More importantly to the OP, if you are driving to AK from TX in the winter, get some good winter tires as the mountain ranges along the way can be quite treacherous.
2003 Toyota Camry, Alaska Temps, What oil?
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Originally Posted By: Miller88
Isn't TGMO the lightest on the market?
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Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Toyota Genuine 0w20 would he your go to oil. I hope your using a pan heater.
Don't forget about the transmission pan heater if moving to the interior of Alaska.
Autostart is very nice to have.
From Texas to Alaska?!? That is just about as extreme of a climate change as you can get! I would say get yourself a good low pour point oil like Amsoil ASM 0w20 or Pennzoil Platinum 0w20 and run it year round. I guess it will just depend on what you can find locally.
My suggestion would be to stay in Texas though......I hate the cold and Alaska in the winter sounds like the setting for my worst nightmare....
LOL
Some of these comments are pure entertainment...death fog, draining oil and pouring it back in...while its cold enough outside to freeze unprotected skin in a couple of minutes with the windchill and it does feel strange on your lungs (people jog in it all the time), if you dress right its not so bad....although I wouldn't be under my car draining the oil out LOL...handling anything metal without thick mitts and it burns your skin quick.
I have experienced -40C/40F plenty of times. Lowest cold start I can remember was -46C/-50F, all I had was a block heater. Sure the car made some strange noises and didn't drive smooth right away but after a bit everything was fairly normal. Of course the weather only snapped like that for a couple of days at a time before returning to seasonal in my region.
These are a given: Run the 0w20 TGMO/M1, make sure your coolant is freeze protected as low as you can go, make sure you have a block heater, make sure your car is running 100%...then do whatever the locals tell you to do. They live there, they know the tips and tricks for day to day living in that weather.
Here's a fun party trick at -35C/-31F and colder....boil some water in a cup in the microwave...go outside with it still boiling and throw it up in the air....instant snow..its pretty cool.
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Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: 98LS-WON
I'm installing a block/pan/battery heater this weekend.
Report back how you like it; I've read that you get a wierd fog over road surfaces at about -35 that never goes away. 
Originally Posted By: Smokescreen
LOL
Some of these comments are pure entertainment...death fog, draining oil and pouring it back in...while its cold enough outside to freeze unprotected skin in a couple of minutes with the windchill and it does feel strange on your lungs (people jog in it all the time), if you dress right its not so bad....although I wouldn't be under my car draining the oil out LOL...handling anything metal without thick mitts and it burns your skin quick.
I have experienced -40C/40F plenty of times. Lowest cold start I can remember was -46C/-50F, all I had was a block heater. Sure the car made some strange noises and didn't drive smooth right away but after a bit everything was fairly normal. Of course the weather only snapped like that for a couple of days at a time before returning to seasonal in my region.
These are a given: Run the 0w20 TGMO/M1, make sure your coolant is freeze protected as low as you can go, make sure you have a block heater, make sure your car is running 100%...then do whatever the locals tell you to do. They live there, they know the tips and tricks for day to day living in that weather.
Here's a fun party trick at -35C/-31F and colder....boil some water in a cup in the microwave...go outside with it still boiling and throw it up in the air....instant snow..its pretty cool.
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Friend of mine with a 1998 Altima lived in Alaska (Cooper Landing) for a few years. Came back to Texas with a bit over 300,000 miles on it with nothing but pyb 10W30 since brand new. Car still runs flawlessly.
Originally Posted By: 98LS-WON
I've always ran Mobil 1 5w-30 in my Camry, but I'll be moving to AK this winter. Will 0w-30 be better in the occassional -60* F temp we'll get in Fairbanks. The owners manual doesn't spcifically recommend it, it only shows 5w-30. Thanks.
without question you'll need a 0w20 synthetic. you'll need to plug the car in...both battery drip and dipstick heater. most importantly, stick a straight shot of dexcool into the radiator. 50/50 blend won't git er done.
That's wrong on many counts. A 0w-20 isn't "needed," ever. Dipstick heaters might be nice to have, but not needed, either. A straight shot of Dexcool would also be a disaster. Coolant that isn't mixed with water will gel, or worse. Never go stronger than a 70:30 mix of coolant to water.
To all: never, ever run an ethylene glycol type antifreeze straight in your vehicle without having at least 30% water in it.
Originally Posted By: 3putter
without question you'll need a 0w20 synthetic. you'll need to plug the car in...both battery drip and dipstick heater. most importantly, stick a straight shot of dexcool into the radiator. 50/50 blend won't git er done.
The recirculating heaters are far better than factory block heaters. They do require a bit of DIY capabilities, but, realistically, less than if one had no block heater and were trying to do that instead. I would probably have some difficulty finding room on the G, but on the old F-150, I could probably run five of them in series. 
Clevy, I think we just found out why antifreeze jugs are moving to 50/50 more and more. If they sell it straight, someone's going to be silly enough to use it straight, and then blame Prestone or Zerex for their own folly.
70/30 will give you your best freeze protection. I don't even go that high and we drop below -40. I stick around 60/40. And it's good that you pointed out the boiling point, too; I forgot all about that.
Clevy, I think we just found out why antifreeze jugs are moving to 50/50 more and more. If they sell it straight, someone's going to be silly enough to use it straight, and then blame Prestone or Zerex for their own folly.
70/30 will give you your best freeze protection. I don't even go that high and we drop below -40. I stick around 60/40. And it's good that you pointed out the boiling point, too; I forgot all about that.Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: 3putter
without question you'll need a 0w20 synthetic. you'll need to plug the car in...both battery drip and dipstick heater. most importantly, stick a straight shot of dexcool into the radiator. 50/50 blend won't git er done.
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: 3putter
without question you'll need a 0w20 synthetic. you'll need to plug the car in...both battery drip and dipstick heater. most importantly, stick a straight shot of dexcool into the radiator. 50/50 blend won't git er done.
Fairbanksan here. Block plug, oil pan heater (75 watt will do) battery pad or blanket or trickle charger. I recommend a transmission heater also, -47F my transmission temp was 56F. Get a timer for your plugins. Even when it is the coldest 3 hours will be enough to get you going. Oil I have used 5W20 or 30 0W30 in a variety of vehicles no issues to report. I will use Mobil1 or PP.
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