewhere online that the further your 1st number is to your 2nd number (5w-50 for example, instead of 10w-30), the oil would be worse for your car.

Grr, if only I could find that somewhere. They were even saying that they are pulling the 0w-40 from the shelf because of this reason.

HarrierAWD

Maybe so. The further apart the number, the more paraffin (wax) they have to put in the motor oil as viscosity adjuster. The additional wax could gum up or gell the engine.