1 MZ-FE V-6 owners: What oil do you use and why?

[ChiTDI]

Originally Posted By: kozanoglu
Does anybody use Castrol Syntec 0W30 in these engines?

I do. '02 Avalon
5k OCI and the UOAs are in the section with my moniker.
152k current and the oil has never been a problem. Sits outside overnight in the winter and starts flawlessly. No sludge.

 

[kschachn]

I don't see where you say what year your 1MZ-FE is, that makes a difference. In my '99 I have used M1 most of the time with a year or two on GC when I was using that. However, I did find that the PCV valve fouled up faster on GC than it does on M1, at least that was my perception. It fouls up on anything FWIW. I take it out and clean it with each oil change.

Here is my engine at 232,000 miles, plus a link to a similar picture at 155,000. Both pics are of the front (left) side:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2204086/

This month I am taking off the rear cover to fix a leaking cover gasket and I will post a pic when I do that.

My average mileage between oil changes has been around 6000 miles although I have been going to 7000-7500 as of late.

 

[CaspianM]

Originally Posted By: moto94536

There is no way I will pay over $5 a quart for motor oil.

In my opinion, You can run any cheap dino ( with API symbol), and 5000 OCI for the older camry model. It will last forever.


How much do you save annually by using dino? $10!

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: CaspianM
Originally Posted By: moto94536

There is no way I will pay over $5 a quart for motor oil.

In my opinion, You can run any cheap dino ( with API symbol), and 5000 OCI for the older camry model. It will last forever.


How much do you save annually by using dino? $10!




Its all a matter of personal choice.

 

[CaspianM]

Exactly!

 

[PHEV]

I have a 00 Sienna with that engine. It now has 120K miles. I used synthetic up to 60 miles. After 60K miles, I have been using a 50/50 mixture of PYB and PP. After finding bitog and starting UOA experiments, I have settled on the following:
50/50 PYB and PP. 4 months or 4K miles intervals. Our normal driving is multiple short trips throughout the day. I use a Mobil-1 oil filter and replace every other oil change. Based on my UOA, it seems that TBN drops quickly in this engine.

 

[hypervish]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Okay, I wasnt going to.....but I`ll add my

. I have owned a 2001 RX300, and now my RX330. Both of them ran/run much,much better on the premium fuel over the regular fuel. And no stinky rotten egg smell from the tail pipe on premium (unless I`m really flooring it) more power for the hills around here, less transmission downshifts as someone already mentioned. Definitely smoother performance during summertime, and at least a 1.5 mile to the gallon increase over 87. All in all, I`d say it pretty much a no Brainer. Can you use 87 in the 1/3MZ-FE? sure can, but then dont expect a whole lot from it either.
'

I have to agree. Using 93 octane is worth it, at least in my situation.

 

[ChiTDI]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Originally Posted By: CaspianM
Originally Posted By: moto94536

There is no way I will pay over $5 a quart for motor oil.

In my opinion, You can run any cheap dino ( with API symbol), and 5000 OCI for the older camry model. It will last forever.


How much do you save annually by using dino? $10!




Its all a matter of personal choice.



I'd like to agree, but can't.
Personal choice , dino vs syn, 3k vs. 5k vs 10k OCI are all alternatives we have read and discussed, but this particular engine poses very real sludge issues and I'm not convinced a straight forward single choice covers everyone's situation. There are a lot of variables in everyone's driving and living habits and those need to be taken into consideration. I'm grateful at 152k I have no "oil gel" nightmares. Good posting and reading on this site has helped, for sure. To all of Bitog I am extremely thankful.
FWIW - On a related site, owner of same vehicle stated to change the TB tensioner just like the water pump during TB changes. At 157k, with only 60k on the belt, his tensioner went south and he's left with upper engine salad. New heads and valve trian to follow. Ouch.

 

[moto94536]

Originally Posted By: CaspianM
Originally Posted By: moto94536

There is no way I will pay over $5 a quart for motor oil.

In my opinion, You can run any cheap dino ( with API symbol), and 5000 OCI for the older camry model. It will last forever.


How much do you save annually by using dino? $10!


There are alot of ways to save money.. But I am not going to put 7-eleven gas or no brand name.. I personally use chevron 87.

for motor oil, I use chevron supreme 5w30 ( only $2/qt), and OEM Filter $4. 5k miles OCI, cost $14. I drive about 40,000 miles a year.

Yes. It save money. 40,000 miles, use $2 dino oil, 5k oci cost $80. use synthetic, 6k oci cost $170.

I conclude synthetic oil doesn't increase mpg. If you drive slow (60-65 mph), you will get better gas mileage.

