New member, pardon my ignorance. Just bought the wifey a new car. I always do my own oil changes, guess I don't trust anyone else to do them. Anyway, owners manual says to use 5w30. But states if 5W0-30 is not available, 10W-30 may be substituted, but must be switched back to 5w30 on the next change. I have always used 10W-30 in my area ( deep south-New Orleans area) with no issues that I am aware of. I will assume Toyota is calling for 5w30 for the best fuel economy. Any other reason ? What do you experts think ? Thanks, CM-
2006 Camry 4 cyl.
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I think fuel economy may partly behind the 5W-20 Ford and Honda are using. I doubt the EPA cycle has enough cold engine time for 5W/10W to make that much difference in mileage. I think it is the manufactures taking advantage of improved VII to give easier colds starts and better cold oil flow. I think my 77 truck starts better now with 5w30 that it did when it was new with the then recommended 10W-30. It took me a while to accept it, but I am a fan of 5w30. However I live where we see some 0 degree weather most winters. Once out of warranty, it might make more sense for you to go with the heavier base and less VII.
A friend of mine here in the Dallas area recently bought a new Toyota Solara V6. His dealer still recommends 10W30 but will use 5W30 if an owner insists. His other veh. is a Nissan Maxima. That dealer crossed out the 5W30 rec in his owners manuel and wrote 10W30. I think the bottom line is that either will work well but for some reason the new Nissan and Toyota engines seem to do well on a slightly thicker oil, especially in a warm climate.
They recommend 5w30 bc Joe Sixpack might use a 10W-30 Dino in FrostBite Falls in northern Minnesota. 10W-30 is fine in your area . The other thing is the 5w30 thins out some and actually helps with the fuel economy thing. I'm not an expert though..just been here a while.
Fuel Efficiency is why they recommended it. IIRC, 5w30 gets 0.5% better fuel efficiency than 10w-30 in controlled tests.
Also, OEMs test for unaided starting down to -20 (often times down to -40 to assume worse case senario)with the recommended oil. Plenty of cars spec 10w-30 and I'm sure testing was done with 10w-30 before as well. So, I doubt that 5w30 was recommended because 10w-30 wouldn't work. Its more of a fuel-economy thing, though the improved cranking speed with 5w30 is understandable.
Also, OEMs test for unaided starting down to -20 (often times down to -40 to assume worse case senario)with the recommended oil. Plenty of cars spec 10w-30 and I'm sure testing was done with 10w-30 before as well. So, I doubt that 5w30 was recommended because 10w-30 wouldn't work. Its more of a fuel-economy thing, though the improved cranking speed with 5w30 is understandable.
Hey there fellow New Orleanian, I'm glad you asked this question. I just purchased a new Tacoma V6 and the owners manual stated the same thing. I just got finished changing the factory oil with havoline 5w30 at 1300 miles.
5W30 isn't gonna hurt a thing.
You have all the protection and additives in 5W that you have in 10W. I've used 5W30 for 7 years in my GM engines and have never had a problem. I'll use the 5W20 in the new Honda also.
You have all the protection and additives in 5W that you have in 10W. I've used 5W30 for 7 years in my GM engines and have never had a problem. I'll use the 5W20 in the new Honda also.
You also have to rely more on the VII polymers' oxidative stability to maintain hot viscosity and retard varnishing and sludging with 5w30. My vote's still for 10W-30 in warm climates. Beans as far as the extra 0.1 mpg that may result running 5w30.
I live in coastal San Diego County and use:
1) Mobil 1 0W-40 in the 2001 Passat 1.8T, because of the VW 502.00 specification;
2) Pennzoil 5w30 dino in the 2003 Dodge 2.4 DOHC, per the owner's manual viscosity recommendation;
3) a blend of 5w30 and 10W-40 Castrol GTX in the 1996 Audi A4 2.8 12V, with mostly the former in the winter and mostly the latter in the summer.
1) Mobil 1 0W-40 in the 2001 Passat 1.8T, because of the VW 502.00 specification;
2) Pennzoil 5w30 dino in the 2003 Dodge 2.4 DOHC, per the owner's manual viscosity recommendation;
3) a blend of 5w30 and 10W-40 Castrol GTX in the 1996 Audi A4 2.8 12V, with mostly the former in the winter and mostly the latter in the summer.
Guess I'll stick with the 5w30 dino in the Camry 4 cyl. I have been running 10W-30 Castrol GTX dino in my Toyota Tundra V-8 since I bought it in 2000. Does seem a little harder to turn over on colder days. Has 80,000 miles and never uses a drop of oil and the oil always looks clean on the stick. Always a 3k mile OCI. Purolator filters.
I've always been an advid 10w-30 user as well; but with this last real artic front that came through Colorado, I'm real glad I had 5w30 in the Isuzu.
But, I will switch back to 10w-30 in the summer.
But, I will switch back to 10w-30 in the summer.
Nope, I run 5w30 in the winter and 10w30 in the summer and it it works ok. I have a 2004 Toyota Matrix with a 1ZZ-FE(1.8 L)
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