2025 Toyota Rav4 engine oil update, 5w-30
- Thread starter GI_GRIFF
- Start date
Probably calibrated for different regions. Best to not chance it. Might shear off of the drive shaft on the pump or something. Very sensitive ECM circuits.
LOL! I think it would probably affect the VVT, since that is regulated by oil pressure, oil flow and the car's ECM's. Somebody in an Internet video got this "electric oil pump" thing going a while back. I don't think that part is true.
Last edited:
So it is sarcasm, nice I like a good laugh.
I have used in my 2.5 dynamic force Rav4 engine 0w-16 (free dealer changes), 0W-20 once because thats what I had, and 5w30 now. It continues to motor down the road somehow, seemingly uncaring. 
What an incredible, versatile engine!I have used in my 2.5 dynamic force Rav4 engine 0w-16 (free dealer changes), 0W-20 once because thats what I had, and 5w30 now. It continues to motor down the road somehow, seemingly uncaring.
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2014
- Messages
- 159
It was the care care nut guy who I remembered saying this, as if Toyota keeps a shelf of 64 different oil pump designs country specific. You know, the same company that literally has used the same dimension and design of spin on oil filter for every 4 cylinder engine since the 1980s and militantly streamlines their design process to have common parts across as many vehicles as possible...yes this company will make 64 variants of an engine, right?
No, VVT is moved by oil pressure but controlled by the ECU. The oil pressure is simply used as the motive force. If the ECU wants VVT to move it lets in or lets out more or less oil pressure into the VVT solenoid. If the oil pressure was too low to do this you would have other far worse problems. Some VVT models have been known to fail when the screen going into the solenoid gets plugged due to oil change neglect.
Its also not a electric oil pump. Its electrically controlled but chain driven. Meaning the ECU ramps it up or lowers the pressure based on conditions by changing the charge volume of the pump chamber, so the less has to be dumped through the pressure control valve and dumped back into the sump. If the electronics fail I imagine it just goes into full on and runs like a normal pump - pushing the extra out the pressure control valve, but I haven't been able to verify that specifically.
I think you need to start more threads on this topic. Its a numbers game, and eventually, you will get the answer that you want. Otherwise, it'd be far smarter to just trust Toyota's manual and use 0w-16, because they know their engines better than anyone else on this thread. Get a hobby, and relax.
My wife's Rav is a 2021 has had 0/5-w30 oils since new. Over 60k miles now with no problems.
You are right, it is a numbers game. This has already been beat to death on this thread I started. I have my answer. I wanted to run 5W-30 or 0w30 in my new Toyota. Yes, I can run those viscosities if I want to, it will not affect the Toyota warranty one way or the other if the engine messes up somehow. This is according to Toyota corporate. The 0W-16 is done to get a little closer on government fuel milage goals, it has nothing to do with increasing the durability of the engine and service life. I have been running 0w30 engine oil for a while now; there is no noticeable loss of fuel milage we see in this SUV. Obviously there has to be a little better fuel milage somewhere under some circumstances noticed by the engineers, I mean common sense dictates a thinner oil would flow easier than thick oil, taking less energy to pump it through. As far as that goes, water probably flows good too. And besides all that lovcom, I like worrying about engine oil and lubricants in general, this is kind of a hobby to me by itself. Obviously, Toyota knows their engines quite well, they build some of the best mass-produced products out there. Anyhow, as I said, I got the answer I am looking for already, from Toyota, the car runs great, and I am happy. Take Care.
That's right. I'm currently installing the optional heavy duty oil pump drive chain so I can run a 30 weight. j/k
No disrespect, but NO car company will deny warranty over oil viscosity. And besides, NO Toyota engine will need repair related to a mechanical issue within the warranty period anyway, so what oil you use is mute. Special situations like the Tacoma engine, excepted.
Exactly - which is the paragraph that I use to justify the 5W30 and now, 0W30 in my Tundra that specifies 0W20.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
Same. Out of warranty, I don't care, but Toyota is saying: there s a reason why we say that.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2024
- Messages
- 2,120
You’ll never out drive 0W16 or 20 ever
Nope. Won’t affect VVT at all.
If it did, the car would not work in fall, winter, or spring.
Cold 0W20 is hundreds of times thicker than 5W30 in a warmed up engine.
If the VVT works with 0W20 in cold weather, it will work with 5W30, too.
Here is a Toyota in 0F, running 5W30. No problems with the VVT. In fact, no problems of any kind. Starts right up, runs smoothly.
All good.
Similar threads
