Oil For Short Trips

[Shel_B]

Just curious, how well does 5w30 work in your Camry? We have the same engine and I’m curious about using 5w30.

If you tell me what you're curious about, perhaps I can address those points and be more helpful. That said, It works very well in my car, in my circumstances, and I especially like it on long, higher-speed highway trips compared to the 0W-20. Over 3,000+ miles there is no observable drop in the oil level, and that includes the times I've made some long-distance, higher-speed trips.

However, please note that I'm using Mobil 1 Extended Performance, different brands might behave differently in your car. When I bought the car, I used Castrol Edge 5w30 EP (gold bottle) and during that OCI I needed to add a small amount of oil (btwn 1/4 and 1/2 quart) to maintain the level.

I doubt if I'll ever return to 0W-20 although I may try some Mobil 1 ESP 0w30 that I have. In fact, I know I'll try it. I should also note that I'm a Mobil 1 guy, don't use other brands (except for that one time when I first bought the car, but that was a unique circumstance).

HTH, YMMV

 

[SeanE]

If you tell me what you're curious about, perhaps I can address those points and be more helpful. That said, It works very well in my car, in my circumstances, and I especially like it on long, higher-speed highway trips compared to the 0W-20. Over 3,000+ miles there is no observable drop in the oil level, and that includes the times I've made some long-distance, higher-speed trips.

However, please note that I'm using Mobil 1 Extended Performance, different brands might behave differently in your car. When I bought the car, I used Castrol Edge 5w30 EP (gold bottle) and during that OCI I needed to add a small amount of oil (btwn 1/4 and 1/2 quart) to maintain the level.

I doubt if I'll ever return to 0W-20 although I may try some Mobil 1 ESP 0w30 that I have. In fact, I know I'll try it. I should also note that I'm a Mobil 1 guy, don't use other brands (except for that one time when I first bought the car, but that was a unique circumstance).

HTH, YMMV

I drive about 500 miles a week. My commute is 45 miles each way, and at speeds of 70+ MPH. I also do a lot of stop-n-go driving and idling due to the horrible I-64 traffic I suffer through everyday. (I digress)
I currently use 0w20 and there is no noticeable oil consumption between 5,000 mile OCI.
I’m thinking of using 5w30 due to the fact that spring/summer is coming up and I’m going to be sitting in traffic in 95 degree weather with the A/C blasting, and I think 5w30 would offer theoretical better protection.
My vehicle also has 125k miles and I want to keep it for many more.

 

[FordMan59]

If it were me I'd just use a cheaper brand oil and change it a little more often. Even synthetic blend used for short trips with the occasional full temperature run should be good for 3-5K+ miles with no worries. I'm running 15-20 year old conventional and the cheapest filters available 7.5K miles in my '02 Ford Escort daily driver and am seeing no negative effects. The Escort has about 220K miles and uses about 1 quart between changes. I topped the oil off late last week it had been 4K miles since it's last OC and was 1/2 quart low. Most of my trips are 20-30 minutes long.

 

[Shel_B]

If it were me I'd just use a cheaper brand oil and change it a little more often. Even synthetic blend used for short trips with the occasional full temperature run should be good for 3-5K+ miles with no worries. I'm running 15-20 year old conventional and the cheapest filters available 7.5K miles in my '02 Ford Escort daily driver and am seeing no negative effects. The Escort has about 220K miles and uses about 1 quart between changes. I topped the oil off late last week it had been 4K miles since it's last OC and was 1/2 quart low. Most of my trips are 20-30 minutes long.

I couldn't do that ... even though I sometimes wish I could.

 

[FZ1]

I drive about 500 miles a week. My commute is 45 miles each way, and at speeds of 70+ MPH. I also do a lot of stop-n-go driving and idling due to the horrible I-64 traffic I suffer through everyday. (I digress)
I currently use 0w20 and there is no noticeable oil consumption between 5,000 mile OCI.
I’m thinking of using 5w30 due to the fact that spring/summer is coming up and I’m going to be sitting in traffic in 95 degree weather with the A/C blasting, and I think 5w30 would offer theoretical better protection.
My vehicle also has 125k miles and I want to keep it for many more.

No consumption in your oci is great. I use Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w-20 in my 17 Camry and it runs smoothly. AFE is thicker than most 0w-20's. Sounds like you are fine. What 20w do you run?

 

[FordMan59]

I couldn't do that ... even though I sometimes wish I could.

