I have a 1988 Toyota Celica ST I bought new in 1988. It's been stored during the winters; never driven in the snow. It just turned over 60K miles, late last summer.
In the owners manual, it specifies 10W30, and 10W40, (and heavier) above 0F to 10F. Basically, for the summer. I have always used 10W40 Castrol GTX dino oil in it, since I only drive it in warm weather
For 50F and below, it specifies 5W30. Basically, that's for the winter. Since I don’t drive it in the winter, I’ve never used 5W30 in it.
I am driving this car less and less. As I’m getting older, I find driving a 5 speed in rush hour traffic bites. (My other car is a Pontiac Vibe, AKA Toyota Matrix, and it has my first auto trans.)
I'm only putting about 1 to 2K(max) a year on this car now, during the summer. I change the oil and filter (10W40 Castrol dino) right before I store it for the winter. It comes out looking quite clean, as you might expect. I drive it for the summer, and then change the the oil again before I store it.
I know many newer cars now spec 5W30 oil year around. I know the Toyota Matrix, Corolla, and Camry (4 cyl, for sure) have been specing this oil for at least 5 years. My Pontiac Vibe specs 5W30 for year round. (For that car, I change it every 3K, with the Castrol GTX 5W30 dino oil. It’s nice using the same oil, year round).
I'm wondering if I could safely use 5W30 Castrol GTX dino oil in my 1988 Toyota Celica during the relatively few miles I drive it during the summer. It has the 2000cc, non turbo 3F-SE engine. It has never leaked or burned any oil. Not a drop. But it will get driven, in city traffic, with the AC on, in 80 to 100F heat.
It would be nice to only have one weight of oil to buy and keep track of. (I am getting lazier in my old age...)
I know that the 5W30 oil available today is much better than the 5W30 oil of 20 years ago.
But of course I don't want to ruin (or take a chance of ruining) my little red sports car. I bought it new, paid cash for it, and I expect to keep this car for many more years.
As an aside: I’m not interested in synthetics, or any other oils. I’ve been using Castrol dino oil for almost 40 years. It’s relatively inexpensive, and I change oil and filter every 3K, or less. I’ve never had a problem with it. I don’t want to change brands, formulations, weights, or anything else. I just want to know about using 5W30 Castrol in my 1988 Celica. I’m getting too old to complicate my life; I want to make it less complicated!
TIA!
In the owners manual, it specifies 10W30, and 10W40, (and heavier) above 0F to 10F. Basically, for the summer. I have always used 10W40 Castrol GTX dino oil in it, since I only drive it in warm weather
For 50F and below, it specifies 5W30. Basically, that's for the winter. Since I don’t drive it in the winter, I’ve never used 5W30 in it.
I am driving this car less and less. As I’m getting older, I find driving a 5 speed in rush hour traffic bites. (My other car is a Pontiac Vibe, AKA Toyota Matrix, and it has my first auto trans.)
I'm only putting about 1 to 2K(max) a year on this car now, during the summer. I change the oil and filter (10W40 Castrol dino) right before I store it for the winter. It comes out looking quite clean, as you might expect. I drive it for the summer, and then change the the oil again before I store it.
I know many newer cars now spec 5W30 oil year around. I know the Toyota Matrix, Corolla, and Camry (4 cyl, for sure) have been specing this oil for at least 5 years. My Pontiac Vibe specs 5W30 for year round. (For that car, I change it every 3K, with the Castrol GTX 5W30 dino oil. It’s nice using the same oil, year round).
I'm wondering if I could safely use 5W30 Castrol GTX dino oil in my 1988 Toyota Celica during the relatively few miles I drive it during the summer. It has the 2000cc, non turbo 3F-SE engine. It has never leaked or burned any oil. Not a drop. But it will get driven, in city traffic, with the AC on, in 80 to 100F heat.
It would be nice to only have one weight of oil to buy and keep track of. (I am getting lazier in my old age...)
I know that the 5W30 oil available today is much better than the 5W30 oil of 20 years ago.
But of course I don't want to ruin (or take a chance of ruining) my little red sports car. I bought it new, paid cash for it, and I expect to keep this car for many more years.
As an aside: I’m not interested in synthetics, or any other oils. I’ve been using Castrol dino oil for almost 40 years. It’s relatively inexpensive, and I change oil and filter every 3K, or less. I’ve never had a problem with it. I don’t want to change brands, formulations, weights, or anything else. I just want to know about using 5W30 Castrol in my 1988 Celica. I’m getting too old to complicate my life; I want to make it less complicated!
TIA!
