I have a 2006 Corolla with a 1ZZFE engine that has about 6000 miles on it. I am ready to make the switch to synthetic oil, and have decided to go with Redline 5w30. I realize that it's probably overkill for this motor, but I kind of like the idea of any additional edge that it might give me. Has anyone else used this oil in this engine for an extended period of time? If so, I would appreciate your feedback on how it has performed (good or bad).
Toyota Corolla and Redline 5w30
- Thread starter yotaman
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Redline is extremely expensive here in Australia and I wonder if it is worth the extra over say Mobil 1 equivalent for regular use. Personally I doubt it.
Roger
Roger
It's good to see someone who wants to take care of his ride.
I would probably use redline 5w20 as toyota is starting to recommend 5w20 oils. Look at the used oil analysis section for redline oils and make a decision yourself if you want 5w20 or 5w30. I have a toyota V6 3mz-fe engine and am currently using Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 but will be changing to redline 5w20.
I use Redline, but I might use Mobil 1 down under.
Redline is great stuff! One of the best.
If it is too expensive look for other good synthetics in your market perhaps Mobil 1, Castrol, Motul, Shell.
Toyota likes 5k or 6month oil changes on their motor until it's out of warranty.
Since *if* anything happens to it before 60k miles or 5 years, it's their problem unless you give them some reason not to want too.
On my 2005 Corolla which I've done more used oil analysis than anyone else with different oils incl syn, I'll stay with 4-5k OCIs.
Even after my Warranty period is over (Around Oct 06).
Take care, Bill
Since *if* anything happens to it before 60k miles or 5 years, it's their problem unless you give them some reason not to want too.
On my 2005 Corolla which I've done more used oil analysis than anyone else with different oils incl syn, I'll stay with 4-5k OCIs.
Even after my Warranty period is over (Around Oct 06).
Take care, Bill
Redline is about as good as it gets. If you want to save a bit, Mobil 1 and Toyota engines are a match made in heaven. Mobil 1 seems to not agree with some other makes and models, but for an 06 Corolla, you likely couldn't go wrong.
Is redline API certified?
I think Bill hit the nail on the head.
BTW,
I think Bill hit the nail on the head.
BTW,
Thats what i used in my 2002 Tacoma for most of its life with 5K changes in between till i swithced to Amsoil.
The Lotus Elise uses a nearly identical engine ( am I wrong here?). This engine can go kaput if you don't take care of it. The valve train is a little too sensitive to any problems and the Lotus cars can need valve/timing chain work after only 25,000 miles. The Matrix uses this engine and it has also had some valvetrain problems related to sludge in the cam timing orifice and other oil passages. You need all the emergency protection you can get. For this engine I would say a good synthetic is necessary and Redline is an excellent choice.
This is all great but you are talking about 2ZZ-FE. One number makes a whole lot of difference. This is the one geting max HP (160 IIRC) at 8200 RPM or so. Besides, Lotus modified the engine to squize a few more ponies. LOL, you are not the first one on BITOG confusing these 2 animals.
The 1ZZFE you speak of has been known to blow up on occasion. I know of several on other boards which have toasted themselves. Most have been covered, some not, by Toyota. It seems as though that engine does have oil issues which Toyota seems to recognize. IMO, as long as you monitor the level (should you choose to go 10K) and change the filter, you should be OK. I have the 2ZZFE in my Matrix XRS and have had no issues as of yet. I do 5K OCI's though, regardless of the oil.
This is interesting info, as I have 1ZZ-FE in my corolla. From what I heard, the 1ZZ-FE engine is not as sturdy as the predecessor. Designed from scratch to be light, fuel efficient, and low maintanance. Durability was not mentioned in the design goals. I'm not surprized as most people in US pitch cars over 100,000 (I'm guilty of that too).
Some of the oiling problems in 1ZZ-FE stem from the flaw in the first year (98) that made the engine consume lots of oil. That was corrected.
Nevertheless, this engine is hard on oils with its timing chains and full-time sliding intake VVT sprockets.
