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

[6thGen1419]

Just saw a YouTube that claims Toyota recommends 0w-20 due to fuel economy regulations, but that 5W-30 is recommended in Europe and Australia in warm, hot climates because it's better protection for these high-heat turbo engines.

Anyone use 5w-30 in summer and 0W-20 in cold weather months?

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[fabtonic]

I live in Miami, FL. My first oil change was to 5W-30 and the car runs great. It is getting a little colder so I wonder if I should go with a lower viscosity. Following this thread

 

[drNick]

0W20 oil should be fine here in Florida year round. If Toyota recommends that, this is what I am going to use. I run my truck on premium fuel though.

 

[6thGen1419]

0W20 oil should be fine here in Florida year round. If Toyota recommends that, this is what I am going to use. I run my truck on premium fuel though.

But Toyota recommends 5w-30 in these exact same engines in Europe and Australia (in warm/hot weather). The claim is Toyota doesn't do that in US sold vehicles because of fuel efficiency regulations. IOW, not as good for the engine, just for compliance.

 

[SouthCoast]

It’s the fuel economy requirements, and the fines if manufacturers fail to meet them. 5w30 is fine. Typical US EPA garbage

 

[mcnuggs]

I live in Miami, FL. My first oil change was to 5W-30 and the car runs great. It is getting a little colder so I wonder if I should go with a lower viscosity. Following this thread

Just curious, did you notice lower temps on the 5W-30?

 

[6thGen1419]

Just curious, did you notice lower temps on the 5W-30?

Also, theoretically, running with 5w-30 will decrease MPG by <= 1 MPG. That's pretty hard to measure.

 

[fabtonic]

Just curious, did you notice lower temps on the 5W-30?

Lower coolant temps, oil and smoother engine sound.

 

[fabtonic]

Also, theoretically, running with 5w-30 will decrease MPG by <= 1 MPG. That's pretty hard to measure.

mine decreased 0.3 mpg avg so far

 

[Nodak]

the first number is the winter rating and how it flows at a stated temp.

the 2nd number is summer flow at 100c, thicker with higher numbers.


if i remember correctly 0w flows at -40F/C

and 5w flows at -30F

20 vs 30 is a matter of thickness at 212F/100C temp. just depends on how thin the oil passages are now a days is the big issue


or just get some 0w-30 synth oil

 

[fabtonic]

the first number is the winter rating and how it flows at a stated temp.

the 2nd number is summer flow at 100c, thicker with higher numbers.


if i remember correctly 0w flows at -40F/C

and 5w flows at -30F

20 vs 30 is a matter of thickness at 212F/100C temp. just depends on how thin the oil passages are now a days is the big issue


or just get some 0w-30 synth oil

Yeah I am thinking about switching to 0w-30 for my next oil change. I think it’ll be even better for Florida weather.

 

[Gumpus]

Just saw a YouTube that claims Toyota recommends 0w-20 due to fuel economy regulations, but that 5W-30 is recommended in Europe and Australia in warm, hot climates because it's better protection for these high-heat turbo engines.

Anyone use 5w-30 in summer and 0W-20 in cold weather months?

This comes up on every vehicle forum. I always run the factory recommended weight because that's what the manufacturer uses to prove out the design (durability testing). The parts that rely on hydrodynamic lubrication like your main bearings don't give a **** about the weight since the crankshaft rides on an oil film and parts never touch. Parts like your piston wrist pins that rely on oil shooting up the middle of the connecting rod will get more lubrication with lighter oil. Many engines cool their pistons with oil jets where lighter oil is better. Start-up lube better with lighter oil. All clearances designed for 0/20. Lower engine friction makes an engine run cooler. People live to second guess the manufacturer and claim benefits that engineers might have trouble measuring in test cells. Running a slightly different weight like 0/30 or 5/30 almost certainly won't hurt because engines just aren't that sensitive to small changes or there would be lots of lubrication issues (when in reality you've probably never experienced or heard of a lubrication fsilure). I'm a former powertrain engineer and I use the weight shown on the filler cap in all my vehicles, I'll run 0W/8 when that's the manufacturer spec. and if I shop for a used vehicle I'm not looking for owners that like to second guess the manufacturer.

 

[6thGen1419]

This comes up on every vehicle forum. I always run the factory recommended weight because that's what the manufacturer uses to prove out the design (durability testing). ....

But the manufacturer (Toyota) recommends 5w-30 in other countries, so they used that to prove out the design (durability testing), yes? Toyota says 0w-20 in the US, not because of durability testing, but because of fuel efficiency regulations in the US.

 

[drNick]

The reason I am hesitant changing the recommended viscosity is that the motor oil in modern engines doesn’t work only for lubrication. It works as a hydraulic fluid and coolant in other systems like valve timing, turbo cooling, etc. One can imagine that changing the viscosity might affect negatively other areas of the engine operation. Tell me I am paranoid but the day of the motor oil as a lubricant only are long gone.

 

[6thGen1419]

The reason I am hesitant changing the recommended viscosity is that the motor oil in modern engines doesn’t work only for lubrication. It works as a hydraulic fluid and coolant in other systems like valve timing, turbo cooling, etc. One can imagine that changing the viscosity might affect negatively other areas of the engine operation. Tell me I am paranoid but the day of the motor oil as a lubricant only are long gone.

But Toyota does recommend 5w-30, just not in the US?

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