My 2006 Toyota Sienna with the 3.3L 3MZ-FE will soon be out of warranty. I have one oil change left that will be completely within the warranty (using the OE specified 5,000 mile OCI).
Since new, I have always used synthetic 5W-30, earlier on, some Quaker State (forgot which one), Syntec, and Pennzoil Platinum. Picked the oils mostly on price, and figured at the OE OCI, it wouldn't matter too much (hence I figure Syntec is okay in this application, though I'm not sure I'd want it for extended OCI). Filters have always been OE (Thai Denso) or Napa Gold. I decided on synthetic due to the harsh winter climates where I live (Edmonton, Canada), which means seeing -40 temperatures several times each winter, with normal winter temperatures often being around -30C/-22F. Summer temperatures are often around +30C/+86F and with travelling, we often go to places with even higher ambient temperatures.
For most of the year, driving is a mix of short trips and long trips, and a fair mix of city and highway (probably about 50/50 in terms of mileage), with more of the highway driving happening in the summer.
As I go out of warranty, I want to to extended OCI. Suggestions as to what oil I should use? PP? M1? Maybe something else? The originally spec'd 5W-30 or the back-spec'd 5W-20? Should I stick with OE filters or Napa Gold, or would some other filter be better suited to an extended OCI?
One last thing, for the next oil change that I will be doing, I went to pick up some Syntec 5W-30 that was on sale (as I had a partial jug in my stash), but they were all out. Instead, I saw they had a 5 litre 5W-20 (versus the 4.4L the 5W-30 was) and picked that up remembering that viscosity was back spec'd. Before I do the oil change, should I use this stuff? Or take it back and get 5W-30? I read somewhere 5W-20 won't protect engines as well as a 5W-30; the better part of me thinks this is [censored], yet the doubt is now in my mind.
Since new, I have always used synthetic 5W-30, earlier on, some Quaker State (forgot which one), Syntec, and Pennzoil Platinum. Picked the oils mostly on price, and figured at the OE OCI, it wouldn't matter too much (hence I figure Syntec is okay in this application, though I'm not sure I'd want it for extended OCI). Filters have always been OE (Thai Denso) or Napa Gold. I decided on synthetic due to the harsh winter climates where I live (Edmonton, Canada), which means seeing -40 temperatures several times each winter, with normal winter temperatures often being around -30C/-22F. Summer temperatures are often around +30C/+86F and with travelling, we often go to places with even higher ambient temperatures.
For most of the year, driving is a mix of short trips and long trips, and a fair mix of city and highway (probably about 50/50 in terms of mileage), with more of the highway driving happening in the summer.
As I go out of warranty, I want to to extended OCI. Suggestions as to what oil I should use? PP? M1? Maybe something else? The originally spec'd 5W-30 or the back-spec'd 5W-20? Should I stick with OE filters or Napa Gold, or would some other filter be better suited to an extended OCI?
One last thing, for the next oil change that I will be doing, I went to pick up some Syntec 5W-30 that was on sale (as I had a partial jug in my stash), but they were all out. Instead, I saw they had a 5 litre 5W-20 (versus the 4.4L the 5W-30 was) and picked that up remembering that viscosity was back spec'd. Before I do the oil change, should I use this stuff? Or take it back and get 5W-30? I read somewhere 5W-20 won't protect engines as well as a 5W-30; the better part of me thinks this is [censored], yet the doubt is now in my mind.
