2021 Sienna - Can I use 0w-20 permanently?

[bobbysmith013]

Does anyone have a vehicle that calls for 0w16, yet they use 0w20 permanently? I have a 21 Sienna that calls for 0w16 and a 24 Tundra that calls for 0w20. I'd like to consolidate both vehicles to 0w20 so I can buy 1 oil in bulk and use on both vehicles. The Sienna owner manual says that you can use 0w20 instead of 0w16 for 1 oil change only, then you must switch back to 0w16. Is this for fuel efficiency? Or can I cause problems by staying on 0w20 permanently?

 

[CKN]

OK. exactly how do you buy your oil? What does "bulk" mean?

 

[ripcord]

You can use 0w-20 forever and always without issue. Toyota has to say only use 0w-16 as that's how it's tested and rated for the EPA.

 

[bobbysmith013]

OK. exactly how do you buy your oil? What does "bulk" mean?

I wait for a sale at Samsclub (Mobil 1) or Costco (Kirkland) and buy a years worth of oil at once.

 

[chainblu]

You're good.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

You can use 0w20 with no problems

 

[barkingspider]

if it were mine, I would use 0w20 in both

 

[JavierH19]

You can use anything this says.

 

[Glenda W.]

I maintain a Crosstrek that calls for 0w16 and use 0w30. No problems at all.

 

[SiRDOHC]

I have only used 0w30 and 5w30 in my Rav4 that has a big ‘ol 0w16 sticker under the hood. The funny thing is none of these cars sold outside of Canada and US have that sticker there.

I haven’t ruled out that the vehicle’s ecu doesn’t somehow know based on ambient temps, but if it does, it has adjusted well.

 

[SiRDOHC]

I maintain a Crosstrek that calls for 0w16 and use 0w30. No problems at all.

I once put in 0w30 euro in a neighbor’s ‘21 crosstrek. For once I wouldn’t cringe at the loud startup noises every time he would start it. Sounded so smooth stone cold and silent at warm idle. After a couple of weeks, he felt the engine wasn’t revving freely and had me panic dump it to put 0w20 back in. This was a very low mile FB25 that was already exhibiting dark stains on the underside of the oil yellow oil cap. 0w30 is an excellent choice for these engines. They are hard on oil.

 

[Leo99]

I use 0w20 in my RAV4 that says to use 0w16. My Camry uses 0w20 and I'm not going to stock 2 oils plus it's easier to find 0w20 at Walmart or Costco.

 

[Patman]

I have said it a few times lately but if you look at the viscosity of 0w16 vs 0w20 there is such a tiny difference between the two that your engine will never know the difference. And by switching to a 0w20 it opens up way more options since you don’t see that many 0w16s in the stores.

 

[Patrick0525]

Agree, my 2GR-FE sound quieter on the highway using HPL euro 5w-30. I should have switched earlier from 0w-20.

 

[Aston4]

Agree, my 2GR-FE sound quieter on the highway using HPL euro 5w-30. I should have switched earlier from 0w-20.

Yeah, I should have switched earlier too. But just noticed OPs van is the Hybrid 4cyl. Thought the Hybrid started in 2022. I don't know anything about that exact engine in the Gen4 Sienna. Perhaps it is possible to build an engine that can run ok on 20 weight, and perhaps this is such an engine. But more or less all the US engines speced for 20 weight were just backspecked by beancounters to meet goverment mpg regs, engineers are like lol.

Fascinating vehicle. 35mpg for a minivan. Seems impossible to me, but there it is.

I may get one if they ever catch up on the waiting list and I can test drive. Last I looked it was 6 months waiting.

Toyota did something amazing. First real innovation out of Toyota in 20 years.

 

[Glenda W.]

I once put in 0w30 euro in a neighbor’s ‘21 crosstrek. For once I wouldn’t cringe at the loud startup noises every time he would start it. Sounded so smooth stone cold and silent at warm idle. After a couple of weeks, he felt the engine wasn’t revving freely and had me panic dump it to put 0w20 back in. This was a very low mile FB25 that was already exhibiting dark stains on the underside of the oil yellow oil cap. 0w30 is an excellent choice for these engines. They are hard on oil.

Agree IMO the timing chains are hard on oil. This 2024 Crosstrek is much quieter on 0w30. No revving problems here.

 

[Bkdc]

Yes, you can use 0w-20 permanently. It is more protective for your engine than 0w-16 and will inflict a tiny fuel efficiency penalty of less than 2%. I use 5w-30 at times in the Sienna hybrid. When I’m driving at upper highway speeds up a mountain/hill, I feel reassured and protected.

The Sienna weighs up to 1000 pounds more than a RAV4 hybrid (using the same engine) so it’s like loading up your RAV4 to the max. Load the Sienna with 7 passengers and stuff, and it deserves something much stouter than 0w-16. I feel as if this should qualify immediately for a severe oil service indication and a stouter oil.

 

[ATex7239]

Does anyone have a vehicle that calls for 0w16, yet they use 0w20 permanently? I have a 21 Sienna that calls for 0w16 and a 24 Tundra that calls for 0w20. I'd like to consolidate both vehicles to 0w20 so I can buy 1 oil in bulk and use on both vehicles. The Sienna owner manual says that you can use 0w20 instead of 0w16 for 1 oil change only, then you must switch back to 0w16. Is this for fuel efficiency? Or can I cause problems by staying on 0w20 permanently?

I’ll just leave these here…

 

[ATex7239]

I have said it a few times lately but if you look at the viscosity of 0w16 vs 0w20 there is such a tiny difference between the two that your engine will never know the difference. And by switching to a 0w20 it opens up way more options since you don’t see that many 0w16s in the stores.

Only thing I do miss about using 0W16 was tolling the thickies with it.

 

[ATex7239]

I wait for a sale at Samsclub (Mobil 1) or Costco (Kirkland) and buy a years worth of oil at once.

Why? They gonna run out of it?