 

[DutchBrad]

On my '03 Sienna, I run PP 5W-20 - have around 5500 miles on this oil. I will change in the spring at around 7000 miles. I will run a analysis to see how it looks. I ran the last oil (PP 5W-30) 5000 miles and Blackstone said I could run to 7000. Many short trips, but got some longer trips this past summer. Curious to see what the oil analysis says this spring. I changed out the PVC valve this past summer, wanted to make sure that was not plugged up.

 

[CaspianM]

Originally Posted By: moto94536
Originally Posted By: CaspianM
Originally Posted By: moto94536

There is no way I will pay over $5 a quart for motor oil.

In my opinion, You can run any cheap dino ( with API symbol), and 5000 OCI for the older camry model. It will last forever.


How much do you save annually by using dino? $10!


There are alot of ways to save money.. But I am not going to put 7-eleven gas or no brand name.. I personally use chevron 87.

for motor oil, I use chevron supreme 5w30 ( only $2/qt), and OEM Filter $4. 5k miles OCI, cost $14. I drive about 40,000 miles a year.

Yes. It save money. 40,000 miles, use $2 dino oil, 5k oci cost $80. use synthetic, 6k oci cost $170.

I conclude synthetic oil doesn't increase mpg. If you drive slow (60-65 mph), you will get better gas mileage.


If you use M1 EP and change it 10k since you don't do short trips ($35 w/filter) you would be spending $140 not $170. It is a much better oil. Obviously you get what you pay for however if money is tight Chevron or any other cheap oil makes sense. Last time I looked the days of $2.00 oil are gone for good.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: CaspianM
Originally Posted By: moto94536
Originally Posted By: CaspianM
Originally Posted By: moto94536

There is no way I will pay over $5 a quart for motor oil.

In my opinion, You can run any cheap dino ( with API symbol), and 5000 OCI for the older camry model. It will last forever.


How much do you save annually by using dino? $10!


There are alot of ways to save money.. But I am not going to put 7-eleven gas or no brand name.. I personally use chevron 87.

for motor oil, I use chevron supreme 5w30 ( only $2/qt), and OEM Filter $4. 5k miles OCI, cost $14. I drive about 40,000 miles a year.

Yes. It save money. 40,000 miles, use $2 dino oil, 5k oci cost $80. use synthetic, 6k oci cost $170.

I conclude synthetic oil doesn't increase mpg. If you drive slow (60-65 mph), you will get better gas mileage.


If you use M1 EP and change it 10k since you don't do short trips ($35 w/filter) you would be spending $140 not $170. It is a much better oil. Obviously you get what you pay for however if money is tight Chevron or any other cheap oil makes sense. Last time I looked the days of $2.00 oil are gone for good.



Yup, I remember getting Wolfs Head supreme motor oil @ my local Laneco (which is gone for years now)for 99cents a quart! Boy those were the days! (about 17 years ago)

 

[Doog]

I only use synthetic oil in any Toyota engine. I have had 4 of them now and my dealer service manager has told me over and over that if you use synthetic oil and change it every 5000 miles then you will never have any issues. he said the problems they get are people who run regular oil over 7000 miles all of the time.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Doog
I only use synthetic oil in any Toyota engine. I have had 4 of them now and my dealer service manager has told me over and over that if you use synthetic oil and change it every 5000 miles then you will never have any issues. he said the problems they get are people who run regular oil over 7000 miles all of the time.



sounds about right. I`d never go past 4k on conventional oil in that motor. Maybe 5k on pyb.

 

[moto94536]

Originally Posted By: CaspianM

If you use M1 EP and change it 10k since you don't do short trips ($35 w/filter) .Last time I looked the days of $2.00 oil are gone for good.


Let me tell you something. Even Walmart sell m1 ep for $4/qt, I will not buy it and run 10k. Toyota recommend 5k OCI with dino oil for my 2006. I trust them and thats what I do.

Yes. I bought 3 cases of chevron supreme from costco couple months ago with the coupon. After tax, it came out $2/qt.

I trust my car more than other people that recommend synthetic.. I use dino oil for about 5 years and never had an issue.. 242,000 miles..

previous dino oil used. exxon mobil, castrol syntec (4 oci), castrol gtx, chevron supreme ( current ).

 

[Bruce T]

Every vehicle with an 1MZ-FE doesn't have sludge issues. Here are the affected models:

1997-2002 Camry, Avalon, Lexus ES 300
1998-2002 Sienna
1999-2002 Solara, Lexus RX 300
2001-2002 Highlander

Link: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/...rview/index.htm