The old Escort is in poor condition body wise where a lady hit my son in it several years ago. Rather than fixing it I continued to drive it as is and used the money toward buying another better car. I wouldn't do it on a new car but under the current conditions I thought it was a good experiment to see how the car would hold up and see whether it was worth pursuing longer OCI's with my other vehicles. I've really nothing to lose since the damages to the Escort were more than I paid for the car years before.

 

[SeanE]

No consumption in your oci is great. I use Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w-20 in my 17 Camry and it runs smoothly. AFE is thicker than most 0w-20's. Sounds like you are fine. What 20w do you run?

Since I’ve gotten the car, it’s had 0w20 Magnatec (rip) 0w20 Castrol EDGE Extended Performance and currently running Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0w20. I have a bottle of Valvoline Extended Protection 0w20 waiting but I might go with a 5w30 if it would be safe

 

[kschachn]

Since I’ve gotten the car, it’s had 0w20 Magnatec (rip) 0w20 Castrol EP and currently running Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0w20. I have a bottle of Valvoline Extended Protection 0w20 waiting but I might go with a 5w30 if it would be safe

Safe how?

 

[SeanE]

Safe how?

I’ve heard people say you can use 5w30 and heard others say you can’t. Not sure who to believe. That’s why I was asking how well it worked for his engine.

 

[BMW Dom]

I’ve heard people say you can use 5w30 and heard others say you can’t. Not sure who to believe. That’s why I was asking how well it worked for his engine.

I RaN 5w30 AnD My eNgInE FeLt "SlUgGiSh"

 

[FZ1]

Since I’ve gotten the car, it’s had 0w20 Magnatec (rip) 0w20 Castrol EP and currently running Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0w20. I have a bottle of Valvoline Extended Protection 0w20 waiting but I might go with a 5w30 if it would be safe

Of the oils you have run, do you notice any difference in smoothness or engine noise from one oil to the next?

 

[SeanE]

Of the oils you have run, do you notice any difference in smoothness or engine noise from one oil to the next?

They kinda all seemed the same. No real difference between them. Maybe Magnatec was quieter but idk that’s what everyone says about it so maybe my brain was tricking me.

 

[HyundaiAbuser]

If your oil is never reaching operating temperature is there any advantage to a higher viscosity to combat any fuel dilution? I would probably heir on the side of a 0 or 5w20 and 3k if its never getting warm enough for the operating temp viscosity to matter and im normally a thicker oil guy. Less parasitic friction and more availability.

 

[HyundaiAbuser]

They kinda all seemed the same. No real difference between them. Maybe Magnatec was quieter but idk that’s what everyone says about it so maybe my brain was tricking me.

get some 5w30 and try it for yourself, the 2.5s I've seen use it never have any problems. I run maxlife 5w30 semi syn exclusively in my mothers Camry since it started burning oil and you wouldn't notice the engine has 220xxx miles unless someone told you.

 

[kschachn]

I’ve heard people say you can use 5w30 and heard others say you can’t. Not sure who to believe. That’s why I was asking how well it worked for his engine.

Anyone that says you can’t has no idea what they are talking about. No SAE grade higher than the minimum listed in your owner’s manual will damage the engine. A lower grade (actually a lower HT/HS) can cause damage but not a higher one.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I’ve heard people say you can use 5w30 and heard others say you can’t. Not sure who to believe. That’s why I was asking how well it worked for his engine.

Whoever said you can't run 5w30 instead of xW-20 simply doesn't understand the mechanics of lubrication (ie, tribology).

 

[Sword_of_the_Spirit]

Whoever said you can't run 5w30 instead of xW-20 simply doesn't understand the mechanics of lubrication (ie, tribology).

Exactly. Going up a single grade or weight will most certainly not have any meaningful negative effect on the vehicle. May even help.

Oil quality and intervals are the most important aspects in motor longevity.

 

[Gene K]

Exactly. Going up a single grade or weight will most certainly not have any meaningful negative effect on the vehicle. May even help.

Oil quality and intervals are the most important aspects in motor longevity.

I've read several times from various different sources that filter spec is.far more important than oil quality (assuming minimum spec).

 

[anndel01]

Every 6 months regardless if less than 5,000 miles with a good filter, preferably OEM Toyota and if Not, NAPA Gold. Viscosity per your owner's manual.

 

[MrStamper]

Dunno why you’re stressing over oil on a Toyota. Seen plenty of them with over 300k miles running conventional…