5W-30 for hot climates? 0W-20 for cold climates?

[6thGen1419]

Where did you get that information? I'm asking because my Daughter is currently in Frankfort, Germany. She checked for me and the Toyota oil in Germany recommender for the 2025 4Runner iForce 4L turbo engine is 0W-20.

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[6thGen1419]

I think I was misled by a couple of YouTube videos. I posted a while back and have decided that Toyota recommended 0-20 is the way to go.

 

[drNick]

I use quality 0W20 or 5W20. Since I live in Florida and go to off-road up north in the Summer either viscosity is good.

 

[SouthCoast]

Very funny. Other oil is permissible in an emergency however it should be changed back to 0W-20 at the earliest chance.

Except that’s not what international manuals say. They clearly indicate other viscosities can be used. While using 0w20 isn’t necessarily wrong, it isn’t necessarily right when factoring in the environment

 

[Nodak]

lol 0w-20 vs 5w-20, only thing you are changing is the cold temp threshold of the oil

• 0W: Tested to flow effectively at approximately -35°C to -40°C.
• 5W: Tested to flow effectively at around -30°C

you are still at 20 for the hot temps

 

[ShotsFired]

lol 0w-20 vs 5w-20, only thing you are changing is the cold temp threshold of the oil



you are still at 20 for the hot temps

Isn't it proven that most engine wear is at start up.

 

[Nodak]

Isn't it proven that most engine wear is at start up.

unless you deal with temps in those extreme low ambient temps like the northern tiers states deal with, 0w vs 5w-20 wouldnt matter much for people in the southern states where it might get 20F during winters

i just go with the oem spec since i have to deal with JAN-FEB temps that can hit -30F ambient in ND

the only issue is how small the oil ports are in the engine vs the viscosity of the oem requirements.

thicker oil could cause issues such as starvation if you run thicker oil at operating temp

that just from reading, not actual factual data

0W-20 is thinner, designed to maximize fuel efficiency and reduce internal friction in modern engines. 0W-30 is slightly thicker, offering enhanced wear protection and better thermal stability under heavy loads and extreme heat

• 0W-20 has a kinematic viscosity of 5.6 to 9.3 centistokes (cSt) at 100°C. It is primarily optimized for tight engine clearances, hybrids, and strict OEM fuel-economy requirements.
• 0W-30 has a kinematic viscosity of 9.3 to 12.5 cSt at 100°C. It provides a stronger protective film between metal parts for turbocharged, older, or performance-driven vehicles

 

[CO/ZA]

0w-30 covers all your bases then!

 

[ShotsFired]

0w-30 covers all your bases then!

Questionable??? Any other opinion on this?>

 

[Nodak]

i think the best place to get your info and make your own opinions is the oil guy website/YT

aka bob is the oil guy

 

[Dr_Al]

You're making an assumption based on a manual. From the day the engine block is cast it's assigned an ID (usually a bar code). That ID number tells the line where the engine is going. It's likely that Toyota specs out different clearances for things like rod bearings based on the country it'll get sold. Things like emission laws and climate are taken into account. Engines bound for the Americas could have tighter clearances. If true then going with a thicker oil isn't going to destroy the engine over night but it could shorten it's lifespan. Probably not an issue as most people will sell long before engine wear becomes a problem. However I wouldn't assume that all engines are made the same.

 

[CO/ZA]

You're making an assumption based on a manual. From the day the engine block is cast it's assigned an ID (usually a bar code). That ID number tells the line where the engine is going. It's likely that Toyota specs out different clearances for things like rod bearings based on the country it'll get sold. Things like emission laws and climate are taken into account. Engines bound for the Americas could have tighter clearances. If true then going with a thicker oil isn't going to destroy the engine over night but it could shorten it's lifespan. Probably not an issue as most people will sell long before engine wear becomes a problem. However I wouldn't assume that all engines are made the same.

There is a 0.0% chance that Toyota is casting or drilling engine blocks differently for different markets.

Engines can use more than one oil grade, it's not a massive engineering feat.

Again, the manual in my highly strung, expertly engineered BMW turbo straight six said you can use anything from 0w-20 to 5w-40.

Per the Mexican Tacoma manual, you can use 0w-20 up to 10w-30 semi-synthetic.

5w-30 vs 0w-20 is not a huge leap and you _should_ be using -30 weight in hot climates where you're towing or doing other serious work.

0w-20 API SQ is totally fine in a Costco crawler 4Runner.

 

[SouthCoast]

You can absolutely run 5w30 with no issues...

 

[NotApplicable]

It's likely that Toyota specs out different clearances for things like rod bearings based on the country it'll get sold

It is absolutely not likely that they manufacture the same engine in the same factory to different clearances based on where the final vehicle is bound.

4Runners and Tacomas sold in Mexico allow for 0W-20 to 10W-40 with no language about switching back to 0W-20 after a single oil change. The regions that have that recommendation are those with tighter fuel efficiency and emissions regulations; that is not a coincidence. Everyone can and should run whatever they want to after doing their own research; I’m personally not in the business of telling people what they “should” do.

Easy choice to just run 0W-20 if you’re the type that is afraid of “issues with the warranty.” However, Toyota would have to prove a causal relationship between running a higher weight oil (that they specify for the same engine in other countries) and the specific failure. I can’t find an example anywhere online of anyone ever being denied warranty from running out-of-weight-spec oil on a modern vehicle of any make.

Personally I’m running VRP5W30 in my 4Runner after break-in.

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