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Surprisingly, even F150's have 5W20 as the recommended oil, now.

I think all the car manufacturers are starting to do this just to get their EPA mileage figures as high as possible.... Stupid consumers are looking for the vehicle that gets the highest possible mileage, completely disregarding the fact that it's how they drive that nets them the horrible economy in most cases.

Ricky
 
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It's a bitch to find in full syntetic. I use 5-20 for my other car, and god damn stuff is still rare in local stores.
 
The 5w-20 UOAs I've seen, have proved to provide great protection. I'm a firm believer in using the lowest recommended grade possible. I've used 0w-30 since my first oil change.

Koz
 
I am really impressed you were able to share that TSB with us so quickly. The local dealers are not even aware of it yet. I was going to purchase a few cases of 5-30 Mobil 1 because a auto store is closing and selling stuff really cheap. I would have been stuck with oil I could not use in my future 2007 4Runner.

I look forward to my new 4Runner and thank you for telling us about the oil weight change.
 
Ugh...I hate trying to find Mobil1 5W-20 for my sister's Accord, it's a pain. Hopefully it becomes more widespread as more manufacturers are now recommending it.
 
007Runner said:
I am really impressed you were able to share that TSB with us so quickly. The local dealers are not even aware of it yet. I was going to purchase a few cases of 5-30 Mobil 1 because a auto store is closing and selling stuff really cheap. I would have been stuck with oil I could not use in my future 2007 4Runner.

I look forward to my new 4Runner and thank you for telling us about the oil weight change.
Click to expand...

it really pays to be hanging out in this forum.
 
Amsoil now has a 100% synthetic, Group IV, 0w-20 that is proving to be another great premium oil. Many UOAs (Used Oil Analysis) have shown this oil to be right up there with the 0w-30, as far performance and longevity. I'm currently using it in my Lexus and I will post my first UOA (at 10K miles, sometime next year).

http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/asm.aspx

Koz
 
The Walmarts in my area sell Mobil 1 5 Quart jugs for $19.94 right now on the "Roll Back" sale. They have been doing it for about 3 months now. They all carry 5w-20 Mobil 1 in the 5 quart jugs. I already bought 3 jugs of 5w-30 just to have.
 
So, according to this TSB, should I put 5W-20 or 5W-30 in my 2007 V6 4Runner? The oil filler cap says 5W-30. Let me know. Thanks!
 
Either oil will work fine. If you still have 5W30 just use it up, and if you want to move to 5W20 later that's fine.

I personally will stick with 5W30 myself. I dont see dropping viscosity that little bit is going to gain anything mileage wise, plus I like the oil film to be a bit thicker/firmer for more protection anyway. I use 10W30 Mobil 1 in my Rams.
 
The lower the viscosity (recommended viscosity) the better/faster the flow when the engine is first started, winter or summer. This will have a direct affect on long term engine wear and gas mileage (small affect but an affect).

Up to 80% of engine wear accrues at start-up.

Koz
 
Koz said:
The lower the viscosity (recommended viscosity) the better/faster the flow when the engine is first started, winter or summer. This will have a direct affect on long term engine wear and gas mileage (small affect but an affect).

Up to 80% of engine wear accrues at start-up.

Koz
Click to expand...

My understanding is that the blended oils (as opposed to straight weight) are denoted by their ability to flow when cold/warm. In other words, a 10w30 will flow like a 10w when cold, and 30w when warm.

If thats correct, then 5w20 wouldnt provide any more protection at startup than 5w30, correct?
 
TRBenj said:
My understanding is that the blended oils (as opposed to straight weight) are denoted by their ability to flow when cold/warm. In other words, a 10w30 will flow like a 10w when cold, and 30w when warm.

If thats correct, then 5w20 wouldnt provide any more protection at startup than 5w30, correct?
Click to expand...

That was my understanding too. The first number denotes the viscosity when cold. As I understand it, it doesn't matter if it is 5w-20, 5w-30, 5w-whatever, the oil viscosity at start up is the same. What you are loosing however, is the thickness you need at higher operating temps. In theory, a 0w-50 would be ideal for all operating conditions from the Artic to the Saharah, but there is no such thing (that I'm aware of) and no real-world need for something like that.

I have a hunch that this is a poor attempt by Toyota to squeeze another half mile per gallon out of their cars to reflect better MPG figures under the new EPA city/highway MPG criteria. The EPA is rolling out new mileage estimates bases on "real world" driving conditions. I think the car manufactures are in a panic to make their gas-guzzlers look a little better.

I'm going to stick with 5w-30 personally. I'd rather have the additional protection versus the 1/2 per gallon I might gain with 5w-20.

Just my thoughts....feel free to correct me if I am way off base.
 
Actually a 5W-20 at 0 deg C is usually thinner or of lower viscosity than a 5W-30 at the same temperature - that has to do with the allowed tolerances of the measurement.

At operating temperature, a 20 weight oil will provide less wear than a 30 weight oil because it results in less friction - as long as the thinner oil does not experience film breakdown and allow metal to metal contact. Film breakdown is most likely to occur under high temperature and high load conditions, and Toyota has probably come to the conclusion that in a properly operated and maintained engine, this will not occur in normal operation with 5w-20 oil.

A 20 weight oil will flow at greater rates through the engine and oil cooler than a 30 weight oil, so remove more heat and also result in less heat production in the first place because of the lower friction between parts.

So there are good reasons why a 20 weight oil might actually be better for our engines than a 30 weight, and better fuel economy isn't necessarily the only reason to use it.
 
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bit of an old discussion, but I wanted to pop it back up.

Did "we" ever reach a consensus on this?

Here's why I ask... when I had my Mazda6 Wagon, which ad the ford derived Duratech V6, it recommended 5W-20 in fact, the factory fill was Motorcraft 5W-20 Synthetic blend which, according to the experts at the Bob Is The Oil Guy forums, is a very good oil, complimented by the fact that it is relatively inexpensive and available at most Wal-Marts and Kmarts. It always seemed to do great in my Mazda.

So, given the easy availability, the reasonable cost, and this TSB/discussion, it would be great to stick with that oil.

So.... thoughts?
 
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