Most 5w30 conventional shear badly in 2-3000 miles, and I observed oxidation in 5000 miles with conventional 10w30 (it jumped a grade).
For this reason and for keeping warranty intact I would not go over 5000 miles in this engine.
Thanks for all of your responses so far. Choosing the right synthetic oil to use, for the first time ever, can be a perplexing ordeal. My main objective, is to provide maxium engine protection, under a broad range of driving conditions for the lifetime of this little corolla. Here are some slightly obsessive thoughts I have had while making up my mind on the subject. [1] Regular 5w30 with new filter every 3k miles would be O.K., but I think I can do better.[2] Redline products have a very good reputation. There is some concern with warranty issues, but I haven't heard of any low milage vehicle engine related failures? from others using it. [I don't abuse my motor] [3] I could use Mobil 1. It's a safe choice, good toyota match, easy to get,cheaper, etc., but a few extra dollars doesn't bother me, for another oil that might be just a little better. [4] What are the Redline chemists considering vs. Mobil, when these oils are conceived? It seems the Redline base and additives really cover a lot of territory, when it comes to guarding moving engine parts .[5] 5w20 vs 5w30. I wonder if the trend towards 5w20 is a easy tweak by car manufactuers to get a fractional milage increase from there new vehicles[distrusting thoughts]? I would consider it for a colder climate though. I could go on, but this is more than enough, and I'm sure that others have asked themselves similar questions.
Hi,
One of the reasons why I bought a new car was for the warranty for the first 60k miles.
My last car needed head gaskets around that time and BECAUSE I changed the oil more often than required I was able to get the MFG to pay for the repair out of warranty. (The powertrain was 3yr/36k).
When you can show the MFG that you are doing better than they require (and they don't care about syn oil unless the manual states it) your taking alot away from their bag of tricks to not work on your car.
We have had discussions on that the dealer really can't this or that in other threads.
I go with what I know works and I think following the manual will cause you the least grief.
As far as you can do better, I've done MANY used oil analysis on my Corolla and the BEST one was with normal Pennzoil (bought for 69 cents a quart and avail for $9.97 for a 5qt jug all day long at Wal-Mart.
The used oil analysis was better than Mobil 1 run in the same engine for the same time. Better than Castrol Syntec blend for the same time. Better than Castrol Syntec and Castrol Syntec blend (50/50 mix) for the same time.
So, at todays prices for Pennzoil plus a $2.07 supertech filter (which is a good filter) you can do a Oil change for $10. If you did it every 4-5k miles (lets use 4k for Pennzoil) in 60k miles your oil change cost will be $150.
If you use Redline (don't know how much per quart but lets go with $6.50) and a $4 filter your oil change every 5k will be $30. (for warranty reasons) Your 60k oil change cost will be $360.
So $210 more in 60k miles.
Lets forget about the warranty and go with 10k oil changes with Redline. Your 60k oil change cost will be $180. Still more than Pennzoil but you've made it harder to get warranty work done *IF* you need it.
If I want to gamble I would have bought a used car.
Now, If you change your oil every 4-5k with a good conventional oil your doing more for it than putting Redline in it for 10k IMO.
Others will disagee with this as we have discussed in other threads.
I've never had any engine problems other than my last car eating headgaskets every 50-60k. All I've ever used is a good dino and filter every 4-5k and my 1986 Jetta which has had nothing done to the engine is coming close to 300k miles and still runs as good as it did in 1986.
I put tons of miles on my cars (my 2005 will be out of Warranty for everything in 2 more months) and have spent some $$ to keep track of the oils and engine with used oil analysis. I know what does the job.
You drive your car like an Adult, thats a big part of it.
For me, I just don't see why I would want to spend in 60k miles $210 more in oil changes. In the end, both engines will be the same!
$210 at todays gas cost ($3 a gallon) and your Corolla getting 40 miles per gallon is 2800 miles worth of gas!
Thats driving across the USA! (or about a months worth of driving for me)
My 3 cents!
Take care, bill
One of the reasons why I bought a new car was for the warranty for the first 60k miles.
