Hayk

iTrader: (1)

We had a 2008 rx350 before the 2011 model, and I did all the oil changes on that vehicle myself. Now to my knowledge, the 2011 uses the exact same engine, but yet Lexus requires 0w20 or 5w20 for the third generation RX. And the second gen required the 5w30. Why did they switch? It's very hard to find 0w20, so do you think I should be okay with 5w30?

Also, sorry if this has been answered before, I'm typing this from my phone.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

What's the discount for Club Lexus?

I searched online, and it seems like the only reason they switched to a thinner oil is because of the CAFE standards. This is kind of frustrating, since I can save $1-3 per quart if I buy the more common 5W30. And that's pretty substantial, since you need 7 quarts for each oil change.

edit: Never mind, I found a cheaper supplier for the Lexus 0W20.

wes77

What are CAFE standards?

My buddy says stick with 0W-20...

BCRCornet

"The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) are regulations in the United States, first enacted by US Congress in 1975,[1] and intended to improve the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks (trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles) sold in the US..."

See Wikipedia article.

jadu

iTrader: (42)

my new tacoma also requires the 0W-20, my mazda requires 5W-20

0W allows for more extreme temps.. I'd stick with 0W since your in NJ

Cruiter

You're right in that it's the same 'displacement', but it's NOT the same engine. In 2010, the RX series Gen III, got a new engine family for both the 350 and the 450h. They are new low friction engines and also have less driven by belts. For instance the 450h is total electric for the A/C, Power Steering, and throttle and the 350 as well for many things. You no longer have a belt driving the overhead cams, they are internally driven (like Porsche's) with chains which means less maintenance to you.

And; being low friction design they run on 0w20w and running a higher weight oil can and probably will cause you problems. Also 10K between oil changes with normal driving is the recommendation now.

happy1977

^As for the new recommended oil change mileage, what made ok to have it at every 10k? Is it the engine design or the engine oil used?

MEP7557

It's the synthetic oil.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

That's just accessories, the engine is identical. Also, the previous gen used a timing chain as well.

JimH2

A few enlightening articles:

http://www.pinkbird.com/news.nsf/8d7e3f1a0a36785e852576c4004b311e/cee95198e6905ef3852576c4004b92fe/$FILE/0W-20%20Time%20Has%20Come.pdf

http://bobistheoilguy.com/cms/index....onth&Itemid=92

JimH2

Pdf file from above reference to article:

MEP7557

Great article, good info. Thx

JimH2

I thought the enclosed article was one of the better articles explaining oil viscosity and the use of designated viscosities for a car. The bottom line is that using the OEM recommended oil viscosity (multi-weight) is the correct one for the vehicle.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

Just an update. I enjoyed the Bob the Oil Guy Article (I'm only halfway through though).

I bought some Mobil 1 0W20 locally, because the Lexus supplier I found earlier could not ship liquids (corporate policy). And the Lexus dealers around me were more expensive than the store I got the oil from.

I mentioned this in another thread, but I'll say it again here (in case somebody comes across this thread in the future). The 0W20 oil felt significantly more free-flowing than the 5W30 I used in the past. So yes, there is a huge difference between them. I'll stick with 0W20 for the future oil changes. Btw, the oil is the same price, if not cheaper than what I used to buy before.

Cruiter

Thanks Jim, that article was a bit more technical than I needed before breakfast , but once started was a good read. Especially since I stuck with it to the last paragraph where it described that the new 0w20w oils were even better when cold in the older design engines.

That's new info for an old dog but there's still room to cram it in .

Hopefully all the folk that are stuck in the past with heavier weight oils being better will read and head. It's time for a paradigm shift in that thinking.

I also liked the earlier .pdf article describing in somewhat simpler terms why the new engines are using the 0w20w oils.