I'm using Redline 5w-20, and I love it too! The car saves gas so much more easier than 5w-30...... I hit 22mpg in heavy traffic and parking garages easily. I do spend a lot of my time now in traffic over highways too.

 

I'm running 5w-30 in my GS350 and BMW, and 0w-20 in my wife's RX350 - all per manufacturer's recommendations. The only change I made was to switch to synthetic in my Lexus, vs. the conventional oil used by the dealer. I'm averaging over 30 mpg on the road with each of mine, and around 24 mpg in the RX. I see no reason to change at tis time.

 

umm so from the chart i see that a 2000 Es300 can take all three 5W30 ,5W20 and 0W20 too???

 

My friend with a 98 ES has had 0W20 in it from the Lexus dealer in his for 3+ years now. Not a single issue. He works at Lexus dealer, he would know if there is an issue.

 

but the manual does not mentions other kinds of grade..and now i read this..arrr why this confusion

 

This is because they RECCOMEND what your manual says, but say you're in a pinch? You can use the other VARIOUS oils if you need to for temporary.... But it has no ill effects if you use a GOOD oil.

 

I look at it this way, the oils we have today didn't exist when the engineers designed and spec'd the oil for the car. Like my 80 Turbo T/A was spec'd for 30W (30F and up) and 10W30 (30F and lower) and very strict about it over 30F to use 30W only. That was SE oil. Now we are up to SN. I would bet a dollar that the engineers wouldn't have spec'd those same weight oils if they had SN oils at the time.

GM dropped the factory engine oil cooler when they went to synthetic because they oil temps were able to be controlled better with synthetic. And if oil temps did soar (remember the Corvette is spec'd for race conditions), the synthetic is capable of handling the stress. Dino oil needed an oil cooler to cope with the temps to keep it from getting beyond fire point of the dino oil.

I am fan of engine oil coolers that use engine coolant to cool the oil, they also warm the oil up to at least coolant temp faster than no cooler alone. This helps mpg in cool weather and helps warm it up quicker to get the moisture out of the oil faster.

 

I switched to 0W20 Mobil 1 and I'm hearing slot more engine noise at cold temps and during warm up in my 07 GSh. The engine knock is so prevalent I'm considering changing my oil early after only a couple hundred miles back to the recommended 5w30 I don't notice any increase in gas mileage per tank so there's no point from what I can tell..

 

Sounds like piston slap. But I would be surprised if the oil makes any difference. GM has a lot of problems with slap. The oil is so thick when cold if is slapping with 0w20 I would bet it will slap with 5w30 too.

 

I am thinking of switching to 0w20, but i am a little skeptic. Is anyone running this up north? It is freezing cold up here lately in MA. Especially in the mornings!

 

My son is running 5w20 in his 251k mile 94 Fleetwood. No issues.

So a tighter spec Lexus will be fine. Honesty people over think it. Read Dr. Haas' articles on it.

 

Will the dealer do 0w20 or will I have to get it done somewhere else? My car's been getting harder to start in this 0 degree weather, so I'm thinking about going full-synthetic and getting a new battery.

 

What kind of car? I am sure they will do whatever you pay them to do.

 

2010 Gs350. Just wasn't sure whether it was an oil that they would have in stock or if I would have to bring them a few jugs.

 

I am sure they have synthetic 0w20 in stock, isn't 0w20
OEM fill anyway?