Toyota Hybrid 2.5l oil options? Anything new?

[NattyBoh]

Im already seeing a glimpse of the replies lol but just wondering if there is anything worth noting on an oil choice for my wife's upcoming Grand Highlander and future oil changes. Ive done a bunch of reading on here, some threads end up locked with misinformation etc.

Im guessing any off of the shelf labelled Hybrid 0w16 oil and a factory filter will suffice? I think Im going to do ~7500mi OCIs or maybe 5k OCIs since she will be using the motor while on the highway, which is about half of her commute during the week, or roughly 2/3rds of the driving is highway Id guess. So at least the engine is getting worked versus a city lived hybrid.

Any thoughts or discussion is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[JavierH19]

If 0w-16 is the minimum then 15w-40 is the maximum but I don't think 15w-40 is productive though it's not inappropriate since if it was then Toyota simply wouldn't allow the use of it but again not really productive to go that thick. I would use M1 esp 0w-30.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-ESP-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-0W-30-5-Quart/1756386056

If using m1 esp you can do 7500 and expect it to still be pretty clean. If using something like supertech or kirkland 5w-30 I'd only do 5k. Same with tgmo there's no way I'm doing 10k on that only 5k.

 

[ATex7239]

Im already seeing a glimpse of the replies lol but just wondering if there is anything worth noting on an oil choice for my wife's upcoming Grand Highlander and future oil changes. Ive done a bunch of reading on here, some threads end up locked with misinformation etc.

Im guessing any off of the shelf labelled Hybrid 0w16 oil and a factory filter will suffice? I think Im going to do ~7500mi OCIs or maybe 5k OCIs since she will be using the motor while on the highway, which is about half of her commute during the week, or roughly 2/3rds of the driving is highway Id guess. So at least the engine is getting worked versus a city lived hybrid.

Any thoughts or discussion is appreciated. Thanks!

So you figured why not start another one guaranteed to get us shutdown? JK

I don’t get too wrapped up on brand or grade with our Toyota hybrid. Any off the shelf 0W16 or 20 should do fine with an OEM and normal use. I do prefer the 5K OCI though as these engines have been known to fuel dilute and develop condensation in certain conditions.

 

[Ride_Red]

I have a 24 Rav4 with the 2.5L gas engine. It calls for 0W-16 in the manual and has a 0W-16 sticker under the hood.

I change the oil & filter in my cars on the 5K's. This makes it easy for me to track. I replaced the factory fill 0W-16 with 0W-20 Pennzoil Platinum and didn't see any difference in MPG. The dealership put 0W-16 in at my 10K mile Toyota care appointment. Again, no noticeable change in MPG. I plan to put in 0W-20 PP at 15K miles ( I keep 0W-20 in the garage as I can use it in my CR-V also).

Seeing as the hybrid engine starts/stops a lot and depending on your driving patterns it may not even come up to full temperature, I would tend to use a 16 or 20 grade oil as opposed to something thicker.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I service a friend's beautiful RAV4h with M1 0w16 and a Toyota filter.
Nice ride!

 

[kschachn]

Seeing as the hybrid engine starts/stops a lot and depending on your driving patterns it may not even come up to full temperature, I would tend to use a 16 or 20 grade oil as opposed to something thicker.

If warming up the oil is a concern then a thicker oil will heat up faster.

 

[Jetronic]

If warming up the oil is a concern then a thicker oil will heat up faster.

exactly.

 

[Danno]

This Canadian video shows 0W-20 as the factory requirement/recommendation at the 5:12 mark.
If it was my Highlander, I would use Castrol EP or Mobil 1 EP, at 5,000 mile OCI and a factory filter.

 

[NattyBoh]

Thanks for the replies guys... Does anyone know why it says 0w20 can only be used in the case where I cannot find 0w16 at the time?

Also mine is only spec'd for 0w16 ( or the 0w20 as noted ) but nothing above those grades... I would think the 0w20 would give a touch more protection of the engine since its a touch thicker, but I dont see this thing running any real stress. Toyota as many have said, built this off of reliability and using 0w16 in it knowing it would work for many many miles...

I just didnt know if there was something new on the horizon in terms of filters or even oil. I see that Castrol has that new 25k oil thats unobtanium now it seems...

 

[kschachn]

Thanks for the replies guys... Does anyone know why it says 0w20 can only be used in the case where I cannot find 0w16 at the time?

Also mine is only spec'd for 0w16 ( or the 0w20 as noted ) but nothing above those grades... I would think the 0w20 would give a touch more protection of the engine since its a touch thicker, but I dont see this thing running any real stress. Toyota as many have said, built this off of reliability and using 0w16 in it knowing it would work for many many miles...

I just didnt know if there was something new on the horizon in terms of filters or even oil. I see that Castrol has that new 25k oil thats unobtanium now it seems...

