Is 5W-20 oil not commonly used?

[ekincam]

My Camry I4 calls for 0W-20 or 5W-20 oil but out of 6 stores, only 2 of them had any selection. This included the PX, Napa, 2 AutoZone, Kragen, and Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart only had Mobil 1 5W-20 for $5.97/qt and one AutoZone (the one further away) had Castrol Syntec for $4.49/qt and Castrol Syntec Blend for $2.49/qt. They did not carry larger containers of oil in those weights unless I wanted a 6 qt case at Autozone. Wal-Mart is 25 miles away and that AutoZone is 30 miles away. The closer Autozone is 7 miles away and Napa is about 6 miles (I live in the boonies).

Is 5W-20 and 0W-20 not very commonly used? It's annoying to have to travel so far just to get some oil to do an oil change especially since I don't go out that way very often. Even then the selection is fairly limited.

 

[Colt45ws]

Thats odd. My Walmart has at least 5 or 6 different 5W-20s.

 

[coffee]

Yes, I am a big Motorcraft 5w20 fan and Wal-Mart carries it by the 5qt. jug. I am surprised to see they only had Mobil 1 as that is quite expensive and MC 5w20 would server you perfectly. I hope you can find or convince the Wal-Mart to stock it or just get the Castol Blend. Best of luck with your investigation.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

I see 5w20 available everywhere. Honda, Ford, Mazda, Toyota, Chrylser, mitsubishi and maybe others recomend it. in all oor some of their vehicles.
As was mentioned wallyworlds stock Motorcraft 5w20 I have no problem finding Pennzoil, Havoline, and even store brand oils in 5w20.

 

[mettech]

I see dead people and 5W-20 everywhere.

 

[ThirdeYe]

5W20 is popular in most newer vehicles, but I don't see it available too often, to be honest with you. I see 5W30, 10W30 and 10W40 the most, around here.

 

[ewetho]

Fiance hardly ever seen 5w30 (she used 10w30) in Florida and was shocked to see 5W-20. But VERY VERY common up here now.

 

[Merkava_4]

Quote:

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I see dead people and 5W-20 everywhere.

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LOL !!! . . .

 

[JohnBrowning]

Ford,Honda,Toyota,Chrysler and GM all have some vechiles that recomend some form of XW20 like 0W20 or 5W20. You must have ran into a fluke situation in your area becuase I can go into any store that sells oil in a 100 mile radius of my house and find at lest 3 different brands of 5W20 and usualy 1 brand in 0W20. If ever this happens again you can always go to Ford,Honda or Toyota dealership and buy it by the quart or get it from their bulk tank! Walmart is notorius as is AUtoZone for filling in empty shelf space with other products until they get more in. So they probably sell 5W20 or 0W20 but were all out and filled the space with something else.

 

[ekincam]

I've never seen Motorcraft oil at Wal-Mart here.

Brands they have are Mobil, Castrol, Penzoil, Valvoline, Quaker State, Havoline, Chevron, Super Tech, and Shell Rotella.

I looked all over and inspected all the shelf tags and the only oil they have in 5W-20 is the Mobil 1 SuperSyn.

They had all the 5w30, 10w30, 10W-40, and 20W-50 I could ever want but no OW-X and only one 5W-20.

After passing Autozone at 30 miles away, I'd need to drive an additional 40 miles or so before I reach the next town. Maybe I should just order a 30 gal drum from Amsoil

 

[JohnBrowning]

Oh by the way any SM 5W30 oil from a reputable name brand like Havoline,Shell,Chevron Supreme,Pensoil etc.... will work just fine. My Mothers 2007 I4 Camry was fed 5W30 by the dealership for it's first oil change and it now has Warren Products(WP) produced synthetic oil purchased at Meijers in 5W30. My 2003 Camry I4 has had everything from 15W40-0W30 and not really complained one way or the other. It seems to like synthetic 5W30-5W40.

 

[zonestar]

There is no shortage of 5w20 in Ga. Everybody sells it except the convenience stores. The reason I always kept a quart in the trunk.

 

[RogerKlugerAus05]

I have never seen 0W-20 or 5W-20 here in Australia. I have a Toyota Kluger/Highlander V6 and a Corolla and I believe in USA these oils are specified, but here 5w30 to 20W-50 are specified and dealer uses 15w40 in servicing.
Roger

 

[Panzerman]

In SoCal, why even sweat it, it never gets cold, you would be fine with the 5w30 or the 10w30, its probably what the dealership is using. The bulk 10w30 is about 3/4 the price of 5w20. Your engine will be fine, the same engine in every other counrty is specing a 5w30. If you are concerned about the heavier oil, the new havoline is running on the lightest side of the api, and thier 5w30 is about anyone elses 5w20.

 

[ekincam]

I don't know about you, but I think 17 deg F is cold to me!

 

[JohnBrowning]

ekincam anything on the positive side of the scale is shorts and tank top weather in Michigan. It is not cold cold until it is below -10°F! It hit 32°F and girls were seriously wearing tank tops and blue jeans with no jackets or coats. It hit 40°F and some were wearing shorts and tank tops!

 

[Drivebelt]

Doesn’t your vehicle just … recommend … 5w-20, not require it?

The 5w-20’s have proven themselves to be good oils, but I’m still not completely sold on them. I would have no hesitation in using 5w30 in a vehicle that recommended 5w-20.

 

[SrDriver]

Plenty here in this area. Big Lots has Havoline Full Synthetic 5W20 on sale right now.

 

[JTK]

Not a whole lot of variety in my area. Only car parts stores or stores with larger automotive depts carry 5w-20 in the Buffalo NY area. I've never seen 0w-20 or 0w-30.

Joel

 

[ekincam]

Heh, when you live in an area where the summer day time temperatures exceed 115 deg F daily, 17 deg F is cold. It'll cool to about 90 by 8PM and high 60s to low 70s by 5am - you'll see people in jackets and sweats at this time during the summer. I never knew that it snowed in the Mojave Desert until I got stationed here couple years ago.