Nissan and Toyota are issuing rationing
- Thread starter jkittlesen
- Start date
I service a friend's newer RAV4 hybrid that calls for 0w16. I used 0w20 Mobil 1 last time.
There are a lot of people on here who are looking for oil $10-15 a gallon, especially those with motorcycles or farm equipment. Remember: Anything you get for free is a pure profit!
Reading down in the article a bit, they make the “tight bearing clearances” and VVT claims about the dangers of stepping up in grade.
They say.. - '...engine spec'd for 0w-16 oil...' - ok, is the engine spec'd for that oil in general or only in some/couple of countries in the World?
Also, afaik, neither Toyota nor Nissan have certifications for the oils (or make their oils) that they want you to use in their engines. So, why such a worry re this rationing, just use retail available oil.
Even if they wanted to spec an engine to one viscosity oil only, how would they fair with those engines in different parts of the World, like Africa, Australia, Finland? Make region specific engines?
Then another thing - oils spec'd for a grade can be on thinner or thicker side too.
Also, afaik, neither Toyota nor Nissan have certifications for the oils (or make their oils) that they want you to use in their engines. So, why such a worry re this rationing, just use retail available oil.
Even if they wanted to spec an engine to one viscosity oil only, how would they fair with those engines in different parts of the World, like Africa, Australia, Finland? Make region specific engines?
Then another thing - oils spec'd for a grade can be on thinner or thicker side too.
Even at 82 I wouldn't bother myself with because I can still DIY! Oh and for under $35.
In my 23 years of driving I have had Hyundai's, Mazda's, Volvo, Chrysler, Subaru, Toyota's and Nissan's I can tell you if I did get a dealership oil change the nerd in me would always want to know what oil was used.
Hyundai at the time used AGIP and Valvoline bulk
Mazda, Castrol or Mobil bulk
Volvo, Shell bulk early 2000s
Chrysler, Valvoline bulk
Toyota, Mobil or Valvoline bulk
Subaru had an invoice code something like WHC5W30 I had to inquire Wolf's Head Conventional 5W30 around 2010. bulk
Nissan, Mobil or Valvoline bulk
dealerships don't follow the manufacturers rec for viscosity and they sure don't care about the brand its all about savings. if its available they'll use it if not they'll use the alt this goes to prove it.
Hyundai at the time used AGIP and Valvoline bulk
Mazda, Castrol or Mobil bulk
Volvo, Shell bulk early 2000s
Chrysler, Valvoline bulk
Toyota, Mobil or Valvoline bulk
Subaru had an invoice code something like WHC5W30 I had to inquire Wolf's Head Conventional 5W30 around 2010. bulk
Nissan, Mobil or Valvoline bulk
dealerships don't follow the manufacturers rec for viscosity and they sure don't care about the brand its all about savings. if its available they'll use it if not they'll use the alt this goes to prove it.
Oh no worries, this will all be over Real Soon 
Real Soon = The new normal.Oh no worries, this will all be over Real Soon
SilentType
Site Donor 2025
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2025
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Can we go back to the old normal please
No trouble getting liquidity from worldpac yet
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
I did the same, though I used Castrol Edge 0w-20...but only because it was the lowest viscosity I had, and didn't realize until I had it on jack stands it required 0w-16.
wemay
Site Donor 2023
Same here. I haven't witnessed an oil shortage yet. Lots of 0w-16 Mobil 1 and SuperTech.
The article is full of BS:
>0W-20 and 5W-30, the two most common factory->fill grades in their US lineups.
5w-30 has not been used by Toyota for like 10+ years.
>An engine spec’d for 0W-16 cannot simply take >whatever is on the shelf. Modern engines with tight >bearing clearances
Here we go again with tight bearing clearances….
>0W-20 and 5W-30, the two most common factory->fill grades in their US lineups.
5w-30 has not been used by Toyota for like 10+ years.
>An engine spec’d for 0W-16 cannot simply take >whatever is on the shelf. Modern engines with tight >bearing clearances
Here we go again with tight bearing clearances….
I know VW dealers may deviate. I suspect that an individual dealer is not constrained to the recommended oils but the corporate entity must not advise against the EPA award letter except under these extreme circumstances.
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