5W20 instead of 5W30 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

hav · 04-30-2009, 08:13 AM

Hi guys,
I got a can of Q Horsepower Synth. 5W20 instead of 5W30 for my 1999 V6 camry. Is it OK to run it for 1 OCI (6k miles)?
thanks

hill8570 · 04-30-2009, 08:42 AM

Unlikely to do any damage, especially synth.

slpr1mz · 04-30-2009, 09:24 AM

nope, unless your in cold ass weather, the difference in weight wont do anything.
i'm trying to find out which oil i like best my self.
have used the Q HP 5w30 and its pretty sweet, but so is is the valaline.
i hear fully synth castrol is one of the best though... think thats what i'm using next ha ha

stir_fry_boy · 04-30-2009, 09:37 AM

Its thinner when it heats up. For better fuel econ, try Mobil 1 0w30. It got me about 2 MPG better. I like it a lot. The Mobil 1 is a much better oil than Q. You can buy it at WalMart for $25 for 5 qt jug.

megamac83 · 04-30-2009, 09:57 AM

given that when this oil becomes warm its in more of a liquid state than 5W30, The question for Hav is how hard do you run your car? if you run your car pretty hard I wouldn't advise u to use this oil as a matter of fact I would tell you to run the car on something thicker at higher temps

hav · 04-30-2009, 11:07 AM

Occasional 4K rpm...otherwise around 3K

PortugalFocus · 04-30-2009, 11:45 AM

I have always used Valvoline in all of my cars. In the 1MZ I have only put in 5w-30 Valvoline Synthetic Blend with a Wix Gold Filter. Oil and filter is no where to cheap-out.

Mike Gerber · 04-30-2009, 11:51 AM

You might consume a bit more oil with the 5W-20, so check the oil level periodically, just to be on the safe side.

Mike

hav · 04-30-2009, 01:13 PM

I have PYB 5W30 dino...would that be OK to top up?

Mike Gerber · 04-30-2009, 10:32 PM

It's OK to mix synthetic and dino oil, but I have no idea what PYB means.

Mike

***JohnGD*** · 05-01-2009, 01:43 AM

Some newer cars do 5W-20 or 0W-20 for fuel economy purposes. But in a 1999 I wouldn't go thinner than 5W-30. If you run it hard then why not 10W-30.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hav

Hi guys,
I got a can of Q Horsepower Synth. 5W20 instead of 5W30 for my 1999 V6 camry. Is it OK to run it for 1 OCI (6k miles)?
thanks

***JohnGD*** · 05-01-2009, 01:48 AM

What about Mobil-1 0W-40? It's the only US Mobil-1 product that can be used in place of the 5W-30 specified by MB 229, BMW LL-01, and VW 502/505. (And no, US Mobil-1 5W-30 doesn't meet MB, BMW, VW/Audi specs as it doesn't have sufficient film strength).

Of course, if the prices are similar might as well get the 5W-30 fully synthetic from MB, BMW, or VW/Audi. But in my view dinos work just fine in Toyotas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stir_fry_boy

Its thinner when it heats up. For better fuel econ, try Mobil 1 0w30. It got me about 2 MPG better. I like it a lot. The Mobil 1 is a much better oil than Q. You can buy it at WalMart for $25 for 5 qt jug.

Fiox789 · 05-01-2009, 09:38 PM

I've always liked to valvoline full syn.

***JohnGD*** · 05-02-2009, 12:32 AM

Valvoline Dexron VI fully synthetic is good too. I think just about all others are blends.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiox789

I've always liked to valvoline full syn.

Stillrunning · 05-02-2009, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnGD

What about Mobil-1 0W-40?

John, I experimented with 0w-40 syn and found start-up issues as engine would rattle and struggle momentarily. 0w-30 syn solved the problem with excellent UOA results. Anyone not using used oil analysis to verify oil type/grade not recommended by MFG'r has NO clue about oil suitability.