5w-20 in Avalon engine....what do you think??

18270 Views 20 Replies 9 Participants Last post by hsakuragi, Feb 26, 2008

kraky

Discussion Starter · Feb 24, 2008

I own a honda pilot and a 2006 Avy. Just visited my local Sams Club and they have mobile 1 5w-20 on sale in 6 qt boxes for $12. WOW--Picked up 2 oil change worth for my Pilot. NOW, any reason I should fear using it in the Avalon?? If Ford and Honda engines use it (5w-20)all over the country (including the hot desert South West) is the Avy engine any lesser tolerance that I can't use it up here in Wis??? HMMMMMMMMMMMM

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

osidepunker

· #2 · Feb 24, 2008

Just use what the Manual recommends. The Avalon engine is a very precise engine and the engineers at Toyota spent ALOT of time and money to research, test, and develop our engine. Don't you think you should trust them more than this forum???

If you can't afford a few extra dollars for the right oil, then why buy such an expensive vehicle?

kraky

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 24, 2008

HMMMM...just did a little "googling" this morning and it looks to me like 5w-20 is now THE RECOMENDED OIL for toyota and lexus engines made from 2006 on and is what the factory is using for the first "fill".

Take a look here:

http://www.matrixowners.com/tsb/TS-EG018-06.pdf

osidepunker

· #4 · Feb 24, 2008

Well there you go, question answered.

fake_usa

· #5 · Feb 24, 2008

I wouldn't use that oil, 5w30 already drains out like water after 3000 miles.

Tom in Tacoma

· #6 · Feb 24, 2008

fake_usa said:
I wouldn't use that oil, 5w30 already drains out like water after 3000 miles.

That has nothing to do with it. It's not an oil's ability to be thick - it's the oil's ability to protect components from metal-to-metal contact and to carry away heat without viscous breakdown. Mobil-1 oil, being a full-synthetic, can provide that even at 5W-20.

fake_usa

· #7 · Feb 24, 2008

you might be right but have you ever driven a cars with old thinned out oil? you hear the engine ticking and clackin' then do and oil change and the engine sounds go away after you put in some fresh "THICKER" oil in. To me it seem like then engine runs better.

They probably want you to use that thin oil so the engine wears out quicker and you buy another car from them, lol

fake_usa

· #8 · Feb 24, 2008

something else I read

http://bestsyntheticoil.com/dealers/amsoil/5w20-cafe.shtml

5w20 oil has less film and shear strength than a 5w30, 10w30 or a 0w30 motor oil. This can lead to increased engine wear under today's demanding heat and high-stress engine performance conditions.

Tom in Tacoma

· #9 · Feb 25, 2008

Through the years (I'm older'n dirt) I've performed at least a thousand oil changes during my stints as mechanic's helper, 'oil-change-guy' and on my own cars and trucks. What you're describing (quieter after an oil change) occurs no matter what oil you use.

The reason newer engines call for the lighter viscosity oils is because of tighter engine tolerances. A lighter oil will circulate much quicker than a thicker oil will. It's very important to get the oil up to the heads very quickly. A thicker oil in colder climates will allow more metal-to-metal contact than a thinner oil will. Then we're talking about premature wear and buying a new car...

fake_usa

· #10 · Feb 25, 2008 (Edited)

Tom in Tacoma said:
Through the years (I'm older'n dirt) I've performed at least a thousand oil changes during my stints as mechanic's helper, 'oil-change-guy' and on my own cars and trucks. What you're describing (quieter after an oil change) occurs no matter what oil you use.

And it quites down why?
My logic says it's because you're putting in fresh oil that's not thinned out like water.

The reason newer engines call for the lighter viscosity oils is because of tighter engine tolerances. A lighter oil will circulate much quicker than a thicker oil will. It's very important to get the oil up to the heads very quickly. A thicker oil in colder climates will allow more metal-to-metal contact than a thinner oil will. Then we're talking about premature wear and buying a new car...

