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The amount of info around here is staggering....especially for a layman like myself. So after reading for the last hour or so I think I may be even more unsure. The wife and I have both bought new vehicles in the last few months. She bought a '12 Toyota RAV4 and I bought a '13 Tacoma...both 4 cylinders.

The RAV calls for 0w-20 or 5w-20. I recently did a change on it using Castrol GTX conventional in 5w-20. The Tacoma calls only for 0w-20...which I guess means a full synthetic or maybe a blend.

The RAV does a lot of stop-and-go short trip type stuff and Tacoma is about 75% highway. I'll do a 5K or 6 month interval on both vehicles.

I think I read somewhere that Castrol Syn/Blend is now available in 0w-20. I'd like to keep things simple and just use the same oil (0w-20) in both vehicles. So...here are the options in a 0w-20 that I feel good about, but would like other's opinions.

Castrol Syn/blend
Castrol Edge
Good old M1
 
Originally Posted By: fauxchemist
Go with the Mobil 1. 5K OCI is a waste, might wanna get a little more bang for your buck.

Well...the RAV's suggested interval is 5K/6M. So I'll just stick with that. The Tacoma, though, I might stretch some, as it sees a lot of highway miles and hits the 5K long before 6 months.

So 1 vote for M1 so far.
 
M1 also of your choices. Lot's of good UOA on it.

Make sure you follow the recommended OCI to keep warranty valid.
 
What's the oci that you have to follow,or is there one. And what are the lowest winter temps you are going to experience?
If you have to change the oils at 5000 miles M1 would be a waste. If you can extend them maybe the afe 0w-20 is what you want,if winter temps are an issue.
If winter cold isn't an issue my vote is for the least expensive oil that meets whatever spec your engines call for. If your engines call for a 0w-20 for warrantee then I'd go with the AFE and call er a day for both motors.
Again it all depends on climate,warrantee and what the oem's spec.
I guess I wasn't much help.
Edit
I just saw that the Tacoma calls for 0w-20,is there a Toyota dealer nearby? The tgmo 0w-20 is great stuff,and made for your engine. If its easy to get I'd make that my first choice if its unavailable then GULP,I'd suggest the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w-20.
 
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If youre sticking to a 6 month, 5K mile OCI schedule, then just use any house brand SN Synthetic. NAPA is on sale often for well below $4/qt. I use it all the time on both our vehicles. Same OCI interval as yours. And its mostly stop and go driving, minimal highway. Never an issue at all with that oil.
I've used just about every Major brand and House brand oil.
My cars run great regardless of brand. So save the $$$$$.
 
When In Doubt Go With Castrol! Alot of My Customer's Run 5w20 Castrol Edge/Titanium in there Work Truck's which are Tacoma's,[censored] I Even Run it Good stuff!
To be honest Just stick with Full Synthetic Price you pay for oil change Special's it ends up being cheaper to go with synthetic and comes with a decent filter.
 
I agree with the NAPA 0w20 synthetic suggestion when it's on
sale (it's made by Valvoline and can be had for $3.59-$3.79 a qt.)
If I were extending the OCI beyond 6 or 7K I'd run Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy which is a very good deal in the 5 qt. jug at Walmart ($25)...
 
The oil suggestions made by the others are excellent. The only thing I will add is, whatever oil you choose, follow the recommended OCI.

Stretching out the use of oil to its full potential isn't a good idea for a vehicle still under warranty.
 
Originally Posted By: FamilyBuggy
The RAV calls for 0w-20 or 5w-20. I recently did a change on it using Castrol GTX conventional in 5w-20. The Tacoma calls only for 0w-20...which I guess means a full synthetic or maybe a blend.
Oil doesn't come from dinosaurs but from the Carboniferous(sp?) Era when the world was dominated by giant trees/plants and no animals (except fish in the ocean).

Honda & Toyota sell a 0W-20 that is natural oil. Probably other companies do too.

I would use Mobil 1 or Mobil Super Synthetic; whichever is cheaper to buy in 5-quart jugs. Both have 0w-20 grades.
 
I've always been a Castrol GTX/Pureone filter kinda guy with all of my vehicles. But the newer ones require very specific viscosities...some even calling for full synthetics. I guess I'm just over thinking it. I'll stick to the factory recommended intervals and just use Mobil 1. It's sold everywhere and you can easily find it on sale.

So Mobil 1 0w-20 and a PureOne filter will be my new ritual.

Thanks!
 
If you're changing it yourself, I'd faithfully follow the recommended oci using the Toyota 0W20 (which is a fine oil) and the oem oil filter for as long as the vehicles are under warranty. Save the receipts and keep copious records in case there are warranty issues. They can hardly question what you're using if it's their stuff.
 
Originally Posted By: FamilyBuggy
I've always been a Castrol GTX/Pureone filter kinda guy with all of my vehicles. But the newer ones require very specific viscosities...some even calling for full synthetics. I guess I'm just over thinking it. I'll stick to the factory recommended intervals and just use Mobil 1. It's sold everywhere and you can easily find it on sale.

So Mobil 1 0w-20 and a PureOne filter will be my new ritual.

Thanks!



You may want to consider the Quaker State Ultimate Durability also. $21 at your local Walmart. A good quality oil at a great price.
 
One more thing. It looks like both M1 and Quaker State Ultimate Durability both have the ILSAC GF-5 rating, right? The Tacoma recommends this rating. The RAV just says "ILSAC Muti-Grade". Again...I'm propbably over thinking this, right?
 
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