Help selecting oil for the 3.5L, V6 Toyota Tacoma motor?

Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
1,283
Location
California
Being a member of BITOG, I've learned some oil specifics, but not enough to make a specific oil choice. I know some of you know this topic like the back of your hand, so I'm asking for your help.

I'm trying to decide on what oil to run, hopefully on a long term basis, for a new Toyota Tacoma I'm planning to buy. The truck will have the 3.5L, V6 motor. The truck will be used as my daily-driver. I currently drive about 7,000 miles per year, so I don't put a lot of miles on a vehicle. I won't be towing with the truck right now, but *maybe* a small trailer in the future.

The owners manual calls for 0W-20 ("Toyota Genuine Motor Oil" is used in your Toyota vehicle. Use Toyota approved "Toyota Genuine Motor Oil" or equivalent to satisfy the following grade and viscosity. Oil grade: ILSAC GF-5 multigrade engine oil, Recommended viscosity: SAE 0W-20). I found a few old discussions about the Toyota 0W-20 - https://bit.ly/2XUj0lX and https://bit.ly/2GMqaTA and "Toyota TGMO 0W-20 SN VOA with VI, TBN, and TAN" - https://bit.ly/2V1byIz .

I really like the Castrol "Edge" oils (https://bit.ly/2ZBMN4p) and I've used the "Edge" oils for some time now in my vehicles. I've also used Mobil 1 (https://bit.ly/2DByjbg) oils which I think is a great oil as well, but I'm wondering if the factory Toyota oil might just be the best choice?

I've found some old BITOG discussions that compared the Mobil 1 AFE .vs the Toyota 0W-20(https://bit.ly/2DFdj3z), but this discussion is several years old. From reading some of the prior posts where the Toyota oil is discussed, the general feeling I get is that most people think that the Toyota oil was developed with some unique characteristics (high ZDDP and moly levels, etc.) that do the best job of protecting their engines...so there's no reason to look any further!

Is the Castrol Edge product worth considering for my new truck, or do you think the Toyota is simply the best choice and I should look no further?

Thank you for your thoughts and opinions in advance!

smile.gif


Ed
 
K-9s teach the suspect that if you run...you'll only be arrested tired.

Support YOUR local law enforcement K-9 Unit!

Oh and chewed on vigorously!
 
Tacoma's and Mobil 1 go together like peas and carrots.

Or buy the Castrol edge if you like it.

Or Pennzoil (but not Rotella gas truck [just because]).

Or valvoline - their new bottle design is pretty sweet.

Or whatever.
 
Any oil from the major producers that has the proper specs will have that engine out living your ownership of the vehicle.
 
What is wrong with Rotella Gas Truck? It meets the requirements. Any 0w20 the meets GF-5 will do.
 
I am running mobil1 0w40 FS in Mine right now.
Have run the factory fill, Castrol magnetec 5w30, dealer 0w20 bulk, and now the 0w40.
No notable differences in performance or economy. It is less buzzy with noise, with the 0w40, however that is a weak anectdotal and subjective observation. I will not conduct a noise survey.

Fuel mileage is dependent on speed not engine oil in this truck.
It will get 22-25 at 40 mph, 21 @60mph and 16 at 80mph, regardless of oil in the sump.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by JohnnyJohnson
K-9s teach the suspect that if you run...you'll only be arrested tired.

Support YOUR local law enforcement K-9 Unit!

Oh and chewed on vigorously!



smile.gif


You would have liked the t-shirts I designed titled, "SSDK9 Mingo t-shirt" (and the SSDK9 Drago t-shirt - both of which we no longer offer).

The "Mingo"shirt was wildly popular because of the intense look Mingo had in the photo and my caption that read "Run...I Dare You!" - https://bit.ly/2voWBRx

Ed
 
I'd run the Toyota Oil. Not saying it is better. It's what I would run if I were buying a new Toyota.
 
Apples to oranges a bit but my logic once entering the 0w-20 world.

Honda Accord hybrid: M1 EP 0w-20 because while I'm no PAO zealot, the higher level of PAO is desirable to me since the engine routinely shuts down immediately after high power runs or during interstate driving,

Honda Odyssey (3.5L V6 similar weight as your truck I'd think): I've swapped through all the majors, and noticed no practical difference the one thing that now is in our favor is SN Plus, for its LSPI protections. I just put Napa synthetic, as it's apparently a Valvoline variant in disguise, and you cans currently get 5qts and a platinum filter for like $19.99 or so.

