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Camry oil change

181K views 94 replies 42 participants last post by  molson.david 
#1 ·
Hi guys new to your site hope you can help. Just bought a 2012 Camry 2.5 (4 cyl). I like to do my own service work even though they will do it for free for first 25,000 miles. The manual calls for 0w-20 oil and if you use 5w-30 to replace it with the 0w-20 on the next oil change. They also recommend it be changed ever 10,000 miles. My questions are 0w-20? this is very thin oil, can I go up to 5w-30 all the time?, I live in Maryland the climate is not that cold in the winter. Also is this a synthetic oil ? I like those they seem to make the engines last longer. If not what do you guys recommend? Thanks,Andy D.
 
#2 ·
toyota 0-20 is full synthetic oil and one of the best on the market.
you sure can use 5-30, but 0-20 is better for new engine and new 2.5 designed with new standards in mind, so I think it is best oil for this motor and 0-20 will get you better bit MPG.
I would switch to 5-30 or 0-30 after 100K and only if engine will start consume 0-20 oil.
I’m gonna let dealer change my oil just because it is free. Toyota oil is $7+ per qt, so I’ll take it for free with pleasure.:)
After free is gone :( I’ll use Valvoline Synpower– used it for long time on few different cars.

I’m planning to change filter on my own at first 1K miles or so, I believe it is in order for all new engines, to keep system clean from possible metal shredding.
But after that, 0-20 toyota oil, 10K intervals.
 
#3 ·
Actually, they don't recommend you use 5w-30 at all. The manual says that only IF 0w-20 is not available, to replace the oil with 5w-20 and replace it with 0w-20 oil after 5000 miles.

The Camry 4 cylinder has had a 10,000 mile oil change interval with 0w-20 synthetic oil since the 2010 model year, it's nothing brand new. I run 10k intervals on my 2011 SE and everything is fine, there's no need to worry :thumbsup:
 
#5 ·
The factory guys told me just yesterday that todays engine tolerences are so tight, that 0-20W is very important.
They gave an example. The 10-'11 Prius won't start if the oil is heavier.
 
#6 ·
Thanks To All, Tight new engine and winter coming sounds like the 0W-20 is the ticket. I think I will replace that filter at 1,000 miles just because of the building process though i think it is better than the old days. Any other service issues i should know about just give me a shout. Thanks Again, Andy D.
 
#8 ·
^
so you are saying that filter has been changed after car left factory?
Is it mandatory or there is possibility that it hasn’t been done by some dealers?
 
#11 ·
Most new Toyotas have the Japan filter, but it's harder to tell now because the vast majority of Toyotas have cartridge filters. Camry, Avalon, Sienna, Tundra, Corolla, Rav4, Prius, etc. I believe only the Yaris, Matrix 2.4, and Tacoma/FJ V6 still have the spin on filters.
 
#15 ·
Use the oil that the manual recommends. End of story.

Toyota has recommended 0w20 for Camry Hybrids since they came out in 2007. I've run nothing but 0w20 for 68,000 trouble-free miles, with oil changes every 5K.

Just be lucky- the stuff is readily available nowadays. Back in 2008/09 hardly anyone carried the stuff.
 
#17 ·
I am surprised by how many people still live and die by the 1k mile change and 3k mile oil changes on a new car. I guess some people can’t move on from the past
:)

maybe so.
I'm not gonna do 3k, but I changed my oil at 900 miles and glad I did it.
I found some yellow gooey substance on the bottom of the filter case.
not sure what is it but sure it shouldn't be there.
 
#18 ·
not all toyota dealers use toyota oil. some use quaker state or mobil1 and of course they could use other brands. you can call ahead and verify what oil they use before going down there.
spoke to service adviser at deal ship where I'm planning to change my oil.
he said they use Toyota oil, same oil they sell in parts, in 1qt. bottles
he also said that I can request Mobil1 oil for no charge for me...

I'm perfectly fine with toyota oil. only thing than sounds fishy to me is that they use oil from bottles, not 80 or so gal jars...

BS or it can be truth?
 
#25 ·
its the truth. my dads dealer started with Toyota 1qt bottles. most dealers have a hose that runs from ceiling that pumps from a central location which would either need to changed out or have another hose added for the new oil spec. probably a lot cheaper to have the bottles until all models are rolled over into the synthetic oil.
 
#20 ·
Nothing wrong with that, some people prefer that over bulk.
yes, I know. I prefer that too.
But isn't that waste of money for dealer?
bulk oil even "big name" cost much less for the dealer and here they using 1qt. bottles?
sounds too good to be truth...

I even offered to pay some extra $ for bottled oil, but been told I don't have to pay extra and they gonna use bottles anyway ...
 
#22 · (Edited)
It's just weird how cars continue to require less maintenance. A "tune-up" used to mean adjustment to carb/throttle body, timing, spark plugs, wires, etc. But with the advancement of technology, most tune-ups are just a set of new plugs.

I still can't get over my head the new standards of oil and the longer oil change interval. I live by the 3000 mile rule sadly. Our two Nissan (07' and 11') recommend 4k oil change and I felt uncomfortable at first but went with it. Now, with our new 12' Camry, the dealership recommend 10K miles on full synthetic but 5K on a blend. I thought all 0W-20 was full synthetic but I guess they were talking about a 5W-20 blend. :confused: They even told me not to do the first oil change early because the motor is already broken in at the factory and it'll be a waste of money.

Not sure if Toyota's 2 year maintenance plan covers oil change every 5k or 10k. Either way, I'm changing it every 5K with full synthetic if they don't cover it. Overkill? Maybe, but I can sleep better. :lol:
 
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#29 ·
It's just weird how cars continue to require less maintenance. A "tune-up" used to mean adjustment to carb/throttle body, timing, spark plugs, wires, etc. But with the advancement of technology, most tune-ups are just a set of new plugs.

