what is the recommended engine oil viscosity for the 04 corolla? I wanna put in 10W-30 but most auto shops here sell only 20W-50 claiming that is better for the weather here in Asia.
1. 20w-50 is thicker than 10w-30. But both have similar hot weather temperature recommendations.
2. 10W-30 is classified as "energy conserving". I dont know if thats true for 20W-50. Even the owners manual says something about 10W-30 bieng the energy conserbing oil, but oil shops insist 20W-50 is the way to go
3.The minimum temperature here is usually 60 and maximum can be easily 120+.
My 04 corolla is due for its first oil change. What would you guys suggest?
Your manual show temp range for the oil. Follow the manual. I'll say the people who make the car know it better then the guy selling oil. Go to dealer for oil if you need to.
if you're in Asia and the temperature is constantly hot go with the 20W50. but if it's constant traffic go with a thinner oil 10W40. when i'm using a 20W50 it easier for my motor to warm up during traffic.
__________________ 1982 Toyota Starlet (SP61) boosted since 2007
Actually the lower the cold viscosity rating (5W/10W/20W/25W,etc) the easier it is for the enigne during warm-up, because the lower rating oil would flow alot easier when cold. 5W is lot more fluidy when cold than 20W, thus the pump wouldnt be strained so hard, oil would flow to the cylinder head easier.
Its the latter number that defines how the oil behaves when hot. Modern oils go up to 60 (5W-60) but those are specific motorcycle oils. Mobil 1 5W-50 would be quite enough for most conditions you'll face on and off track, its just more fluidy when cold.
I found the 10-40 to work pretty well in warmer weather(90F).
I use 0W40 Synthetic because I can get get more miles out of the oil, less changes, and less of the expensive industrial friction reducer to be added.
Even the Toyota Dealer here has 20W-50 and not 10W-30 for sale. I'll have to purchase the 10W-30 from some specialty shop i guess.
One more piece of info:
Traffic here is almost always stop and go. Roads are congested and we dont have freeways like the US. ( i miss the US ).
So is 20W-50 a better option because of the severe driving conditions? I would think 10W-30 is thinner therefore engine should turn with less resistance. I had always used 10W-30 in my cars when i was in the US.
Is there something the people here know that i dont know?
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Sham
Last edited by drstillpatient; 11-26-2004 at 10:54 AM.
Yeah 10W-30 or 40 is what i was leaning towards as well...
So what is 20W-50 good for then? i mean what kind of driving conditions? I would wanna argue with the dealer why they dont have the right oil for our driving conditions.
20W-50 is for traditional race-clearanced motors; loose/relatively large tolerances (tiny gaps) between certain rotating parts inside for the purpose of running well at high rpms.
Another good use is for old, worn out motors that would otherwise create clouds of blue smoke if run on 10W-30.
My personal favorite is Kendall 20W-50, a very sticky oil, since it has the ability to seal rings, add power to old worn out engines; I call it the "golden years" of a given engine.
So what is 20W-50 good for then? i mean what kind of driving conditions?
Its cheap oil that you can use when your car is leaking oil and the piston rings dont seal anymore. I wouldnt use it in ANY modern car. Sure its oil and it does its thing, but its so stiff as cold that before it starts to circle, you'll already have (minute) wear. But mostly people use it because its cheap.
5W-40 /10W-40 Synthetic would be fine and I think thats recommended in your manual.
Most 20W-50 I see is mineral oil, not synthetic.
Actually for the '04 corolla they recomend 10w-30 it even says so on the oil cap, if you look.
However, synthetic oil is much better and will last you longer then the regular 10w-30. Personally when I hit about 30k, I am switching to synthetic.
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Life is a game, play by your own rules.
10w-30 isnt and CANNOT be recommended here, why? because we get -30C weather here during winter and 10W run point is at -18C, meaning after that it will solidify and it wont even pour out of the engine.
its 0W/5W here.
10w-30 isnt and CANNOT be recommended here, why? because we get -30C weather here during winter and 10W run point is at -18C, meaning after that it will solidify and it wont even pour out of the engine.
its 0W/5W here.
... but the original poster is in Pakistan right now not Finland!
__________________ 1982 Toyota Starlet (SP61) boosted since 2007
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