quote:
Originally posted by theguru:
Are you sure Toyota here specifies a 20w-50? Unless I missed it and it is a diesel or the like. Our commonest Mobil 1 is 5w-50 and has been for years.
I'm not even sure if you can even get Mobil 1 15W-50 in Australia, except maybe in barrels. Oddly enough, you can NOT get Mobil 1 5W-50 here in North America!
Cripes, you don't even NEED to worry about cold temp pumping performance, yet you have a 5W-50! Maybe we can swap? I'll trade you my 15W-50 for your 5W-50?? Just a thought ...
The Toyota Australia web site goes on and on about their "wonderful" (I'm being sarcastic I guess) factory-recommended fluids.
Apparently, you're supposed to use their special 10W-30 in all VVT-i motors. Otherwise, you should use the Toyota 20W-50. This isn't a synthetic.
Diesel motors are supposed to use the Toyota Diesel 20W-50. At least Toyota of Australia shares all this information, the Toyota network here in North America is tight-lipped over it.
Check out the URL at:
http://www.partsservice.toyota.com.au
Right below the picture of the Land Cruiser and Steve Irwin, click on "More" by Toyota Genuine Parts.
Then click "Motor Oils Range." You will see that Toyota makes a 20W-50 JUST for their LD diesel motors.
Or, if you click on "Motor Oils" you can then download an Adobe Acrobat pdf for Toyota Genuine Motor Oils.
Toyota of Australia also has a Freephone number listed, so why not try it?
I'm sure that Castrol and Fuchs in Australia offer a 20W-50, don't they?? Paging Doug Hillary, could Doug Hillary please answer the telephone??
Oh, I just got back today after taking another look at the Echo Hatchback at a Toyota dealer. They have a broadband Internet connection for customers to use, so I showed the Service Manager the link I posted above.
Then I questioned him as to why Toyota makes us use a 5W-30 even in hot summer. His answer?
"Because they make us, that's why. I don't have any say in the matter."
I suggested to him that if I bought the Echo Hatchback, I'd run Mobil 1 0W-30 in cold winter and Mobil 1 Truck & SUV 5W-40 in hot summer. I showed him the Mobil product data sheets.
He thought that was a great idea. I truly do think the EPA CAFE has most dealers over a barrel.
Jerry