I still can't get over my head the new standards of oil and the longer oil change interval. I live by the 3000 mile rule sadly. Our two Nissan (07' and 11') recommend 4k oil change and I felt uncomfortable at first but went with it. Now, with our new 12' Camry, the dealership recommend 10K miles on full synthetic but 5K on a blend. I thought all 0W-20 was full synthetic but I guess they were talking about a 5W-20 blend. :confuse: They even told me not to do the first oil change early because the motor is already broken in at the factory and it'll be a waste of money.

Not sure if Toyota's 2 year maintenance plan covers oil change every 5k or 10k. Either way, I'm changing it every 5K with full synthetic if they don't cover it. Overkill? Maybe, but I can sleep better. :lol:
It calls for 0w-20 and 10,000 miles all the time. They say IF 0w-20 is not available, that you can use 5w-20, but then after 5000 miles you must replace it with 0w-20 again.

Toyota will only pay for what's recommended for your vehicle-so they'll pay for 2 oil changes and that's it. I run 10k/1 year intervals on my 11 SE and the oil is still fairly clean when it comes out.
 
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#23 ·
They even told me not to do the first oil change early because the motor is already broken in at the factory and it'll be a waste of money.
as far as I know it is incorrect.
no toyota motors are broken in at the factory.
they assembled and started on stand just to verify they can run.
but no real run was ever completed.
they say it does nor need to be broken -in, but there is instructions in manual how not to rev engine and dont drive fast for firs 1K.

I've told that 1k oil change is not required, but changed filter anyway
and found some strange gello in the filter casing.

but I'm fine with 10K intervals, I was changing oil every 8-9K on all my cars last 5 years.
 
#24 ·
I've told that 1k oil change is not required, but changed filter anyway
and found some strange gello in the filter casing.
I might just change the filter at 1K also. Going to use an OEM filter so they won't question anything. Then the first oil change at 5K.
 
#26 ·
What about the oil milage, some experiance. VW in our county recomments 18000 miles for oilchange. Toyota in our country recomments 10000 miles. This is what I done with my gen 5 camry. When I sold that 2.4L 2002 camry, the speedo had 160000 miles on it. I do the oil changes by my self at 10000 miles and always used 10 W 40 motoroil. Never had problems with the engine.
Now in my 2.5 Gen 6 camry I use 5 w 30 oil and change this at 10000 miles. The engine is running much shoother than, when I bought this car in America and was running with 0 w 20.
Did anyone ever did an oil anlyse at 10000 miles?
Than you can see, the oil can be used for further milages .
 
#27 · (Edited)
What about the oil milage, some experiance. VW in our county recomments 18000 miles for oilchange. Toyota in our country recomments 10000 miles. This is what I done with my gen 5 camry. When I sold that 2.4L 2002 camry, the speedo had 160000 miles on it. I do the oil changes by my self at 10000 miles and always used 10 W 40 motoroil. Never had problems with the engine.
Now in my 2.5 Gen 6 camry I use 5 w 30 oil and change this at 10000 miles. The engine is running much shoother than, when I bought this car in America and was running with 0 w 20.
Did anyone ever did an oil anlyse at 10000 miles?
Than you can see, the oil can be used for further milages .
vw and other german engines designed for thicker oil. late japanese motors got much tighter gaps between parts and require thinner oil.
you sure can use 5-30 oil on 2.5.
but as far as I know 0-20 is GF-4 certified and 5-30 is not.
besides, dual VVT-I needs certain thickness to operate properly and 5-30 is out of that range.

I've seen oil analyzes and long term test results of 0-20 toyota oil and 0-20 mobil 1. they both good up to 20K miles, but right around 12-13K level of additives drops to to the point were engine parts wear starts.

at around 70-80K if engine will start consume some oil I might switch to 0-30, but new engine should run more efficient on 0-20.
 
#28 ·
I understand what your saying. The toyota dealer in my country gives other advice. My 2002 2.4 camry was an vvti to. The Dealers advice was 10 w 40 for that engine. even in wintertime.
At this moment they recomment 5 w30 for almost all types of engines.
 
#30 · (Edited)
I
understand what your saying. The toyota dealer in my country gives other advice. My 2002 2.4 camry was an vvti to. The Dealers advice was 10 w 40 for that engine. even in wintertime.
At this moment they recomment 5 w30 for almost all types of engines.
2002 and 2010 engines are very different.
Personally I wouldn't put 10-40 in new engine no matter what dealer saying.
I know cases when even big dealers in Eastern Europe didn’t have 0-20 oil in stock and recommend whatever they got.
Plus, your engine built in US for US by US standards-could be big difference with euro Toyota engines and they might have specs for engines built for Europe only.

5-30 and 0-20 got pretty big difference in thickness which might be very significant for new engine. Plus oil specs are important too.
Is your 5-30 GF-4 certified?
 
#32 ·
Hi All...Just to be clear, in the "Pre-Delivery Inspection", both the Oil and Filter are changed?...What is the rationale behind this? Do they intentionally use a really cheap oil/filter combination at the Factory? Kinda goes against the notion of "Factory Fill", ie. Mobil 1, Pennzoil Ultra, etc.

thanks,
Gary
 
#33 ·
when i saw that mentioned earlier in this thread i asked my family that works at a dealer in southern california and also called the two biggest toyota dealers in vegas and they all said they DO NOT change the oil when they pdi a car. i always knew they didn't, but with the change to synthetic i could have been wrong. is there a chance other dealers do, sure but it's probably slim to none and i would bet no dealers change the oil when they pdi.
 
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