My last car needed head gaskets around that time and BECAUSE I changed the oil more often than required I was able to get the MFG to pay for the repair out of warranty. (The powertrain was 3yr/36k).
When you can show the MFG that you are doing better than they require (and they don't care about syn oil unless the manual states it) your taking alot away from their bag of tricks to not work on your car.
We have had discussions on that the dealer really can't this or that in other threads.
I go with what I know works and I think following the manual will cause you the least grief.
As far as you can do better, I've done MANY used oil analysis on my Corolla and the BEST one was with normal Pennzoil (bought for 69 cents a quart and avail for $9.97 for a 5qt jug all day long at Wal-Mart.
The used oil analysis was better than Mobil 1 run in the same engine for the same time. Better than Castrol Syntec blend for the same time. Better than Castrol Syntec and Castrol Syntec blend (50/50 mix) for the same time.
So, at todays prices for Pennzoil plus a $2.07 supertech filter (which is a good filter) you can do a Oil change for $10. If you did it every 4-5k miles (lets use 4k for Pennzoil) in 60k miles your oil change cost will be $150.
If you use Redline (don't know how much per quart but lets go with $6.50) and a $4 filter your oil change every 5k will be $30. (for warranty reasons) Your 60k oil change cost will be $360.
So $210 more in 60k miles.
Lets forget about the warranty and go with 10k oil changes with Redline. Your 60k oil change cost will be $180. Still more than Pennzoil but you've made it harder to get warranty work done *IF* you need it.
If I want to gamble I would have bought a used car.
Now, If you change your oil every 4-5k with a good conventional oil your doing more for it than putting Redline in it for 10k IMO.
Others will disagee with this as we have discussed in other threads.
I've never had any engine problems other than my last car eating headgaskets every 50-60k. All I've ever used is a good dino and filter every 4-5k and my 1986 Jetta which has had nothing done to the engine is coming close to 300k miles and still runs as good as it did in 1986.
I put tons of miles on my cars (my 2005 will be out of Warranty for everything in 2 more months) and have spent some $$ to keep track of the oils and engine with used oil analysis. I know what does the job.
You drive your car like an Adult, thats a big part of it.
For me, I just don't see why I would want to spend in 60k miles $210 more in oil changes. In the end, both engines will be the same!
$210 at todays gas cost ($3 a gallon) and your Corolla getting 40 miles per gallon is 2800 miles worth of gas!
Thats driving across the USA! (or about a months worth of driving for me)
My 3 cents!
Take care, bill
You will be completly happy with Redline 5W30 in this engine! I used Redline 5W40 in my 2003 Camry with a 2AZFE engine and loved it. The price is the only thing that kept me from useing this oil all of the time!
I've been using Redline 5W30 for the last two OCI and so far, I love this oil. The engine seems to run smoother and easier. The oil definately has reserves as far as additives are concerned. Lately with the use of this oil I am getting 5.8L/100km conbined cit/hwy, and I'm not even babying it. From now on I'll be running the OCI to 10,000km just 2K over the recommended OCI, and I anticipate zero issues. For the colder months I'll likely run the 5W20 since Toyota now says it's ok.
I own an 05 Corolla CE 5 speedand after reading all that Im not real sure how long I should keep this car. My wife puts about 25k miles a year on it. If this engine was not designed for durability then maybe I should pass it off after 100k miles?
I have been running either Mobil 1 or PP for 5k mile oil changes.
I have been running either Mobil 1 or PP for 5k mile oil changes.
If you go to corolland, you will find users with over 200,000 km on 1ZZ-FE.
The only recurrent problems I noticed reported at those high km were VVT failures.
But there are also reports of high oil consumption or even catastrophic failures at 60,000 miles or so, most likely due to infrequent oil changes.
There is some nice reading on the 1ZZ-FE:
http://www.spyderchat.com/1zzfe.pdf
The only recurrent problems I noticed reported at those high km were VVT failures.
But there are also reports of high oil consumption or even catastrophic failures at 60,000 miles or so, most likely due to infrequent oil changes.
There is some nice reading on the 1ZZ-FE:
http://www.spyderchat.com/1zzfe.pdf
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