Did you, perhaps, mean 0W-30? I thought 0W-20 and VW 507 were mutually exclusive.
2025 Toyota 2.5L Engine Oil Viscosity Update.
- Thread starter GI_GRIFF
- Start date
Thank you. My error was in misremembering. It was 508.
If this fine print exists, it probably has nothing to do with accommodating the customer. It's probably to allow the dealerships more flexibility in sourcing bulk lubricants for service fill. I am aware of at least one dealership where the "value priced" oil change is actually 5W-20 synthetic blend rather than the 0W-20 recommended by that manufacturer for most of their models.
My service manager supposedly read it on a piece of paper or off a computer screen from Toyota corporate. I wasn't standing there looking at him read it, I was a few miles away sitting in this same exact chair I am in now in my home. So, it could have been made up. Anyhow, it is comical that in the wording that everybody copies and pastes out of the Toyota owner's manual, it refers to customers using 10w-30 engine oil which they state could cause more difficult starting in cold climates. LOL! You are right about something. In the wording, there are no absolutes. Nowhere there does it actually read that you must use 0w-8, 0w16, 0w-20, 10w-30 or whatever weight. It is all what they recommend, but the wording doesn't demand a certain viscosity to keep your warranty intact. They do recommend certain weights to get your best fuel milage, but they don't "require" you to use those weights to maintain your warranty. This whole mess kind of makes me think of Bill Clinton's statement he made in court when defending himself getting sexual activity from Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office, "It depends on what your definition of is, is."
Our 2GR-FE got 5w-20 from new when serviced by the dealer until we got it @ 75k (glovebox invoices); oil cap says 0w-20.
Yeah I need proof lol. I dont want anyone saying I didnt do something right because I chose a certain oil. The manual contradicts itself a few times on the oil. And it's crazy that no one at my local dealer can give me an answer, other than it'll void the warranty. No where does it say in the manual that it'll void the warranty...
EXACTLY!
Im going to call another dealer and see if I can get an engineer or someone with a document or even an email stating stuch oil can be used. Im genuinely curious as to what can be used if highway driven most often, which is how we use it...
Ultimately, it is about burning less fuel, saving the planet, CAFE standards, blah blah blah, not about the absolute best internal engine protection and longevity.
This is true. I have a 125k/10yr warranty, just looking to follow the rules set forth in the manual and understand them. All while the dealers not being able to decipher what the manual says we can do.. smh.
We had a pretty good experience buying our Carnival last year. However, a couple days before we picked up the vehicle I was taking with the service manager (he was offering an extended warranty and discussing maintenance), and he stated that in order to maintain warranty we had to have the vehicle serviced at the dealer. I told him that the warranty manual doesn’t state this anywhere, and neither does the owner’s manual; I had already read both. He replied “Well that’s just what my guys tell me”. I changed the subject haha.
**** lol. Yeah not to down play anyone working there, but Im 0 for 2 so far with confidence on the dealer.
The stealership that I go to for my Toyota Care " free " oil and filter changes has told me that they use 0W-20 for the 2025 RAV4 that I own. I have gotten the service manager to agree to install a better quality oil filter ( CarQuest Premium) than the stock Toyota filter when it's time for the oil and filter changes.
It's the same at our local toyota dealer, vehicles that call for 0w16 get bulk 0w20. I believe vehicles that call for 0w8 get 0w16, last time I was there out of curiosity I asked the price for 0w8 and they didn't have any. Kind of interesting how dealers use whatever they want yet people are scared to use different viscosties.
Interesting point. Let's expand upon it a bit.
Folks are afraid to use a "non-specified viscosity" because, doing so, in some undetermined circumstance, may affect their warranty. Assuming that might happen, and the manufacturer disallows a warranty claim because, for example, a 0W-20 oil was used instead of a 0W-8 or 0W-16, would the warranty claim be denied if the dealer installed the "wrong" viscosity oil? And, if the claim were denied, what recourse does the owner have?
I can't see the manufacturer putting the customer on the spot for something the dealership did.
I have no idea what I am doing on here. It must have posted this page from Toyota's Warranty information pages a dozen times. Sorry for that. Anyhow, where it says engine oil selection, it says refer to your Owners Manual for the specific engine oil recommended. The key here is the word recommended, they probably should have used the word "required" there. That would remove the confusion.
But it's not required, only recommended, albeit strongly perhaps in part to comply with various government rules and regulations.
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