Toyota 2AR-FE - Which Oil Grade?

[Pretty Lies]

Have always run 0W-20 in my 2013 Toyota Camry 2.5L 2AR-FE. That's what my owner's manual says (except you can use 5W-20 if you switch back to 0W-20 on the next oil change). But, this video says at 2:45 "For oil recommendations and maintenance, Toyota suggests oil such as 0W-20, 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-20, 5W-30, or 5w-40 ..."

Are they just using 0W-20 in the US for emissions and fuel economy? If so, does that shorten the life of the engine.

 

[supton]

I suspect many ran just fine on 0W20. I ran mine for years on 0W20 but finally moved onto 5W30 towards the end. Want to say I did 150k or so on 0W20? I don't think this engine cares. Its PFI and relatively easy on oil. Died early at 230k from an accident but seemingly same as it always was.

Many worry about engine life but then trade before 150k. Or otherwise don't use hard like for towing.

 

[FZ1]

I suspect many ran just fine on 0W20. I ran mine for years on 0W20 but finally moved onto 5W30 towards the end. Want to say I did 150k or so on 0W20? I don't think this engine cares. Its PFI and relatively easy on oil. Died early at 230k from an accident but seemingly same as it always was.

Many worry about engine life but then trade before 150k. Or otherwise don't use hard like for towing

Have always run 0W-20 in my 2013 Toyota Camry 2.5L 2AR-FE. That's what my owner's manual says (except you can use 5W-20 if you switch back to 0W-20 on the next oil change). But, this video says at 2:45 "For oil recommendations and maintenance, Toyota suggests oil such as 0W-20, 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-20, 5W-30, or 5w-40 ..."

Are they just using 0W-20 in the US for emissions and fuel economy? If so, does that shorten the life of the engine.

0w-20 is fine in my 2017 Camry. You could try 5w-20 in warm weather.

 

[altaylar]

The chances are, 0w20 would serve you just fine. But there is a considerable crowd that would suggest you to go thicker. I doubt if that is necessary

 

[JMJNet]

"Are they just using 0W-20 in the US for emissions and fuel economy?"
Probably.

"If so, does that shorten the life of the engine."
I don't think anybody have done a study on this. Everything said will just be a speculation.
But suppose that it last 300K miles as supposed to 350K miles, who knows.
Both are still good.
So everything is relative.

 

[Z28racecar]

My wife's RAV4 calls for 0W-16, but I put Amsoil's SS 0W-20 in it. SPEEDiagnostix UOA shows 3.6ppm/1000mi at 5k miles.

It's a 4-banger, I don't think the thicker oil is necessary for these Toyota engines.

 

[fozzdesy2001]

My new-to-me Toyota is broken in now with 100K miles, so it gets 0W-30. I'm happy the Rav4 is happy even traded the 0W-20 oil fill cap for a 5W-30 one to make it official

 

[Navi]

It seems like every other day we see posts here about "Which oil weight for my Toyota?" We have a family car 2015 Toyota RAV4 where the oil is changed by the maintenance light and it uses 0w20. Ive been totally uninvolved in the maintenance of that thing and it has 150k miles on it. No problems.

However, todays new Toyota turbo engines are a different story versus the past naturally aspirated port injected 4 cylinders. You dont want to put 0w20 in those.

In any event lets just say I would not put 0w16, 0w20, etc. into anything. Just throw some 5w30 in there and call it a day. As for the "owners manual" that will say different things depending on the geography ranging from 0w20 all the way up to 15w40. Look...look...just as the bearded Ford tech on youtube says...keep in mind he does manage a fleet...stick with 5w30. If the climate is really hot like Phoenix hot you may want to get even thicker. Sunset the 0w20 and just throw in 5w30 unless its Alaska cold or Phoenix hot...

This post is for Toyotas. If we talking American SUVs with big V8 or turbo motor I would only go 40 weight.

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

Clearly Toyota is trying to save your bearings by recommending 0w20.

 

[6.7 CTD]

Our 2022 Camry 2.5 awd calls for 0w16 and gets 0w30 or 5w30

 

[supton]

0w-20 is fine in my 2017 Camry. You could try 5w-20 in warm weather.

Not sure I want to--I mean, I wrecked the car, so it's rather hard to try now. Plus I'd rather use 0W20 than 5W20. Maybe things have changed in the last decade or two (likely!) but IIRC 0W20 is "harder to make" and thus generally better than 5W20 which might be a blend. More handwringing I know...

I did use 10W30 Pennzoil Platinum for a bit and I swear, that resulted in the only oil consumption I had with that 2.5L 2AR-FE. I guess it didn't like it. [Found it on sale, used for a summer or two.] I finally settled on Supertech 5W30.

 

[FZ1]

Not sure I want to--I mean, I wrecked the car, so it's rather hard to try now. Plus I'd rather use 0W20 than 5W20. Maybe things have changed in the last decade or two (likely!) but IIRC 0W20 is "harder to make" and thus generally better than 5W20 which might be a blend. More handwringing I know...

I did use 10W30 Pennzoil Platinum for a bit and I swear, that resulted in the only oil consumption I had with that 2.5L 2AR-FE. I guess it didn't like it. [Found it on sale, used for a summer or two.] I finally settled on Supertech 5W30.

Makes sense. I may just stay with thick 0w20 year round. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum... Uses no oil .

 

[supton]

Makes sense. I may just stay with thick 0w20 year round. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum... Uses no oil .

Not applicable to you but I found that 0W20 drains nice regardless of season. There was a couple of times of rolling around in the snow and it'd drain just fine.

 

[FZ1]

Not applicable to you but I found that 0W20 drains nice regardless of season. There was a couple of times of rolling around in the snow and it'd drain just fine.

LOL. Yep, I get a dealer promo oil change or evacuate it out myself.
.

 

[Pokoki79]

My son drives a 2015 Scion TC with the 2.5L. We've used 0w40 without issue for the last 60K miles.

 

[FZ1]

My son drives a 2015 Scion TC with the 2.5L. We've used 0w40 without issue for the last 60K miles.

Interesting. What climate temps and why 40?

 

[Pokoki79]

East Idaho. We get decently cold in the winter. He was a student, so the car is basically short tripped every time he went out. Never exceeded 4k OCI's.

 

[tired]

just as the bearded Ford tech on youtube says...keep in mind he does manage a fleet...stick with 5w30

Does he run Amsoil in his fleet??

 

[The Critic]

I am unconvinced that increasing oil viscosity (from the OEM recommendation) will make a material impact on the lifespan of your engine. Change intervals are the bigger issue -- do you see grocery getter engines wearing out?

Might as well use the recommended grade and not leave any fuel savings on the table.

 

[userfriendly]

My new-to-me Toyota is broken in now with 100K miles, so it gets 0W-30. I'm happy the Rav4 is happy even traded the 0W-20 oil fill cap for a 5W-30 one to make it official

Ya gotta do whatever the fill cap says. Two 2013 Matrix I bought for my adult children ran on 15w40 Duron in the summer and 10w30 in the winter.
No top-ups between oil changes with either grade.
For GM V8s, 0w40 oil fill caps are available.