Between Castrol Edge, Valvoline Advanced, or Liqui Moly Special Tec AA what would you choose, and if you have time, why? They all have the 0w-16 weight offered. Of the three, Castrol has a little higher weight at100 degrees C. Of the three, Valvoline has a little higher HTHS number. Liqui Moly sounds cool, I have a German wife and a German dog, I like them both, so maybe I will like a German engine oil. They are all three using Group 3 base stocks, I think. Right now, I am leaning towards the Castrol.
Three 0w-16 choices I am considering next.
- Thread starter GI_GRIFF
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German wife and German dog are probably above average. Liqui Moly...not so much. You are leaning in the correct direction with the Castrol. Valvoline would be fine as well. LM has a following due in part to marketing to European car repair shops. In VOAs and UOAs, it's nothing special that I've seen.
LOL! Thanks for the input!
Which one is the cheapest? 
On Amazon the Valvoline would be the highest, but it is tricky to figure out. You can only buy the Castrol in 1-quart bottles. You can get the Valvoline and Liqui Moly in the bigger jugs. Anyhow, highest to lowest, on a per quart or liter basis, it goes Valvoline, Castrol, then Liqui Moly. The imported oil is actually cheaper than our made in USA stuff on Amazon.
Problem with 0w-16 is you can't get it with stringent approvals.
I'd suggest M1 ESP x2 0w-20. Walmart has it for cheap and it's a great thin oil. 0w-20 is barely thicker than 0w-16. It's possible to buy a 0w-20 thinner than a 0w-16 since overlap is allowed for grades under 20. Castrol edge 0w-16 has a kv100 of 7.9 and M1 ESP x2 0w-20 is also 7.9. On top of that with 20 you're guaranteed at least 2.6 hths but with 16 only 2.3 is.
Amsoil 0w-16 has a kv100 of 8.0 while x2 is 7.9 but amsoil is 2.45 hths while x2 is at least 2.6 and that's the important figure.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-...WW5CPIDMjqm97zXvNJM6yc7elieonKEhoCPbYQAvD_BwE
I'd suggest M1 ESP x2 0w-20. Walmart has it for cheap and it's a great thin oil. 0w-20 is barely thicker than 0w-16. It's possible to buy a 0w-20 thinner than a 0w-16 since overlap is allowed for grades under 20. Castrol edge 0w-16 has a kv100 of 7.9 and M1 ESP x2 0w-20 is also 7.9. On top of that with 20 you're guaranteed at least 2.6 hths but with 16 only 2.3 is.
Amsoil 0w-16 has a kv100 of 8.0 while x2 is 7.9 but amsoil is 2.45 hths while x2 is at least 2.6 and that's the important figure.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-...WW5CPIDMjqm97zXvNJM6yc7elieonKEhoCPbYQAvD_BwE
The one with the highest HTHS.
try 0w-20 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum, the viscosity is close to 0w-16, and the 0w-20 offers a better hths protection or even Valvoline 0w-20 EP. are affordable and commonly found, the Liqui-Moly would be a good choice if wanting 0w-16. or AMSOIL SS for a choice too. what engine are you putting it in and age, miles etc.??
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The best 0w16 out there. At 8.2 centistokes, it is right at the max limit of 0w16
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To your question, my favorite 0w16 is Pennzoil Platinum. Fantastic oil at reasonable price.
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ESP 0w20 is for some Euro diesels. I don't think I would want a diesel oil in my Japanese hybrid, but that's just me.
Was going to agree with M1, but now rethinking.
It is a brand new 2025 Toyota Rav4 non-hybrid with their 2.5L engine. I asked my Toyota dealer if I could go to 0w-20 and they recommended not to. They have had to send in customer vehicles engine oil for analysis per Toyota corporate request on warranty issues and they told me to stick to the 0w-16 oil cap recommendation to prevent any possible warranty issues I may have in the future. I am going to stick with some brand of 0w-16. I have read a few different places where people that have the same A25A-FKS engine I have were happier when they switched to Castrol Edge 0w-16 or Valvoline advanced. They say their engines are quieter with less valve train noise as compared to using the TGMO or Mobil 1 0w-16. The 0w-16 Castrol has the highest vis at 100 degrees c of the three I listed here. The Valvoline has a tiny bit higher HTHS number compared to the other two. Valvoline is also the highest priced on Amazon. Whatever I use, it will be ordered and delivered to my door by Amazon. The best numbers I have found are Amsoil SS 0w-16, but I just don't want to pay the price, and their marketing pyramid thing has irritated me for years. I realize I could go buy whatever is cheapest at Wal-Mart, service it every 5000 miles or 6 months and it would probably last 300,000 miles or so, but what fun would that be? I like a smooth, quiet engine, and I know different engine oils can make that difference. I have witnessed that myself when switching to Liqui Moly oil on one of my cars in the past. Thanks for your response facility 1.
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As far as your warranty is concerned, you won't need it, not for this 2.5L. And you need to stop going to your dealer. My 21 Sienna is a work van, I just crossed 200,000 miles. Mobil 1 0w16 95% of those miles. 0w16 is perfect for this engine. You will need higher viscosity only in one case, if you are a chronic short tripper and fuel silution is a concern. That's it. And since your 2.5L is the non hybrid version, I think it should dilute the oil less because as it will be running all the time.
Just a suggestion. You seem to care about your Rav4 and want peace of mind. Here is the peace of mind for you, don't overthink brand of oil, just change the oil every 3000-4000 miles. It costs less than 30 bucks to do an oil change. $5 Toyota filter, $24 Mobil 1 or Pennzoil. DO NOT let anybody else change the oil on your car, they will never do a good job.
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Chances of me starting to do my own oil changes are slim to none. I am an old crippled up fat man. My Toyota dealer here charges me $35.00 labor, and I furnish my own oil and filters. I am not that concerned about the cost, within reason. They check things over, do the air pressures and all that, granted, on a brand-new car what's to check. LOL! The simplest would be just drive it in there and let them furnish everything. But I actually enjoy this stuff. They have actually been pretty good to me through the years.
LSJr has a video about Toyota 0w-16 and 0w-8 oils because his daughter bought a new Toyota and he did a VOA on their 0w-16 oil as well as taking samples for UOA. He speaks highly of it. Great chemistry (sample on right).
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You know, I have actually considered the Pennzoil Platinum oil, it is also good stuff. I am not there is a "bad" 0w-16 oil out there if it meets the government specs. However, for some reason, some oils do run a little quieter than others. A lot of people don't believe that, but I know it is true.
That is an amazing additive pack! WOW!
