Best Off-the-Shelf xW-40 or xW-50 Oil....that Cleans?

[AdmiralYoda]

Working on my 1987 Toyota 4Runner with a 22RE. These engines have pretty low oil pressure at idle so in the summer I run a xW-40 or xW-50. I've been burning some oil lately....about a quart per 500 miles. It is a pleasure vehicle so it only gets driven maybe 3k miles per year. Plenty of highway miles mixed in.

The tailpipe is sooty so I think the oil rings are a bit coked up. No smoke at start up so I don't think it is the valve guides no matter how long it sits. I plan to do a B12 soak but I'm looking for a good cleaning oil that comes in a -40 or -50 to help the rings stay clean. Any thoughts?

VRP is an obvious answer but 5W-30 is as thick as it gets. HPL does a great job but that is probably overkill for the 22RE.

Any off the shelf -40 or -50 oils that are good at cleaning? Or just go with a diesel oil and maybe add a bottle of Rislone for the esters? Thoughts?

For the record the engine is sludge free. Pretty clean under the valve cover. So if anything I'm mostly just concerned with cleaning the rings and keeping them clean.

 

[Lawnman23]

I've been burning some oil lately....about a quart per 500 miles.

That's a lot more than "some". I would run the VRP 5w-30 regardless just to start working on the rings. Once that's dealt with, then switch to a Xw-40.

 

[AdmiralYoda]

That's a lot more than "some". I would run the VRP 5w-30 regardless just to start working on the rings. Once that's dealt with, then switch to a Xw-40.

It might be more like 1 quart per 1k miles but I'm honestly not sure as I don't really keep track of the mileage since it is driven mostly during the nicer weather.

I was considering maybe VRP's 5W-30 and adding a quart of HPL's EC-40. But at that point I might as well just get HPL's PCMO 20W-50.

 

[dippschtick]

I'd try M1 FS 0w40. $25 at Walmart for 5 quart jug.

 

[oil pan 4]

You got low oil pressure so a 40 or 50wt is definitely appropriate.
Mobil1 v-twin 20w-50 has crazy detergent levels.
I ran it for a year in my neglected Honda gx390 engine for about a year, when I tore the engine down to rebuild it that engine was remarkably clean on the inside.

 

[kschachn]

Detergents in oil do not clean. Oils that can clean rings are specialized, in this case I'd contact someone like HPL to see what they say.

And yes 1 quart in 500 miles is a lot.

 

[buster]

VRP is the only option.

 

[edyvw]

Working on my 1987 Toyota 4Runner with a 22RE. These engines have pretty low oil pressure at idle so in the summer I run a xW-40 or xW-50. I've been burning some oil lately....about a quart per 500 miles. It is a pleasure vehicle so it only gets driven maybe 3k miles per year. Plenty of highway miles mixed in.

The tailpipe is sooty so I think the oil rings are a bit coked up. No smoke at start up so I don't think it is the valve guides no matter how long it sits. I plan to do a B12 soak but I'm looking for a good cleaning oil that comes in a -40 or -50 to help the rings stay clean. Any thoughts?

VRP is an obvious answer but 5W-30 is as thick as it gets. HPL does a great job but that is probably overkill for the 22RE.

Any off the shelf -40 or -50 oils that are good at cleaning? Or just go with a diesel oil and maybe add a bottle of Rislone for the esters? Thoughts?

For the record the engine is sludge free. Pretty clean under the valve cover. So if anything I'm mostly just concerned with cleaning the rings and keeping them clean.

All of them.
Mobil1 0W40 FS is probably the best bang for the buck, and I would run it any time over VRP.

 

[Lawnman23]

These engines have pretty low oil pressure at idle so in the summer I run a xW-40 or xW-50.

From what it looks like online, its entirely normal for the 22RE to have low oil pressure at hot idle. Like 5 psi low. Apparently the minimum spec is 4.3 psi.

Also remember, the engine is spending most of its runtime well above idle. For the long haul, I agree and would run a 40 weight. But your consumption issue should take priority over the "low" pressure issue. As @kschachn mentioned, HPL would be able to address both of those issues at once but that comes at a higher price point. Whether that's worth it or not is up to you. The more immediate and budget friendly option would be to start on a VRP OCI and go from there.

BTW, how many miles on the engine?

 

[AdmiralYoda]

From what it looks like online, its entirely normal for the 22RE to have low oil pressure at hot idle. Like 5 psi low.

Also remember, the engine is spending most of its runtime well above idle. For the long haul, I agree and would run a 40 weight. But your consumption issue should take priority over the "low" pressure issue. As @kschachn mentioned, HPL would be able to address both of those issues at once but that comes at a higher price point. Whether that's worth it or not is up to you. The more immediate and budget friendly option would be to start on a VRP OCI and go from there.

BTW, how many miles on the engine?

I'm very familiar with HPL...I use their Premium Plus and Green ATF in my GMC Canyon and wife's Mazda CX-5. It fixed her oil burning issue btw (after a B12 piston soak). I just have a hard time justifying the cost for a 110hp engine that probably gets driven 1.5k-3k miles a year, probably closer to 1.5k.

I suppose I could leave it in there for a couple years

The 4Runner has 98k miles. I put a junkyard engine in there about 25 years ago. The previous owner blew a head gasket and the coolant/oil mix killed the engine. I imagine that the engine engine has 100k-200k miles on it. Honestly I don't remember since I was 18 and didn't care at the time. Runs like a top though!

