2011 Avalon first service oil weight question

[Hillingdon]

2011 Avalon Limited took in for first dealer service under the 24 month service coverage deal. Saw when reading the owner's manual that the car takes 5w30 oil. When I got the car back from the dealer they had put in 5w20 oil.

When I called they said that 5w20 was all they had and had been using it for 5 to 7 years in all Toyotas. If I wanted the listed 5w30 they'd have to order it.

Sounds like a dealership screw up and cover up (can't believe they don't have 5w30 for cars in stock and it would have to be ordered!). Having said that though. Wanting to know other opinions as maybe this is standard practice at dealers now.

Called Toyota customer service and all they did was read the owner's manual back to me and talk in circles around if the 5w20 is a standard dealer replacement and if I had an engine problem later if it would be covered due to a different oil from that listed in the owner's manual was used in the car.

So, what does everyone think about this oil deal? What are your dealers putting in? Is this oil safe to use? Think I'll have warranty issues? Thanks for any help

[Glenn8963]

re-check your owners manual. every car ever made will have an "oil spec chart" for the different temperature/conditions. if that oil they used, falls into ANY range as per your owners manual, you are good to go.

there would be a "best" range for instance, like the 5w30...for a particular range of temperatures.

the 5w20 will be "second best"......either way, the oil WILL MEET all specs toyota asked for when the oils were recommended.

if you feel that strongly about it, they YOU CAN order up a case of the oil, and each oil change, you bring it to them....but since the oil/filter changes are free....i believe you are worried over nothing.

what i WOULD recommend is the TRD synthetic oil filter. i use it on my car, i supply it to the dealer, and they install it for me. it allows for FASTER oil flow then the standard oil filter. it DOES NOT cost much more than the OEM paper filter. it also filters out smaller particles then the paper filter...

if you want to have the TRD oil filters, YOU HAVE to order them up BEFORE the oil change is due.




here is what i found in the owners manual

The 30 in 5W-30 indicates the oil viscosity when the oil is at its operating
temperature. An oil with a higher viscosity may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high speeds, or under extreme load conditions.

you are ok from what i can see...unless you speed an awful lot, or pull trailers

[Hillingdon]

Thanks for the reply. I'll have to check the manual. I seem to remember from the chart that is just showed 5w30 with a big arrow each way to cover everything. Think the oil cap has 5w30 on it too.

When I called the parts department at the dealer they said they were out of 5w30 and when I asked if they usually stocked it they said they had not had a delivery in a while. Not sure how to take that lol. Could be that they can't get it easy (seems like that would not be so) or they are trying to cut cost as they are a small town dealer and so have not ordered it to save inventory costs. As such the 5w20 is what they are putting in every car coming in for an oil change. Makes you wonder about older models what they do.

Anyway will double check the manual. Thanks for the tip on the TRD filter.

[Glenn8963]

yes, i got that information from an online owners manual. it does show 5w30 as you say. but the 5w20 still falls under operating ranges. yes, inventory can be quite a high cost, then they must go along with the numbers of cars sold that require specific oil viscosity. since it is a small dealer as you say, they may not sell too many avalons. but i do believe that engine is the same exact engine in an XLE..??? so even if they sell other v-6 cars/trucks, that uses the same engine you should still be good. as long as you keep service records, they will back up the claim, if one should arise. i am also certain that if you and any others complained enough, the dealer would be forced to provide the correct viscosity.

[MAToyotaSales]

It's nothing to worry about. The owners manual is overkill on everything. Read the warning screen on the navigation system EVERY time you use it, operate the parking brake once a week, lubricate the seat belts every 6 months, check the power steering fluid 53 times a day.......these are all extreme liability covering recommendations that would never translate to real life.

The difference between 5-30 and 5-20 is not significant enough to worry about. You could run 10-60 in this car and never have a problem. Just because something is "recommended" doesn't mean all hell will break loose if something else is used.

[Mike Murrell]

You are in New Mexico - beautiful place.

Winter is coming.

The 5W-20 will be fine - but it gets hot where you live in the summer(down south anyway) - switch back to 5W-30 next spring.