5w20 and 5w30 are the same weight at start up. 5w20 just "thins out" more when it gets warmed to operating temperature. So just like the guy said in the write up in the above link "5w20 has less film and shear strength than a 5w30"

kraky

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 25, 2008

Never heard my Honda Pilot or Accord "click, tic, or toc," with 5w20---I doubt that my Avy would. AND....anyone that likes to change oil on today's cars with todays oil at 3000 mi really likes to waste money.

fake_usa

· #12 · Feb 25, 2008

I use conventional oil so I change it every 3k, I'm doing it myself so it doesn't cost me much. Sure I could put in synthetic and change it every 6k but it ends up costing the same amount and I don't like leaving oil in the car for 6 months.
If I was driving a 100 miles a day I'd probably switch to synthetic and change it every 6k.

Amaury

· #13 · Feb 25, 2008

Kraki,

The owner's manual for the 2008 Avalon recommends 5W-30.

Very interesting is that the Toyota Repair Manual for the 2008 Avalon (Repair Manual Volume I) recommends the same type of oil but then in parenthesis states the following:

"0W-20 is best choice for fuel economy and good starting in cold weather".

Amaury
'08 Limited

Tom in Tacoma

· #14 · Feb 25, 2008

Amaury said:
"0W-20 is best choice for fuel economy and good starting in cold weather".

Well how 'bout that...

fake_usa

· #15 · Feb 25, 2008

haha, what's next WD-40? That should be good for cold starts too.

inov8

· #16 · Feb 25, 2008

I visited the local Sam's Club today and the "Mobil 1" 5W-20 they have "on sale" here is regular 'ol Dino oil, not synthetic. Both sythetic and non-synthetic types are being sold under the "Mobil 1" tradename, perhaps to intentionally confuse consumers into thinking thay are obtaining a great deal.

mickeyp

· #17 · Feb 25, 2008

The 5w-20 oil they put in my first oil change was a blend of synthetic and "regular" oil. Does this make any difference on engine wear, etc.?

kraky

Discussion Starter · #18 · Feb 26, 2008

Whew...you had me scared there on the mobil 1. Just checked my "prize" and it's the fully synthetic with "syn technology". I may just get another case if I get back again. I had e-mailed my toyota dealer and the salesman checked with both the service manager and the head tech and they said my oil would be fine.
I'm convinced it's a good choice for up here in Wis. We are coming off a winter where we had many days below zero and wind chills as low as -50. We have Winter for 4 months, summer 4 months, and 4 months of "in between" and a faster circulating oil can't hurt. We don't have desert heat or mountains that work an engine/trans.

Mickeyp....I wouldn't worry about your partial syn oil. I work at a JD dealership and we sell partial syn oil formulated in Minnesotta. Partial syn is l a VERY GOOD oil. We have a logger using our partial syn oil in a logging truck. He has his oil tested by a lab to watch for engine wear and excess contamination (like coolant or fuel dilution). He just sent in oil from his semi truck that had 800 hours on it and the lab said it was still in good shape and was doing a perfect job of taking care of his engine. Now consider that these guys do alot of "idle time" on a logging truck but they also pull very heavy loads. Lets say the guy is averaging 25 mph between the two (idle and road work) at 25 mph x800 hrs that's an amazing 20,000 mile oil change and it's holding up yet!!! Now you know why I say it's crazy to be changing todays oil at 3000 miles.....not that I'm promoting 20k changes either!!

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wonger

· #19 · Feb 26, 2008

fake_usa said:
And it quites down why?
My logic says it's because you're putting in fresh oil that's not thinned out like water.

5w20 and 5w30 are the same weight at start up. 5w20 just "thins out" more when it gets warmed to operating temperature. So just like the guy said in the write up in the above link "5w20 has less film and shear strength than a 5w30"

it doesnt thin out because of use and time . it loses its additives from use and time.. the reason fresh oil may make your engine quieter is because of the additives provide better lubrication

fake_usa

· #20 · Feb 26, 2008 (Edited)

wonger said:
it doesnt thin out because of use and time . it loses its additives from use and time.. the reason fresh oil may make your engine quieter is because of the additives provide better lubrication

well you're kind of right...

Conventional oil does thin out after use, but it's because the additives wear out. 10w30 basically turns into a straight 10 weight oil after the additives wear out.

Synthetic oils do not thin out but do lose there additives which make them lose some performance.

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