2022 Camry 2.5 fuel dilution/viscosity selection question

Then again, after reading all of that info, then falling asleep (sorry), only to have the dog wake me up and point out where the snoring began, only to fall asleep again to find the cat marking where I had left off……..

……I found myself immersed about 85% of the way into the section under “Experience.”

And if I read that entire section correctly, in between scratching the cat’s ears and rubbing the dog’s belly, I have deduced that motor oil is one of the least concerns
of that engine!
So far the engine design has been very reliable on the whole. It has been in production for six years now and every year there are more and more models which feature it as the base/sole engine option. There have been some issues which have been corrected. The only known concern to really be aware of is fuel dilution. But the dilution issues have not manifested into any kind of wide spread problems as of yet. Other than it just is.

I would not be concerned about this engine at all.
 
There is a lot going on in this engine. The cooling system is complex as well. So far it is running great in my RAV4 with good power and good mpg.

With mixed driving, I got about 23 mpg on my 2010 2.4L CR-V. I'm getting 35 mpg in the 2024 2.5L RAV4 (LE gas version, ECO mode). It also tows my 16ft fishing boat so much better than the CR-V. I'm currently running 0W-20 PP instead of the recommended 0W-16.
I am getting same mileage in my 2023 rav4 LE, currently with 5w30 PUP. Next up is 5w30 Kirkland as my summer intervals are too short for premium oil. I am going to blend 0w20PP 0w30 euro lx for our very cold winter. Initially had full 0w30 Euro after the ff drain but am concerned it is a bit too much during cold weather short trips and worsens winter mpg unnecessarily. Not sure if higher calcium is too much considering its a part time direct injection.

The 0w30euro lx and even the 5w30pup did sound much quieter on cold weather starts and at operating temp vs the 0w16 factory fill. All kinds of concerning rapping and tapping noises I heard with the factory fill are gone now.
 
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Thanks for the additional info guys! I’ll be sending a uoa with the HPL NO VII after 4k miles, or so, just because the car had 10k oci’s prior to purchase. I will post it when I get the results (late August/ early Sept). I will then be switching to 0w30 HPL premium plus for winter/spring, although the 0w is not necessary in PA. I’ll run this oci for longer than the first HPL change. I also picked up some HPL diff life (75w90) for the rear diff and transfer case in the Camry. I also plan to run the HPL diff life in my Ram 2500 which Im going to change at about 3k miles in a few weeks.
 
Some hybrids have shown dilution.

Mine certainly do! 2024 Prius Prime...

20240817_172742.webp
Screenshot_20240521_185318_Messenger.webp


...i mean... ewwww...

1st time i have a car that is THAT hard on oil. The darker oil i just flushed last weekend. OCI was about 10k km so realistically, it might have ran 4 or 5k km with some use of Charge mode to force the gas engine on to try and put some heat in it.. The one that look like cream/coffee mix ran 12k km during last winter.. 0w20 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum both times with an OE YZZF1 filter. Now i have 0w20 Redline with a Fram Ultra filter... we'll see...
 
Mine certainly do! 2024 Prius Prime...

View attachment 236661View attachment 236662

...i mean... ewwww...

1st time i have a car that is THAT hard on oil. The darker oil i just flushed last weekend. OCI was about 10k km so realistically, it might have ran 4 or 5k km with some use of Charge mode to force the gas engine on to try and put some heat in it.. The one that look like cream/coffee mix ran 12k km during last winter.. 0w20 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum both times with an OE YZZF1 filter. Now i have 0w20 Redline with a Fram Ultra filter... we'll see...
I’d recommend UOAs to verify the status of the oil as appearance alone can only tell so much. Collecting this data can help you to develop a plan to hopefully mitigate the dilution. Without good data it is all just guesswork more or less.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...es-pennzoil-platinum-0w20-5-600-miles.381267/

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...es-pennzoil-platinum-0w16-5-000-miles.367031/
 
Mine certainly do! 2024 Prius Prime...

