I read it as blending too. If it's not meant to be, it's not worded very well.
Toyota’s stance on using a heavier weight oil
- Thread starter PWMDMD
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So the key would be to find out on what day they're substituting and avoid bringing your car in for an oil change on that day.
At least until the ongoing shortage of Grp III basestock worsens, as it will, and every day becomes a blend day.
At least until the ongoing shortage of Grp III basestock worsens, as it will, and every day becomes a blend day.
So, oil change places outside Toyota dealers will do similar thing? I doubt that and even that dealers would follow this blending process.
Many Toyota OMs say that 0w-20 can be used instead of 0w-16 while you need to return to using 0w-16 after that. But, also say thicker oil may provide better protection when towing or driving at high speeds.
Many Toyota OMs say that 0w-20 can be used instead of 0w-16 while you need to return to using 0w-16 after that. But, also say thicker oil may provide better protection when towing or driving at high speeds.
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They legally can't unless the EPA gives them approval. Even here, the substitutions they're doing are still the same single use-case that is already permitted (one OCI at the higher weight and then you must go back to the specified weight on the next fill), they're just doing it at the dealership level for the whole fleet.
I suspect they're already making an appeal. Afterall, they know better than anyone that these same engines have already been tested with higher weights and approved to use them in other markets.
100% Self inflicted issue. Is 0W-20 or 5w-20 really TOO THICK? Seriously?
No and above freezing there's no difference.
All they are trying to do here is maintain their CAFE rating.
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Maybe Toyota should just head over to Walmart for some 0w8 clearance oil.
I was going to point out that Toyota (and others) do mention in the owners manual things like "if 0W-8 isn't available, you can sub 0W-16 this time but must switch back at the next oil change". You're saying that's a loophole or workaround to EPA / CAFE compliance ?
They also say this (copy and pasted from my wife's Toyota owners manual):
How do they get away with that ?
Already doing my part 
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What year is hers? In 2021 they updated their guidance letters for SP/GF6A/GF6B which includes this sentence about ambiguous wording, and presumably would extend to the snippets about a higher viscosity being more suitable for more extreme use cases. None of the owners manuals that I've seen from model years since then seem to have that wording anymore, and that's long after they already dropped the "preferred" wording that usually comes from a nice oil chart of approved grades (one of which will be marked "preferred"). Those charts with a "preferred" grade and several other approved ones are, of course, still in the owners manuals for other markets. The only things they're still allowed here are going thicker for one OCI, or going even thinner for the sake of cold weather conditions.
2024
I think (well, no doubt they do) Toyota complies because they do still recommend 0W-20 viscosity very specifically. They also include the "must switch back..." phrasing too.
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So maybe it's been varying by model for the last few years. Just as an example, here's the T24A section from the 2024 Highlander and the same for the 2026 Highlander. 2024 still had that wording, 2026 does not
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Both screenshots say "however, it must be replaced..."
Engine clearances have been as tight as possible for the last 4 decades without seizing moving parts. Tight clearances don't mind thicker oil (it even results in more MOFT), and loose clearances don't like thinner oil.
That's because CAFE is standing in the corner with a bat.
A similar statement about using thicker oil when the driving conditions are more demanding (ie, it provides more engine protection) are in all the Toyota owner's manuals.
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I'm talking about the bit that says "an oil with a higher viscosity (one with a higher value) may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high speeds, or under extreme load conditions."
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