Hi this this is my first thread but I've been lurking for a while. My 50k km service is coming up and I would like recommendations on which oil to use.
1. What kind of vehicle you have: 2010 Toyota Corolla, engine 3ZZ-FE 1.6 w/MT. Uses 4 liters.
2. What your owner's manual says -- not just viscosity, but certifications (look for acronyms like API SM, ILSAC GF-4, etc.) and change intervals as well:
-7C(20F) and higher 20w50 API SM
-12C(10F) and higher 15w40 API SM
-18C(0F) and higher 10w30 API SM, ILSAC GF-4
10C(50F) and below 5w30 API SM, ILSAC GF-4
*(Newer manuals have been changed to SN, ILSAC GF-5)
Change intervals are 10,000km, and 5,000km for special service (Dusty roads, towing, heavy loads, short trips under 0c(32f), driving at 80% of full speed for 2 hours+, idling or driving slow for extended time such as taxi, cops, delivery service).
*Dealer recommends 5,000km, but I think I can get away with 10k (about 2x a year) with a good oil.
3. Where you live: Managua, Nicaragua (hot tropical weather)
4. How you drive (easy? hard? fast? slow?): I would say medium. Usually shift at 2.5k rpm, but every once in a while like to go up to 4 -5k. City has some up-hills but nothing extremely steep.
5. What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?): Short, city. Traffic in the morning.
6. Whether your car has any known problems: None.
Options here are a bit limited. The most popular weight for gasoline cars here is 20w50, with 10w30 slowly gaining popularity. Of the 2 Toyota dealers, one has begun using 10w30, and the other still uses 20w50. 5w30 is scarce, and synthetics are pricey and I think not needed for my application. This is what I'm considering:
-Toyota conventional (manufactured by Chevron) 10w30 or 20w50: Leaning towards 10w30. I've only seen it in SM, ILSAC GL-4, but I assume SN will eventually show up. Have not been able to get technical data sheet on this one. USD $21 /gallon (3.78 Liters)
-Shell Helix HX7 10w40 Semi-synthetic SN/CF, A3/B4: Around the same price as Toyota and seems like an excellent oil. $22 /4L jug. Shell Helix HX7 10w40 Technical Datasheet.
-Pennzoil 10w30 Synthetic-blend: $7/qt ($28 /4 qt)
-Pennzoil YB 10w30 api SN (bulk oil): Don't like that this one is bulk as I know consistency can vary. $21 /4 qt.
-FormulaShell 10w30 or 20w50 conventional: They sell this one at PriceSmart (Costco equivalent) in 12qt cases for $41 ($14/ 4qt).
If I do venture into synthetics these are the choices:
-Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 api SN: $37 /4L jug. Helix Ultra Data sheet
-Havoline Synthetic api SN 5w30, 5w40, or 10w30: $7.85/qt ($31 /4qt) Havoline Synthetic
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for your help!
1. What kind of vehicle you have: 2010 Toyota Corolla, engine 3ZZ-FE 1.6 w/MT. Uses 4 liters.
2. What your owner's manual says -- not just viscosity, but certifications (look for acronyms like API SM, ILSAC GF-4, etc.) and change intervals as well:
-7C(20F) and higher 20w50 API SM
-12C(10F) and higher 15w40 API SM
-18C(0F) and higher 10w30 API SM, ILSAC GF-4
10C(50F) and below 5w30 API SM, ILSAC GF-4
*(Newer manuals have been changed to SN, ILSAC GF-5)
Change intervals are 10,000km, and 5,000km for special service (Dusty roads, towing, heavy loads, short trips under 0c(32f), driving at 80% of full speed for 2 hours+, idling or driving slow for extended time such as taxi, cops, delivery service).
*Dealer recommends 5,000km, but I think I can get away with 10k (about 2x a year) with a good oil.
3. Where you live: Managua, Nicaragua (hot tropical weather)
4. How you drive (easy? hard? fast? slow?): I would say medium. Usually shift at 2.5k rpm, but every once in a while like to go up to 4 -5k. City has some up-hills but nothing extremely steep.
5. What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?): Short, city. Traffic in the morning.
6. Whether your car has any known problems: None.
Options here are a bit limited. The most popular weight for gasoline cars here is 20w50, with 10w30 slowly gaining popularity. Of the 2 Toyota dealers, one has begun using 10w30, and the other still uses 20w50. 5w30 is scarce, and synthetics are pricey and I think not needed for my application. This is what I'm considering:
-Toyota conventional (manufactured by Chevron) 10w30 or 20w50: Leaning towards 10w30. I've only seen it in SM, ILSAC GL-4, but I assume SN will eventually show up. Have not been able to get technical data sheet on this one. USD $21 /gallon (3.78 Liters)
-Shell Helix HX7 10w40 Semi-synthetic SN/CF, A3/B4: Around the same price as Toyota and seems like an excellent oil. $22 /4L jug. Shell Helix HX7 10w40 Technical Datasheet.
-Pennzoil 10w30 Synthetic-blend: $7/qt ($28 /4 qt)
-Pennzoil YB 10w30 api SN (bulk oil): Don't like that this one is bulk as I know consistency can vary. $21 /4 qt.
-FormulaShell 10w30 or 20w50 conventional: They sell this one at PriceSmart (Costco equivalent) in 12qt cases for $41 ($14/ 4qt).
If I do venture into synthetics these are the choices:
-Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 api SN: $37 /4L jug. Helix Ultra Data sheet
-Havoline Synthetic api SN 5w30, 5w40, or 10w30: $7.85/qt ($31 /4qt) Havoline Synthetic
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for your help!
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