View attachment 236661View attachment 236662

...i mean... ewwww...

1st time i have a car that is THAT hard on oil. The darker oil i just flushed last weekend. OCI was about 10k km so realistically, it might have ran 4 or 5k km with some use of Charge mode to force the gas engine on to try and put some heat in it.. The one that look like cream/coffee mix ran 12k km during last winter.. 0w20 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum both times with an OE YZZF1 filter. Now i have 0w20 Redline with a Fram Ultra filter... we'll see...
How do you know that’s from fuel dilution? It looks more like coolant contamination to me.
 
I am getting same mileage in my 2023 rav4 LE, currently with 5w30 PUP. Next up is 5w30 Kirkland as my summer intervals are too short for premium oil. I am going to blend 0w20PP 0w30 euro lx for our very cold winter. Initially had full 0w30 Euro after the ff drain but am concerned it is a bit too much during cold weather short trips and worsens winter mpg unnecessarily. Not sure if higher calcium is too much considering its a part time direct injection.

The 0w30euro lx and even the 5w30pup did sound much quieter on cold weather starts and at operating temp vs the 0w16 factory fill. All kinds of concerning rapping and tapping noises I heard with the factory fill are gone now.
Why would you intentionally thin the oil during the winter when fuel dilution is most likely worse?
 
How do you know that’s from fuel dilution? It looks more like coolant contamination to me.
Could be condensation. Possibly from the ICE cycling on and off constantly. This is why I don’t believe that hybrids should go longer on oil changes as a general rule. Yes, the ICE is running less time per mile but it also cycles more often. Which is the same as short tripping IMO.
 
How do you know that’s from fuel dilution? It looks more like coolant contamination to me.
Coolant level doesn't move one bit and oil reeks of gasoline!! I'm putting the blame on a cold engine and direct injection at least until i know better. Didn't had that much of an issue with my 2021 Prime that didn't had direct injection and a much smaller HV battery.
 
Coolant level doesn't move one bit and oil reeks of gasoline!! I'm putting the blame on a cold engine and direct injection at least until i know better. Didn't had that much of an issue with my 2021 Prime that didn't had direct injection and a much smaller HV battery.
Well that might answer it. I just have seen fuel diluted oil before and it wasn’t as milky/muddy as that.

You should have it tested though and by a lab that can directly measure fuel in oil.
 
I'm thinking about that. Don't know if Canada Post would like dealing with used motor oil samples though...
 
Could be condensation. Possibly from the ICE cycling on and off constantly. This is why I don’t believe that hybrids should go longer on oil changes as a general rule. Yes, the ICE is running less time per mile but it also cycles more often. Which is the same as short tripping IMO.
Agreed. Muddy oil has always been due to water in my experience. But if it’s really bad fuel then who knows.
 
I'm thinking about that. Don't know if Canada Post would like dealing with used motor oil samples though...
I have sent oil samples through Canada Post in the past with no issues. Although once I started using Wearcheck I was dropping off the samples right at their lab in Burlington. I used to work five minutes away from the lab.
 
I would, most certainly, be curious to see the results of your uoa if you decide to go that route. I know if it were my vehicle, and the oil appeared and smelled as you reported, I would absolutely send off a sample to a lab who utilized GC for an accurate result. Please let us know the uoa results if you do decide to send a sample. Thanks for your input.
 
Why would you intentionally thin the oil during the winter when fuel dilution is most likely worse?
We’ll see what I end up running. Ideally I’m looking for an off the (Canadian Tire) shelf 0w30 that is SP of which there is only Mobil1. While not a small displacement TGDI engine, this 2.5L lugs a bit in eco/normal mode.

I’m not sure the engine needs the viscosity in the colder months and I don’t think that fuel dilution will be a big issue for this given application for the shorter interval it would be (6000kms maybe).
 
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