Toyota's new oil viscosity requirement

[keithl]

Hey guys, I hope I'm not beating a dead horse but I have a question about a car that I bought for my wife. We just bought a 2013 Toyota Venza and according to the owners manual we are supposed to use only 0W-20 oil. It does say you can use 5w20 if 0w20 cannot be found. You have to go back to 0W-20 if you do use 5W-20 the next oil change. As far as I know this engine has not changed since the previous years so I don't understand why the change in oil viscosity requirement. I am using 5w20 full synthetic in my other Toyotas now and I would prefer not to have to buy a different weight oil. So, is this just a bunch of bull and is the 5w20 ok to use? Oh, and we live in Louisiana where it hardly ever gets real cold...

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: keithl
So, is this just a bunch of bull and is the 5w20 ok to use?


Absolutely.

 

[Poohbah]

My Honda dealer gets to charge more for a 0w-20 oil change since it has to be synthetic.

 

[Rolla07]

It will be fine but i would still stick with oem during warranty..but ur call. Highly doubt any issue tho

 

[Nate1979]

Not sure why your title says "new" oil requirement? 0w-20 has got to be like 10 years old now for Toyota.

 

[tig1]

0-20 oils are typically a little higher quality than a synthetic 5-20.

 

[goodtimes]

It may be because of gas mileage tests, they have to use what they tested with to get the last nth of mileage to advertise. A touch less friction drag than a 30. They back speced 0w-20 to my 2007 but I use 0w30 or 5w30, my car, not in warranty I do what I like.

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: goodtimes
It may be because of gas mileage tests, they have to use what they tested with to get the last nth of mileage to advertise. A touch less friction drag than a 30. They back speced 0w-20 to my 2007 but I use 0w30 or 5w30, my car, not in warranty I do what I like.


That is my understanding. The 0w20 gives better gas mileage. I have no idea if Toyota tweaked the engine to make it work better with the 0w20 oil if it's the same exact engine as used to be speced to use 5w30.

 

[WankelRotorHead]

0w-20 is to eek out a little extra MPG across the entire fleet of products for CAFE. No other reason and running 5w-20 will make no difference in the mileage you see. But because 0w-20 is a full synthetic I would make sure to use full synthetic 5w-20 to cover your arse if you needed any warranty work.

 

[kschachn]

FYI, you are beating the deadest horse on BITOG.

Originally Posted By: keithl
Hey guys, I hope I'm not beating a dead horse but I have a question about a car that I bought for my wife. We just bought a 2013 Toyota Venza and according to the owners manual we are supposed to use only 0W-20 oil. It does say you can use 5w20 if 0w20 cannot be found. You have to go back to 0W-20 if you do use 5W-20 the next oil change. As far as I know this engine has not changed since the previous years so I don't understand why the change in oil viscosity requirement. I am using 5w20 full synthetic in my other Toyotas now and I would prefer not to have to buy a different weight oil. So, is this just a bunch of bull and is the 5w20 ok to use? Oh, and we live in Louisiana where it hardly ever gets real cold...

 

[tireguy99]

0w20 oils are not all FULL SYNTHETIC. Kendall for one makes a 0w20 blend which is what Honda oil is. Made by Conoco phillips.

Any car that specs a 5w20 can use a 0w20 which is pretty much the same price for either oil.

I'd just buy 0w20 and use in both cars!!

 

[UNC164]

Agree - I'd buy 0w-20 and use in both cars.

 

[Jim K]

My 2014 Corolla says 0-20 for 10k changes , but if you use 5-20 change at 5k .

 

[Merkava_4]

What does that Toyota Venza engine sound like with all that 0W-20 in there?

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: tireguy99
0w20 oils are not all FULL SYNTHETIC. Kendall for one makes a 0w20 blend which is what Honda oil is. Made by Conoco phillips.

Any car that specs a 5w20 can use a 0w20 which is pretty much the same price for either oil.

I'd just buy 0w20 and use in both cars!!


My guess is that Toyota (and other OEM's) are "requiring" 0W-20,because the lowest quality, cheapest 0W-20 will be better than the lowest quality, cheapest 5W-20.

More margin for error extending intervals with 0W-20 as a requirement than "synthetic 5W-20".

 

[Rolla07]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
What does that Toyota Venza engine sound like with all that 0W-20 in there?


Your right..he should use 20w-50 in it. ROFL..if this is a smart remark about light oils..

 

[Stewie]

 

[Oil Changer]

Shannow has recently posted a rash of information showing the opposite to be true.

Originally Posted By: tig1
0-20 oils are typically a little higher quality than a synthetic 5-20.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
Shannow has recently posted a rash of information showing the opposite to be true.

Originally Posted By: tig1
0-20 oils are typically a little higher quality than a synthetic 5-20.


Oil Changer, I see where you are coming from, but "quality" is ambiguous, particularly in tig1's use of it.

a 5W of similar "quality" will have lower NOACK, lower temporary and permanent viscosity loss, closer relationship between high shear and kinematic viscosity, lower VII additive concentration...and a poofteenth worse fuel economy.

 

[Oil Changer]

You are right. Amazing how one word can be interpreted differently simply from ambiguity or thought process. In my mind, lower NOACK, lower temporary and permanent viscosity loss, closer relationship between high shear and kinematic viscosity, lower VII additive concentration means higher quality.

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Oil Changer, I see where you are coming from, but "quality" is ambiguous, particularly in tig1's use of it.

a 5W of similar "quality" will have lower NOACK, lower temporary and permanent viscosity loss, closer relationship between high shear and kinematic viscosity, lower VII additive concentration...and a poofteenth worse fuel economy.