2v1g

I drive 5k miles a year, change oil only once a year and the temperature can reach -22F in the winter. Is it better to use 0W-20 than 5W-20?

roadfrog

You should be using 0W20 all year round...Winter or not. "Better" is subjective, but there's little difference, based on your concerns.

2v1g

In previous owner service record, it is always use 5W-20 in Toronto, which is slightly warmer than my area. 0W is lighter, so easy on the engine in the winter?

roadfrog

Dealerships do whatever they want, but Lexus prefers you use 0W20 all year regardless of whether you drive in Bahrain or Siberia.

superdenso

I will use 0w30 but there is no chance of 0w20 going into my car. 0w20 was a weird attempt to get better mpg's and it doesn't workout well. You can research this topic about Toyota and 0w20 all over the net. And another thing, I will not buy manufacturer branded oil (i.e. Acura, Toyota, Mazda). Mercedes, Bentley and Corvette recommend Mobil1; if it's good enough for them, thats what I use when Redline is not available.

From the MANUAL:
Oil viscosity
The 0W portion of the oil viscosity rating indicates a characteristic of the oil which allows cold startability. Oils with a lower value before the W allow for easier starting of the engine in cold weather.
The 20 in 0W-20 indicates the oil viscosity when the oil is at its operating temperature. An oil with a higher viscosity may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high speeds, or under extreme load condition.

2v1g

0W-20 or 0W-30 ?

I don't know which one to use now.

Kennyr44

My LS400 used no oil between oil changes at 198,000 miles with 5-30. If I put 0-20 in it I could smell it burning out the tailpipe. I tried this a couple times and dumped it both times and went back to 5-30 or 10-30. Problem went away. I wont use 0-20 but I let them put it in my 4 Runner at the free services till they end.

Tec80

Use either 0W20 or 0W30. There's really not much difference in their viscosities when at operating temperature, which is most of the time the engine is running. The brand of oil used probably makes more difference to engine longevity than the viscosity difference between 20&30.

superdenso

In other news, Mobil1 offers a filter that is rated for 15K gauranteed (when used with synthetic oil). May just couple this filter (MIC-256) with some Mob1 0w30.

https://mobiloil.com/en/oil-filters/...ce-oil-filters

2v1g

Toyota' engine oil is not as good as Mobil 1?

Doublebase

Saw an interesting video the other night, a Mercedes tech was saying he treats oil changes and oil viscosity differently depending on mileage of the engine. He believes go with factory recommendations up until 80,000 miles (duration and viscosity). He then reduces the interval after 80,000 miles (drops it from 10,000 to 7,000). Then when the engine gets up over 120,000 miles he considers the engine has gone through another transformation and he adjusts the oil changes accordingly - he increases the viscocity of the oil and he reduces the interval to 6,000. He says he's had great success with engines and oil usage by adjusting it like that...he tries to accommodate the engine wear with thicker viscosity and shorter intervals. It makes sense to a certain degree.

roadfrog

Toyota oil is made by Mobil 1.

Tec80

Doublebase, that Mercedes tech is very wise. As the engine ages, it makes the oil dirty at a faster rate due to increased blowby. So it actually does require more frequent oil changes, which is exactly opposite what most people do as their cars age. Even maintaining the same change interval (if longer than 5k) can be detrimental as the engine accumulates high hours - the engine will deplete the additive package faster, causing the oil to become acidic.

superdenso

Idk about any blowby on a 500 motor. The recommended oil is 0w40, so where are you gonna go with the viscosity 20w50? I'll pass on that one.

Oliver Enterprises

Stick with 0W-20, as per the owner's manual. I can't imagine why anyone would run anything but 0W-20 or 5W-20, just based on the Toyota recommendation alone. Not that I think it would necessarily hurt anything to run 0W-30. 20 (or 30) will be the viscosity of the oil once the engine and oil is warmed up. If the choice to run 0W-30 is based on availability, I can see that. I don't think it would hurt anything ... but whoever does may get 0.01 mpg less fuel economy.