TunedRX300

Toyota has released an official TSIB to recommend 5w-20 and 0w-20 last year. Exact quote from Toyota



Most 5w-20 UOAs posted BITOG show better wear number than 5w-30, which verify claims made by Toyota.

Max707

Reread your post where it says *Note* use the grade oil that is indicated on your oil cap. Mine says 5w30.

TunedRX300

5w-20 and 0w-20 are factory filled in these engines at Toyota's plants starting at March 2006. If you search, you will find owners are confused that their oil caps say 5w-30 and owner's manuals say 5w-20. Most owners should be smart enough to look into reasons behind oil recommendation instead of blindly following an outdated mark. Especially when Toyota simply do not want to scrap an huge inventory of outdated cap.
I realize there are folks that must use XXX despite indepent scientific data and what OEM uses here. That is fine but let's not question other's experience w/o some facts.

geko29

I know this has already been answered, but I wanted to go into a bit more detail for you. Most grades of Mobil 1 are made almost entirely of Group III base oil. That is, dino (conventional, or Group II) oil that has been chemically modified for better lubricity and other characteristics. True synthetics are Group IV (PAO) and Group V (Ester) bases. Mobil 1 does include a SMALL amount of PAO in all their oils. They call it "SuperSyn". They toss a bit of REAL synthetic oil in there as an additive and pretend that it's a full synthetic oil, because US law allows them to. If you want a REAL synthetic oil, you need one of the following:
Amsoil
Royal Purple
Redline
Motul
German Castrol
There are a few others, but those are the biggies. Nearly every multiweight oil (those with a w in the designation, like 5w30) you can buy at your local store is a fake Group III "synthetic" just like Mobil 1.

Max707

What are you talking about. My 2004 recommends 5w30 not 5w20. Based on research I would rather use a 5w30 then a 5w20. One of the big reasons that all of the auto manufactures are going to 5w20 oil is it increases gas mileage, do your research it is better for the manufacture not better for the long term dependablity of your engine.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

TunedRX300 is saying those with newer lexus (2006+ models) will find that their oil cap says 5w-30, but the manual will state 5w-20.

The newer 06+ GS430 uses the 3UZ-FE engine that is carried over from the 01-05 GS430. The engines are exactly the same in both cases, yet one says 5w-20 and the older one says 5w-20. If Lexus is able to switch over to 5w-20 on factory fills, then there is no reason why the guys with the 01-05 GS430 can't do the same.

Max707

Why would they want to do that? Less protection for their engine. Same 5 weight for both oils when cold and when hot the 30 weight gives better protection over the 20 weight.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

If toyota was aware that 5w-20 would give their engines some sort of failure, I would think they know about it by now. Fact is, not only Toyota is switching to 5w-20.

I use 5w-20 in my engine because my engine doesn't even get up to temperature, so 5w-20 works better. And plus like TunedRX300 said, UOA have shown 5w-20 to wear better than 5w-30. Personally I dont have any trouble with both viscosities.

TunedRX300

GSteg,
Thanks for clarifying what I meant.
To give another example, Acura/Honda made the switch in 2002, the TL did not make a single change in the J32 engine. Junk yard are not filled up with post 2001 TLs with dead engines either.

What is the point to show further data? Logic, Toyota official statement of 20 weight protecting engine better, and BITOG UOA data won't make a single difference if one choose not to believe them in the first place. Just not worth it.

firewire

Just used Royal Purple for the first time ever and noticed that it's transparent in color! I have never seen oil this transparent. Is this normal?

Max707

Why doesn't my local Lexus dealer use 5w20 in my 2004 LX470 if it is a better oil then the 5w30?

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

because the TSIB is for 06+ and they'll service cars accordingly to what they're told to do. For the home mechanics out there, they'll change it to 5w-20 if they know it's better.

Max707

OK, can you point me to some expert analysis that shows it is better for my engine, other then MPG? Will it make my engine last longer? Will it give me better MPG with no adverse effect? Just want to see some study info versus assumptions that since the manufactures are changing to 5w20 it must be better. Thanks

2007es350

The LS460 calls for either 5w20 or 0w20. It is far less convenient to hunt down this weight....but I'm definitely going to follow the factory recommendations.

UberNoob

so my local autoparts store sells 5w20 for $5.52 CAD per liter
plus some environmental fee that government charges for all engine oil and stuff...
so thats like approx. $5 USD per quart

is that a good price?

can i mix it with the mobil 1 5w30 that i still have?
or castrol GTX 5w30?
or should i just give the GTX to my friend?