Easy. That is the grade that was used during the fuel economy testing of the vehicle, and the EPA mandates that no other grade may be recommended to the owner, and that the automaker must vigorously promote the use of that grade and discourage the use of any other. In that regard it has zero to do with any sort of mechanical requirement.

 

[dkryan]

Easy. That is the grade that was used during the fuel economy testing of the vehicle, and the EPA mandates that no other grade may be recommended to the owner, and that the automaker must vigorously promote the use of that grade and discourage the use of any other. In that regard it has zero to do with any sort of mechanical requirement.

^^^^^^^^^^^

This!

You’re going to get an HTHS of around 2.3 with 0w-16 and around 2.7 with a decent 0w-20 motor oil.

Valvoline, Mobil, and Pennzoil each have a 0w-16 Hybrid labeled oil on the market.
Use that and a quality filter for 5k mile OCIs and you’ll likely be just fine.

Anything over a 5k mile OCI and I’d go with a 0w-20 or 0/5w-30 viscosity oil.

 

[The Critic]

I change mine every 3,000 miles (6 months) using 0W-16.

 

[ATex7239]

This Canadian video shows 0W-20 as the factory requirement/recommendation at the 5:12 mark.
If it was my Highlander, I would use Castrol EP or Mobil 1 EP, at 5,000 mile OCI and a factory filter.

FYI that is the 2.4 turbo (T24A) engine which is different than the 2.5 naturally aspirated (A25A) engine in the hybrid. Still a solid choice on those oils though.

 

[twelve]

I have a ‘21 Camry Hybrid, 68k miles on it with about 50k miles of it running Mobil 0w-20 hybrid oil doing 5k changes. I just recently switched to Amsoil 0w-16 hybrid oil and 10k mile changes. Probably could have stuck with the Mobil for 10k changes as I believe it’s rated for 15k, but I’m switching everything over to Amsoil.

 

[Alain2]

My wife has a 2024 RAV4. I change the oil and filter twice a year, every 5500-6000mi. I use PP 0w16 so far because it was on sale. Would also use Mobil 1 0w16 and Castrol 0w16 if on sale. If nothing is on sale I will use Supertech 0w16. I have a stash of Motomaster oeplus filters (champ xl).

 

[NattyBoh]

I have a ‘21 Camry Hybrid, 68k miles on it with about 50k miles of it running Mobil 0w-20 hybrid oil doing 5k changes. I just recently switched to Amsoil 0w-16 hybrid oil and 10k mile changes. Probably could have stuck with the Mobil for 10k changes as I believe it’s rated for 15k, but I’m switching everything over to Amsoil.

I wonder if that would be a viable option, the little extra cost vs M1 in this case might be worth it, IF running it double the length OCI... interesting

 

[NattyBoh]

My wife has a 2024 RAV4. I change the oil and filter twice a year, every 5500-6000mi. I use PP 0w16 so far because it was on sale. Would also use Mobil 1 0w16 and Castrol 0w16 if on sale. If nothing is on sale I will use Supertech 0w16. I have a stash of Motomaster oeplus filters (champ xl).

So all in all, you're sticking with 0w16. Thanks for the post! Have you done any oil analysis by any chance? I tried to look some up for the 2.5 hybrids, but I couldnt find any. Im going to search now that Im home, it's a bit easier on a PC vs cell.

 

[6.7 CTD]

So all in all, you're sticking with 0w16. Thanks for the post! Have you done any oil analysis by any chance? I tried to look some up for the 2.5 hybrids, but I couldnt find any. Im going to search now that Im home, it's a bit easier on a PC vs cell.

I’ve posted some uoa’s for the 2.5; however, it’s not the hybrid. My wife’s 22 awd Camry gets a diet of 0w30 and specs 0w16. Ive run 5w30 in it as well. Last oci was a little over 6k and the current one I’m running to 7.5-8k.

 

[NattyBoh]

I’ve posted some uoa’s for the 2.5; however, it’s not the hybrid. My wife’s 22 awd Camry gets a diet of 0w30 and specs 0w16. Ive run 5w30 in it as well. Last oci was a little over 6k and the current one I’m running to 7.5-8k.

Thanks. I plan on having a factory warranty on this till day zero, so Im going to have to play by the rules with the viscosity. Thus 0w16 & 0w20 is my only options. The 0w20 options might play a part here and there since it specifically states I have to change it out the next oil change is used... thus I have to or I should say THEY want me to run 0w16 as the main diet.

 

[Nessism1]

On one hand, the engine doesn't run 100% of the time with a hybrid, so the engine running mileage will be less than vehicle mileage. On the other hand, the engine will go through more start and stop cycles, which is at least historically thought to increase wear.

What kind of load factor does the engine see when the car calls on it to charge the battery?

Do these two offset, leading to conventional thought about oil change intervals due to mileage?

Regarding 0W-16 vs 0W-20? Why even bother with the 16 anyway? Toyota is just adding needless complication.