0W-20 vs. 05W-20 in the 2.7L, does it really matter?

I have a little bit of background in lubricants that came from research demanded of me professionally many years ago. This gave me a bit more understanding of the basics where motor oil is concerned. I have firsthand witnessed the effects of proper oil filtration and the benefit of advanced detergent and lubrication additives etc.

I also understand the importance of staying within the engineering specifications where all of this is considered. I remember after my training being surprised at the number of people who expressed freely and loudly subjective opinions where motor oil weights are concerned. I also remember wondering where or how they gained their opinions. And if they realized how dangerous they had the potential to be.

I could not help but wonder if a lot of today's liberal thinking may have come from those days when engine tolerances were not so precise and it was of possible benefit to go to a heavier weight oil at higher mileage.

Here in my situation, which is realizing that my truck is using or losing a quart of oil every 1500 miles or so. I am left to wonder if in my case the reverse of this logic may be true.

I know that the prior owner, the original owner used Moble 1 5W-20 for the entire 200,000 miles that are on the odometer. She did a good job keeping up with oil change intervals, but for some reason used 5-20 in place of the OEM call out.

As a new Tacoma owner, my research reviled that Toyota says to use 0W-20, but that 5W-20 is ok if 0W-20 isn't available. Adding that you should be changed back to the proper oil ASAP.

With all this in mind, is my truck using oil because all 2.7L's use oil? Or is it because it has 200,000 miles on it and of course it is going to? Or maybe it has spent its life with the wrong weight oil in it and I've changed its diet to adaptive tolerances?

I should add that I can not see any evidence of oil use what so ever with the exception of its reading low on my weekly fluid checks. No oil in the exhaust pipe, no smoke, nothing.

Anyone???

 

0w20 is recommended for maximum fuel economy and whether 5w20 or 5w30 was used for it's entire life it will not have effected engine longevity. 200K is not a lot of miles for that engine but it may be showing it's age. One quart per 1500 miles is hardly enough to be detected as smoky exhaust. You could try pulling the plugs and check if one is exhibiting more carbon buildup than others and check compression for signs of ring wear.

 

So you’re saying over a 5k oil change your 3+ quarts low. Time to start checking things it’s going somewhere. If it’s not in the coolant which would definitely be noticeable at the rate you says is going away and it’s not on the ground. I’d find it hard to leak that much oil through the valves seals and you not see it at start up. My guess is you have a bad oil ring on one or more pistons and your burning it up in the engine not enough to smoke white but I’m guessing it has a bluish tinge to it. Good look finding it.

 

It’s got 200k miles. It’s not crazy that it burns some oil. I’d probably just keep putting the same oil in it and check the dipstick. It might burn some oil but keep going another 100k miles. There is a thread in here in the i4 section about them burning oil. Something about low tension rings I think makes them not hold up as long

 

Are you sure it’s not leaking out and on the exhaust mine did that and it burned it off and didn’t leave oil on the ground but it was a very small leak

 

0w20 is better than 5w20 in everyway.

People that think 5 won't burn as easily don't understand how oil works. You want lower oil pressure in the morning and quicker warm ups.

 

The factory spec was on my 06 is 5-30. One time I was getting oil to change it and they were out of the 5w30 in the brand I use so I put 10w30 in it. Noticed on the colder mornings it didn’t knock as loud when I first started it so I’ve been using 10w30 a few years now. Truck has 190k doesn’t burn or leak oil.
I think they didn’t change the engine any but changed the oil spec so they could squeeze a little more fuel efficiency out of it

 

This is getting to the heart of my question. Outside of testing for where the loss is coming from. Is there a reason I should consider staying with the 5-20? Is there a circumstance where this is better for the life and performance of an engine?

 

I’m no expert or anything, but a thicker oil like 5w30 or 10w30 would let less oil get past the rings. I don’t think it’ll wreck the motor. This isn’t some crazy exotic engine that needs some weird oil. Burning oil will cause the catalytic converter to go out. Also check the oil often because no oil in it will wreck the engine in a hurry.
There will probably be a ton of people come give their opinion on what oil and what weights. The only thing I can tell you for sure is to make sure there’s something slippery in there so you don’t grenade the motor.

 

If you have a higher mileage engine that consumes oil, there isn't really any magic concoction of engine oil that is going to change anything.

0w20, 5w20, 5w30, 10w30. doesn't really matter, its going to burn what it's going to burn. Just top it off as needed and drive it

 

https://youtu.be/h6XnNAfQ904

 

Yeah, I was hoping someone would refresh my memory concerning the i4's characteristics. I was trying to remember reading that this was just a fact of life if you run one. I really don't mind to a degree but as was pointed out I don't want to be replacing CATS every 5K etc.

 

Maybe the above video is correct I also remember the oil burning thread saying to do 5k changes with a high detergent oil like pennzoil platinum or Mobil 1. But sounds like your truck has had that done.

 

Yes, I actually would fuss at my friend who owned the truck because she insisted on 3K oil changes. Now I'm kinda thankful given the information Car Nut Guy offered.

I have decided to use Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 0W-20 Motor Oil for cost savings but also how it came out in all the test comparisons I saw.

Flip of the coin really as most all of the big brand offerings are excellent. With this in mind, it's more a childhood Pennzoil memory thing I guess. That and we have to pick sides you no!

I never really like the idea of a 10k oil change. The most I have ever regularly done was 5K, and sometimes thought it looked a little overdue at that.

I'll settle in after getting to know her (my new truck) a little better. I truster already and really have been enjoying the self-performed restoration and maintenance efforts etc.

You guys here at TW have certainly added to that enjoyment. I really appreciate the input and sharing you guys offer.

You must have excellent moderators here to have been able to create and maintain such a well-balanced environment as it has proven to be.


Many Thanks

 

Pennzoil ultra platinum is what I use, every 5k.

 

You might also check or replace your pcv

 

Yeah, I thought of this and actually bought it with plans to replace it when I did my spark plugs etc.

When I removed the top intake assembly I found that the PCV looked to be fixed to the valve cover. Is this the case on some models or am I missing something?

 

Depending on where you live. No your not going to get lower pressure. Operating temps are pretty much the same. It’s not going to warm up any faster. 0W20 is mostly for fuel economy during the warm up process.

 

My thought when I was reading this.

 

Looks like it screws in. When replacing it. Shake the old one. If it rattles it should be good. Considering it’s got 200K just replace it.