For the record I do intend to do a prolonged B12 piston soak this weekend to get the ball rolling and let the oil do its thing.

 

[buster]

All of them.
Mobil1 0W40 FS is probably the best bang for the buck, and I would run it any time over VRP.

Won’t clean the rings though.

 

[edyvw]

Won’t clean the rings though.

Well, he can always go VRP and than 0W40 and let us know about it.

 

[AdmiralYoda]

Two things:

1. I've always had a plan to install a Tee at the oil pressure sending unit and permanently attach a mechanical gauge to mount in the engine bay to know exactly what the oil pressure is. Some day.

2. I think I talked myself into a plan. I'm going to do a B12 piston soak this weekend and do a quick OCI of conventional Delvac 15W-40 and a bottle of Rislone for fun. Mostly because they are cheap and available at my local parts store. After a while I'll swap to HPL and get two years out of the oil.

Heck, after the quick OCI of the Delvac I might add a can of BG-EPR before I swap in the HPL. This is exactly what I did with my wife's Mazda and it cured her oil consumption. Though I used 5W-30 instead of Delvac 15W-40

 

[BornSlippy]

Two things:

1. I've always had a plan to install a Tee at the oil pressure sending unit and permanently attach a mechanical gauge to mount in the engine bay to know exactly what the oil pressure is. Some day.

2. I think I talked myself into a plan. I'm going to do a B12 piston soak this weekend and do a quick OCI of conventional Delvac 15W-40 and a bottle of Rislone for fun. Mostly because they are cheap and available at my local parts store. After a while I'll swap to HPL and get two years out of the oil.

Heck, after the quick OCI of the Delvac I might add a can of BG-EPR before I swap in the HPL. This is exactly what I did with my wife's Mazda and it cured her oil consumption. Though I used 5W-30 instead of Delvac 15W-40

Rislone Engine Treatment is a fully formulated xW-20 oil with TMP ester in it. It gets a bad rap as "snake oil" but some very knowledgeable members here say it is legitimate.

I currently have a 500ml bottle of it in my Escape.

 

[53' Stude]

Working on my 1987 Toyota 4Runner with a 22RE. These engines have pretty low oil pressure at idle so in the summer I run a xW-40 or xW-50. I've been burning some oil lately....about a quart per 500 miles. It is a pleasure vehicle so it only gets driven maybe 3k miles per year. Plenty of highway miles mixed in.

The tailpipe is sooty so I think the oil rings are a bit coked up. No smoke at start up so I don't think it is the valve guides no matter how long it sits. I plan to do a B12 soak but I'm looking for a good cleaning oil that comes in a -40 or -50 to help the rings stay clean. Any thoughts?

VRP is an obvious answer but 5W-30 is as thick as it gets. HPL does a great job but that is probably overkill for the 22RE.

Any off the shelf -40 or -50 oils that are good at cleaning? Or just go with a diesel oil and maybe add a bottle of Rislone for the esters? Thoughts?

For the record the engine is sludge free. Pretty clean under the valve cover. So if anything I'm mostly just concerned with cleaning the rings and keeping them clean.

What about Valvoline EPHM or M1 5w40?

 

[cheesepuffs2]

All of them.
Mobil1 0W40 FS is probably the best bang for the buck, and I would run it any time over VRP.

This is my vote as well.

 

[AdmiralYoda]

For the record. Did a B12 piston soak over the weekend. 3 cans. No mosquitos in a 5 mile radius exist now.

Smoked like crazy.

 

[Accent Abuser]

Two things:

1. I've always had a plan to install a Tee at the oil pressure sending unit and permanently attach a mechanical gauge to mount in the engine bay to know exactly what the oil pressure is. Some day.

2. I think I talked myself into a plan. I'm going to do a B12 piston soak this weekend and do a quick OCI of conventional Delvac 15W-40 and a bottle of Rislone for fun. Mostly because they are cheap and available at my local parts store. After a while I'll swap to HPL and get two years out of the oil.

Heck, after the quick OCI of the Delvac I might add a can of BG-EPR before I swap in the HPL. This is exactly what I did with my wife's Mazda and it cured her oil consumption. Though I used 5W-30 instead of Delvac 15W-40

EPR is very good stuff.

 

[facility1]

though I don't usually recommend oil additives, try Liqui-Moly Pro-Clean to your fresh engine oil using 5w-30 Valvoline EP-HM and a new filter run for a short distance, this may help.

 

[AdmiralYoda]

For the record. Did a B12 piston soak over the weekend. 3 cans. No mosquitos in a 5 mile radius exist now.

Smoked like crazy.

I'll also mention that zero B12 remained in the cylinders. When I did the B12 soak to my wife's Mazda CX-5 most of the B12 stayed in the cylinders. On the Toyota 22RE 100% of the B12 made its way to the crankcase. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing but thought I'd mention it.

I took it for a 45 minute drive on the highway and got it good and hot. The smoke was so bad for the 1st mile I literally stopped traffic! The smoke mostly stopped after about 3 miles and by the time I hit the highway after about 5 miles the smoke was gone.

I have a 120 mile round trip highway drive planned this weekend and I'll probably change the oil in a couple hundred more miles after that and I'll toss a can of BG EPR in there before the oil change. I'll probably go with HPL just for the fun of it.

And I didn't mention it but I ended up with a Franken-brew. Walmart had a 4-quart container of conventional Delo 15W-40 on sale for $12, I added a bottle of Rislone and topped it off with some 20W-50. I went with an oversized Fram XG8A filter.