So I'd stock up on the Napa deal, personally, since it is SN Plus...
 
Originally Posted by Gebo
I'd run the Toyota Oil. Not saying it is better. It's what I would run if I were buying a new Toyota.



The one made by Mobil?
 
Originally Posted by Ed_Flecko
Is the Castrol Edge product worth considering for my new truck, or do you think the Toyota is simply the best choice and I should look no further?

I'd purchase by price. Up here, the TGMO is hard to beat at the dealers, as CATERHAM had mentioned many times over the years. That hasn't changed. I'm sure you can find some decent Castrol deals, too.

I'll mention you should go for Rotella Gas Truck, since it seems to honk people off.
wink.gif
 
When I was looking closer at the Toyota Genuine Motor oil recently I recall several posts that say the formula no longer had the added ingredients which once made it a great oil choice. Still a good oil, but not what it once was.

I just got a 2019 Honda Pilot with the 3.5 and will be using Mobil 1 EP 0W20. The Honda oil which is made by Phillips 66 since 2010 and will continue through 2019 doesn't appear to be "special" either, and is pretty expensive when compared to better oils. The Mobil 1 EP which is also SN Plus and Mobil 1 oils have meet that requirement since 2010 according to their website.

https://mobiloil.com/en/article/why-the-mobil-advantage/mobil-1-modern-engines/lspi-protection
 
Interesting that just a few years back 5W30 was the ONLY oil Toyota said to use in that engine. Both of our '08 RAV4 V-6 require 5W30 SN period. I saw a Canandian oil chart that showed 5W20 as an alternate but nothing from Toyota USA approving it for the older models.

I would use the Toyota branded oil in your case providing the price was realistic. You'll get two free oil changes from the dealer as it is.
 
Last edited:
Has Toyota made an engine that was truly picky about oil? I understand that they had a bad run with some sludgers (3.0L/V6, so that needed "good" oil, and 1.8 & 2.4 I4's, those needed a good oil to prevent coked rings), but the rest...
21.gif
 
Originally Posted by Imp4
Originally Posted by NH73
What is wrong with Rotella Gas Truck?

He stated exactly what is wrong.... 'just because'...
cheers3.gif

Not good enough. If he/she wants to, they can. But one needs to understand is Rotella Gas Truck is just marketing.
 
Originally Posted by ls973800
..."When I was looking closer at the Toyota Genuine Motor oil recently I recall several posts that say the formula no longer had the added ingredients which once made it a great oil choice. Still a good oil, but not what it once was..."


Can you direct me to the posts that you're referring to? I'd like to see those.

Ed
 
Can you direct me to the posts that you're referring to? I'd like to see those.

Ed

Ok, I was looking at the TGMO back in 2016 for a newly leased 2017 Highlander. I recall reading about the oil not being as good as it once was. Here are a few posts I just found now doing a quick search. I now have a 2019 Honda Pilot, and reading posts about does the factory fill still have high moly or other additives that are needed for the engine break in. Finding yes and no answers to that. I know my 2012 Acura MDX at the time really did have a strong believe to not change oil early because of Honda break in oil.

For what it's worth, I actually did end up buying 6 quarts of TGMO for my Highlander at the time. I believed it was still good oil but maybe not the fantastic oil from several years before. Never got around to using it because I had the two free changes from the dealer, and then ended the lease early. Still have the 6 quarts sitting on a shelf in my garage along with 6 Toyota brand oil filters. Neighborhood is having a community garage sale in a few weeks, so I will put these items out for sale.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-4th-gen-2007-2017/769647-toyota-genuine-motor-oil-update.html

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4723518/TGMO_0W-20,_9900_mi.;_2012_Ela Post number 4723624 on 4-11-18 at 1:51PM

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/foru...-sn-made-in-heaven-part-ii-high-moly-gtl Starts off well, then questions about the type of Moly in such a large quantity being bad?
Originally Posted by Ed_Flecko
ls973800 said:
..."When I was looking closer at the Toyota Genuine Motor oil recently I recall several posts that say the formula no longer had the added ingredients which once made it a great oil choice. Still a good oil, but not what it once was..."
 
Back
Top