I don't think a Toyota engine builder/engineer was even in the same county, let alone the same room when engine oil recommendations and OCI's were written for almost all Toyota engines in the USA. Trying to make a "one size fits all" statement should be your first clue.
So who was involved (in the room) with the recommendation committee? VP of CAFE and EPA credits and standards? CFO in charge of cost cutting the "free" 2 year/25K mile maintenance program? VP of marketing in charge of making routine maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle look more competitive than the competition?
On page 524 of my owner's manual are the following comments about oil consumption if you follow Toyota's recommendations:
?Engine oil consumption
?The amount of engine oil consumed depends on the oil viscosity, the
quality of the oil and the way the vehicle is driven.
?More oil is consumed under driving conditions such as high speeds and
frequent acceleration and deceleration.
?A new engine consumes more oil.
?When judging the amount of oil consumption, keep in mind that the oil
may have become diluted, making it difficult to judge the true level accurately.
?Oil consumption: Max. 1.1 qt./600 miles (0.9 Imp. qt./600 miles, 1.0 L/
1000 km)
?If your vehicle consumes more than 1.1 qt. (1.0 L, 0.9 Imp. qt.) every 600
miles (1000 km), contact your Toyota dealer.
I seriously doubt whether any reputable/ethical engine builder would sign off on leaving engine oil in the sump long enough for volume levels to visibly rise on the dipstick due to fuel dilution and/or coolant contamination. Yet, this isn't even mentioned as being possibly catastrophic for the engine. Just leave it in there for 10K miles?
I also wonder what reputable engine builder would advertise that his engine might consume up to 1.1 qts of oil every 600 miles, and this should be considered normal and not be investigated until it's worse than that.
I also wonder who certified the 1GR-FE engine with 0W-20, and to what standards or criteria. Were there objections? By whom? Or was the decision unanimous amongst the engine builders/engineers? When I read the owner's manual on what engine oil to use and for how long, it appears that there was a split decision wrt viscosity. From page 637:
Oil viscosity (0W-20 is explained here as an example):
? The 0W in 0W-20 indicates the characteristic of the oil which allows
cold startability. Oils with a lower value before the W allow for easier
starting of the engine in cold weather.
? The 20 in 0W-20 indicates the viscosity characteristic of the oil when
the oil is at high temperature. "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".
With regards to early engine oil and filter changes on a new vehicle, I say you might just be smarter than the Toyota routine maintenance recommendation committee. I'm not aware of any engine builder, transmission builder, or rear end builder who identifies himself that doesn't recommend doing just that. I'm not aware of any tribologist that doesn't recommend the same thing to remove and flush abrasive break-in wear metals, castings, assembly lubes and sealants either.
If you trade in your vehicle before or just after your warranty expires, then no worries unless you care about the next owner. But if you consider your vehicle a keeper and want to minimize long term repairs, then change your fluids early and often.
