Engine oil
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 668
Likes: 11
From: Ontario
5w20 and 0w20 have been back spec'd for these engines - use them with no fear, unless you're burning oil, in which case you might want a heavier weight.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,329
Likes: 210
From: Miami, Florida
The 3MZFE engine in the RX330 is much better than the 1MZFE in the oil passage department so it will handle the 20 to 40 much better than my own RX300.
Again, he can run a 20, but he's going to have to watch to see if there's consumption issues or not. Moreover, oil degrades or shears over use.
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Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 668
Likes: 11
From: Ontario
Newer modern oil are much much less prone to shearing than oil from the past. I don't think any modern 5w30 will shear much and a 5w20 even less.
Did the 300 have smaller oil passages, or was it a heat problem that led to the sludge problems? If it's smaller oil passages, I would think that a lighter weight oil would actually flow better.
Did the 300 have smaller oil passages, or was it a heat problem that led to the sludge problems? If it's smaller oil passages, I would think that a lighter weight oil would actually flow better.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
The range of numbers are representative of flow at temperature.
In old days when the range was not there, typically the higher weight was thicker at room temperature. So in comparison it was reasonable to say thinner oil vs thicker oil in place of W#.
With modern oil for engines, additives are added to stabilize or make the flow rate less dependent on temperature hence we get a range of oil weight like 5W30 etc.
The leap lot of folks are making here is that 5w30 vs 10w30, the 5w30 will be thinner. It may be correct or it may not be correct. The specification only means that in colder climate, the 5W30 will maintain the required flow rate [for temperatures that require "5" weight, 5W30 can work while 10W30 may not].
On a personal note, I prefer the range to be narrow. I suggest opening up the user manual and select the right oil, based on the geographical area you drive your vehicle in. 0W30 practically covers all of the continental USA ... almost like group "O" blood.
Salim
In old days when the range was not there, typically the higher weight was thicker at room temperature. So in comparison it was reasonable to say thinner oil vs thicker oil in place of W#.
With modern oil for engines, additives are added to stabilize or make the flow rate less dependent on temperature hence we get a range of oil weight like 5W30 etc.
The leap lot of folks are making here is that 5w30 vs 10w30, the 5w30 will be thinner. It may be correct or it may not be correct. The specification only means that in colder climate, the 5W30 will maintain the required flow rate [for temperatures that require "5" weight, 5W30 can work while 10W30 may not].
On a personal note, I prefer the range to be narrow. I suggest opening up the user manual and select the right oil, based on the geographical area you drive your vehicle in. 0W30 practically covers all of the continental USA ... almost like group "O" blood.
Salim
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