carguy75

I have to agree.

My cousin owned a 2010 Toyota Tundra 4.6 pickup since new and it started out with a 5w-20 oil cap and then the oil cap was switched out for a 0w-20 oil cap during a later dealer oil change. My cousin fought the change at first and decided to use 5w-20 for a couple oil changes after that and then just gave up and went with the 0w-20 oil until the present day with over 100k miles no issue.

The change in oil viscosity is probably not that different between 0w-20 oil and 5w-20 oil; so it probably will not make a major difference in performance running either oil weight in a pre-2016 3.5 V6 engine. After 2016 with the new 3.5 engine; the 0w-20 oil weight may make a larger difference in how two engine runs.

I can find 0w-20 easily in my area; so I just use that oil weight in my old 2011 RX350 and my current 2015 RX350.

MattRX

https://www.rav4world.com/threads/sl.../#post-2915615

Food for thought

bison

Thank you all for the feedback and links on the topic. As clutchless mentioned I do have a bit of the cold startup rattle. On my previous 2011 Rx350 it developed the ticking from the VVTI gear and that vehicle was using 0w20. So maybe 5W30 will help in the long term. And the difference in price is negligible between the 2 oils.

carguy75

Well, the opposite desired effect may happen by going with a thicker oil in regards to your VVTi gear. The thinner oil will flow better after start-up and would be better for the hydraulic VVTi gear setup that relies on oil pressure to operate. I would just change your oil by 5k miles or sooner if possible instead of using a thicker oil.

If the VVTi gear is rattling than it may be a defective(or stuck) locking pin that causes the problem; which oil pressure will not solve. You need to fix that issue ASAP before it causes major engine damage.

Clutchless

I think that cleaning or replacing the oil filter base helps with improving start up oil flow. I think it can get gummed up a bit over the years and miles. It is easy to spray it with brake cleaner during an oil change and let it dry as the oil drains. Or just replace it as they cost less than $30 last time I looked.

Phillib4

I had cold start rattle on 2012 Rav with 2gr-fe at 140k. Owned since 73k with 5-30w 5k oil changes M1. Did an engine flush with Liqui Moly and rattle stopped. At 151k with no return of vvti rattle. Time will tell if it returns, if so will try Liqui Moly again. Also have 2015 Rx350 with 2gr-fe at 70k and use 0-20w M1 every 5k and no issues to this point.

carguy75

Your 2012 Rav4 VVTI gears was probably just stuck due to sludge buildup that was present before you bought it. The Liquid Moly treatment probably just cleaned it out and the 5k mile oil changes helped it stay clean and rattle free. It seems like the VVTi rattle on 2010 and newer 3.5 V6 engines are due more to sludge buildup than a defect; so hopefully 5k oil changes and a good engine oil treatment can cure a rattle problem if it occurs on a poorly maintained engine.

Note: I believe that Toyota may have switched to 0w-20 oil for better flow of oil for the VVTI system maybe.

RX in NC

Never noticed the oil filter canister getting gummed up over the years as Clutchless mentioned. I will take a good look at it when I do the 90,000-mile service on my wife's 2015 RX350 (probably by early summer based upon her current driving habits). Hitting it with some brake cleaner spray is a great idea.

carguy75

If you change the oil regularly(less than 10k miles) then i doubt that you will need to clean the oil filter housing, however cleaning the oil filter housing could not hurt especially if you just bought a used RX350 with high mileage since you do not know how well the engine was treated.

Sweeks2020

The funny thing is my local dealership here in Trinidad, WI uses 10w30 mineral oil (more than likely from a barrel) and changes at 5000km (3000 miles). One can argue that the temperature here is much warmer being in the Caribbean.

bison

The VVTI problem I had was on my previous 2011 RX, Although for some reason the VVTI stopped making the rattle noise on cold startups after I did my regular oil change.
Just thinking whats best long term for my 2010, as I dont drive with a light foot. With 0w20 I was doing filter/oil every 8000 KMs, Would do the same with 5w30.
And the filter canister is always cleaned out as well.

doji

Interesting to see the vvti talk in this thread. Our 2011 Lexus RX350 with 130k miles has a slight tick when I drive off in the cold, and I have to take a fairly sharp incline up the hill for about 50 yards. Happens only on really cold days here in NJ.

we just bought a 2011 RAV4 4 cylinder with 190k miles. Appeared decently maintained with regular oil changes it’s whole life. Terrible cold start rattle though and I planned to do a Liqui Moly flush tomorrow and see if it helps at all. After the purchase, I did switch to Mobil1 synthetic and the OEM oil filter. So far after 1500 miles, no engine oil consumption. Engine otherwise appears in good shape and I did a 4 hr round trip today at 80 mph, drive just fine. I did change to OEM spark plugs, did 3x D&F with Toyota WS ATF, D&R of the transfer case and rear diff fluid as well. All DIY. It’s ridiculous how expensive used RAV4s are these days even with such high mileage.

carguy75

I would let your engine warm up to operating temperature before taking the hill in the winter. The tick is probably normal I believe if the engine is not fully warmed up before you drive off.


For the RAV4, i would look into changing the timing chain tensioner to hopefully help with the chain rattle. If a new chain tensioner does not help then it my be an VVTi gear issue.

The timing chain tensioner repair process should be the same or similar to this Corolla 4 cylinder engine in these videos.