5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
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Toyota required oils listed inside. GF-4 AND non GF-4 listed.
I actually went through several bottles of oil and read the back of the containers. Apparently oil company's websites aren't up to date so I figured I'd check it out and post the results.
You may see that some oils show up in both the meets and the not meets GF-4 specifications. You have to look at the oil weight also. Some weights do, and some don't meet the specifications.
Here we go.
Oils that DO NOT meet the GF-4 specifications are:
Castrol GTX High Mileage - 20w50
Pennzoil High Mileage - 5w30, 10w30, & 10w40
Valvoline Max Life - 5w30 & 10w30
Valvoline Dura Blend - 10w40
Quaker State - 10w40
Quaker State with SLICK 50 - None
Havoline - 10w40
Havoline High Mileage - 10w30
Super Tech Full Synthetic - 5w30
Super Tech High Mileage - 10w40
Super Tech - 10w40
Mobil 1 - 0w40 & 5w50
Mobil 1 High Mileage - 10w40
Mobil Clean 5000 - 10w40
Redline - 5w20, 5w30, 5w40, 10w30, 10w40, & 20w50 (None)
Royal Purple - 5w30 & 10w30
Resolute - 10w30 & 10w40
Rotella Shell - 5w40
Trop Artic Phillips 66 - 10w40
These were the oils that I was able to check the labels. There are probably oils that are not including in each list. If you find something just PM me and I'll ammend the list to include or exclude that oil. Please show a label or a link from the manufacturer's website so I can validate the information. I don't want to post up garbage that other people may be relying on.
I hope that this list will help some people out.
Remember, if you are using the oils in blue for your Camry everything is just fine. If the oil you are using is in the red you should switch to the proper GF-4 Specification oil that's recommended by Toyota. Also make sure you use the proper weight that's recommended in your Owner's Manual also.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: Even though it may say above that the oil meets the GF-4 specification here, it is important to check the back of the bottle and make sure it says the oil meets the GF-4 specification. Some oil found may have been older and did not say it met the specification, but checking the oil companie's website stated that it did. That leads me to believe that it may take some time to get through the supply of non GF-4 oil before it reaches the consumer. This post is just for basic information, YOU NEED TO CHECK THE OIL TO BE SURE IT MEETS THE GF-4 SPECIFICATION BEFORE YOU USE IT.
Yeah....the standard Castrol GTX multi-viscosity oils have carried the GF-4 rating for quite awhile. Been reading the back of oil bottles for many years.
Interesting that theirs and others so called "high mileage" oils do not.
Now here's the scary part.
Some poor schlepp who cannot change his oil pulls into one of the Valvoline Quik Lube places. He drives a car requiring the GF-4 spec. His odometer read > 75K. The customer inquires into his options. He's either told that he MUST use synthetic or a high mileage oil.
Been through this. One of my relatives tried to get a conventional oil change from one of these Valvoline places awhile back. They would not install the std. Valvoline oil. Their story was "corporate won't let us". Valvoline Corp. HQs requires their quik lube shops to use higher $$$ oil in cars with mileages > 75K. So this poor guy goes with the cheaper "high mileage" oil. He drives off with something that may be inferior to what he had to begin with and not meeting his car's GF-4 requirement.
Another way of milking people out of their $$$.
My guess is Jiffy Lube and other mass marketer quik lube shops do the same thing.
Last edited by Mike Murrell; 09-10-2007 at 04:57 PM.
Mike, in the situation you described above, I would just leave. I would then go to Kragen or AutoZone and buy the oil and possibly a filter and take it to a shop and have them use that.
Most shops I've been to will do that and they'll charge maybe $20 for labor. It ends up costing maybe $30-40 in the end but at least I'd know that I have the correct oil in the car.
Mike, in the situation you described above, I would just leave.
touringcamry:
One of my in-laws experienced this. A day or so later, I called a Valvoline Lube Center in my area and started quizzing them to verify all of this.
Sure enough, I too got the "instructions from Corp." story.
I do all of my own work. Many years ago I got fed up with the overall incompetence that exists in the auto service industry.
If you do nothing else, learn to change your own oil.
On a different note, the mural-like depiction in your background suggests you've seen service in Iraq. I thank you and your fellow servicemen & women for your sacrifice.
Last edited by Mike Murrell; 09-10-2007 at 09:34 PM.
^ Actually, I haven't been to Iraq. I am, however, currently in the US Marine Corps.
THANK YOU for protecting and serving our country!
I ask my son (8 yr old) and daugther (5 yr old) to say Thank You to all military personels everytime we see them in public.
You are da man.
__________________
Back on stock height and love it!
I'm sure that there are many more oils to add to each list. If you come across one please let me know and take a pic or somehow pass information to me so that I can verify it. I just want to make sure the list stays accurate.
Over time I'm sure that some of the oils that don't meet the GF-4 specification now, will at a later date. If you notice that, let me know also.
I use used cooking oil in my Camry. It especially loves oil that was used for frying bacon. And I don't bother with these certifications cuz I know my oil is superior.
__________________ 2008 Camry Hybrid | Magnetic Grey on Grey Leather | Bi-Xenon H1 4300K Retrofit | Italian Hertz Sound System (dash 4" EM 100, front 6.5" ECX 165, rear 6" x 9" ECX 690, 10" ES 250D sub in custom trunk enclosure, HDP5 5-channel amp, 1320W total power) | 4-sensor Rear Parking System | 20% Metallic Tint | Weathertech Floorliners | 17" ASA AR1 Rims | Toyo Garit KX (winter) | Toyo Versado LX II (summer)
I use used cooking oil in my Camry. It especially loves oil that was used for frying bacon. And I don't bother with these certifications cuz I know my oil is superior.
Please be specific so I can drop everything I'm doing right now to run to the grocery store to buy the right kind of oil. Are they vegetable oil or saturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats?
__________________
Back on stock height and love it!
The bottles that TRD TTvi examined were likely from an older lot that didn't carry the GF-4 rating.
Best to check the back of the bottle you're buying to ensure it's up to par. Apparently Catrol has recently added the GF-4 rating to 3 of their high mileage oils
Last edited by Mike Murrell; 09-11-2007 at 05:32 PM.
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