0W-20 and 5W-30

Slightly off topic: I assume TE stands for Trail Edition. I’ve heard Trail edition and Venture thrown around a lot but I don’t know what they mean. I mean I know they are trim levels, but not more than that.

Interesting to know that the 0W20 oil spec goes all the way back to 2010.

 

The trail edition became the Off Road Premium.

 

FIFY.

 

Weird thinking the generation started with, I believe, three trim levels.

• SR5
• Trail
• Limited

 

I believe you could spec the SR5 to a premium trim. My 11 SR5 has leather seats, heated seats, moon roof with part time 4x4.

 

I think they brought the TRD OFF ROAD branding over to T4R from the Tacoma?

 

The Car Care Nut has a video short about this on You Tube. The variable oil pumps on the US models are programmed for the 0W20. Use another and you are in for trouble.

 

Did someone say car care nut?

 

In an effort to un-derail (re-rail?) this thread please see this other thread:
List of 5th Gen 4Runner Trims By Year.

 

Hmmm.. Interesting. Are you certain he used words like variable oil pump and programmed for 0w20 or are you making an opinion or adding words into a summary?

 

If I’m remembering the correct video when he mentions the variable oil pump he is talking generally about Toyota vehicles and not specifically about the 4Runner.

What we know so far:

• @Gstick says: “Sorry, but I'm 99.9% sure my 2010 5th Gen 4R's manual said to use 0W-20.”
• Car Care Nut is mostly but not always clear and accurate.

What we don’t know:

• Does any year of the 5th gen 4Runner have a variable oil pump?
• Do U.S. 4Runners have different bearing tolerances than 4Runners bound for other countries (to specifically accommodate thinner oils)?
• Do VVT-I/Dual VVT-i motors need thinner oil?

 

Tens of thousands of people spend untold hours overthinking oil. Meanwhile, my favorite petroleum engineer (of 50 years), buys whatever is available as long as it's the correct viscosity. But it's a free country, obsess away if it feels good

 

What is the "correct viscosity" for the 5th gen T4R? I think most of the discussion here is just wondering out loud (continuing the forum tradition). I don't think we'll solve the mystery in this thread but it's always kinda fun to entertain the possibility!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT4xDuy2rLg&

Go big or go home.

 

I'll add to what we dont know:

0w-20 is specified due to this "CAFE" thing. This claim gets repeated and i have not seen good evidence of it yet. Car care nut is not a toyota engineer so i take his claim for what its worth. Can anyone show some proof of this CAFE requirement for 0w-20?

 

A detailed read for anyone interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_average_fuel_economy

CAFE does not explicitly dictate oil weight. It does set a bar for manufacturers to hit lest they incur penalties (well, used to) and there are a lot of levers manufacturers can pull to improve numbers.

I could be "hallucinating" here but my understanding is that testing is done as the vehicle is specced and if there are settings that can be toggled like Chevrolet's manually toggled AWD those are used for part of the test. The lighter weight generally has a measurable fuel economy benefit as far as the in-depth testing goes.

It could also be for emissions also, as while I'm speculating, I'm thinking the vehicle is likely certified with that specific engine and configuration. "Allowing" additional grades may require certification in those grades which could be a cost or regulatory thing with the vague verbiage we get today just flying under the radar.

A bit of a tangent but companies have been dealing with these in different ways.

I'm guessing Toyota's solid hybrid strategy has given it more headroom elsewhere and they can be more deliberate with their choices.

Ford, GM generally just skip having solid cars, have alright-if-unremarkable crossovers and it ends up being that they're just squeezing wherever they can to hit requirements and then oops! Pick one:

• my engine seized
• my lifters collapsed
• my wet belt fell apart
• my Focus has a dual-clutch transmission

There's an analogue I see in the Space Race. The USSR being first in many regards by stretching the technology and vehicles just to hit metrics. The US was slower to many but built a more solid foundation to start with.

 

But but but CAFE and Puerto Rico! Also GM! Car care nutjob! PCV hoser garage!

 

I'm going to dump some fluid film in and make sure my engine is as rust-free as can be!

Edit: Typo

 

Oil viscosity is temperature dependent. 0W30 when it's warmer will perform just like 0W20 when it's cooler. AND, beware the too-frequent oil changes. That's a lot of zero oil pressure starts. At least fill you filter before installing.

 

Extra virgin.

 

The first time I sat in my 4Runner on the lot there was a Prius parked right in front of me and I quipped to the salesman “I bet this thing could crawl right over that Prius.” And he said “Have sone respect for that car. If not for the Prius your 4Runner would have the stupid Automatc-Stop-Start.” I have to say that the lack of that feature was a significant factor in my purchasing decision.

 

I spoke to a PCV valve scientist and he said 0W-20 is the best choice for my PCV valve because it inhibits non-static vapor flow.

 

Excellent but what’s the best engine oil type for the air pump foam filter mod lifespan?

 

Shell Rotella 15W-40.

 

I heard the Kirkland stuff at Costco is just rebranded Shell Rotella.

 

It's Warren Distribution. They also make Supertech and Amazon Basics. Good stuff.

 

The 1GR-FE does not have an electronically variable oil pump like TCCN mentions in that video. Just for giggles I spent some time looking up part numbers for the engine bearings to see if there might be some changes over the years with the 1GR. Toyota lists the rod and main bearings as applicable to 2003-2024 model years. Obviously there have been some changes over the years with regard to oil filter location, VVTI parts, etc but I’d find it hard to believe 5W-30 wouldn’t operate just fine in the 2010+ 1GR’s. Right now both of our 2015 4Runner’s have 0W-20 in them. It would be interesting to see what an oil analysis comes back with on 0W-20 vs 5W-30 in the same engine. Might have to try it just for curiosity sake.

 

5W-30 would be and will be just fine in your 1GR engine.

Seeing as my 2015 Tacoma with a 1GR engine has run the factory recommended 5W-30 oil since new, and now at 145k miles with no issue whatsoever.

 

Yeah, I’d be completely comfortable with it. Just throwing out some info for others.

 

I did edit my comment, don't know if you saw it because I was writing my edit while you were writing your reply.