Trying out 5w-30 engine oil

[Don Hoe]

First off: yes, I know that the user manual says to use 0W-20. You don't need to tell me. I know. I get it. Toyota recommends US customers use 0W-20. Yep. I know.

I've owned 4 cars that call for 0W-20 oil from the factory - my 2015 Mustang GT, 2019 Civic Si, 2024 Honda Ridgeline, and now this 2025 Tacoma TRD Offroad. The Mustang is now running 5W-50 and I used 5W-30 on the Civic, Ridgeline, and now the Tacoma. On the Civic and the Ridgeline, I noticed that the engines ran MUCH quieter and smoother with the 5W-30 oil. I got 60,000 trouble-free miles out of the Civic running 5W-30 and noticed that it helped a lot with the oil dilution issues those 1.5T engines are known for. I run the Mustang hard and the heavier oil runs great (actually recommended by Ford for track duty, or in my case, heavily modified street duty).

I changed my oil on the Tacoma at 500 miles, 1500 miles, 5000 miles, and 10,000 miles, all with 0W-20 oil. Every time I changed the oil, it came out watery, black, and smelled faintly of gasoline. I've always noticed that the engine just sounds ROUGH all the time, clattering away even at low loads. I heard this was just injector noise but it sounded bad for sure. Seeing that Toyota specs this engine to run on 5W-30 in Mexico, I figured it would be safe to run in mine as well.

Immediately noticed a difference in how the engine runs. It is much quieter - at least a 50% reduction in clattering noises. The engine also feels much smoother -definitely will be sticking with 5W-30 for the life of the truck.

AGAIN. I KNOW TOYOTA USA DOES NOT SPEC THIS OIL. YOU DON"T NEED TO TELL ME.

Not a bad idea to use a slightly heavier oil? Myself, I will wait till warranty is over as they will void your engine warranty if you have oil related problems with the engine?

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[AmbyBomb]

Yes, in theory, if they could provide a cogent argument that your use of 5w-30 oil caused the damage, they could deny a claim for that damage. It would seem like a big marketing blunder though for Toyota to in essence acknowledge that the Tacoma was a sensitive flower that needed specific oil to not explode.

 

[Miqie]

As has been stated many times before on this forum, if you change oil twice a year, use 0W-20 in winter and 5W-30 in summer. It's not rocket science! (This is terrestrial stuff!)

 

[IDontWorkForTheWaterCo]

As has been stated many times before on this forum, if you change oil twice a year, use 0W-20 in winter and 5W-30 in summer. It's not rocket science! (This is terrestrial stuff!)

I'll add, that unless you live in a place with extreme cold temps, there won't be any real benefit to using 0w20 in the winter. If you see temps regularly in the -20°F or less range, then yes.

 

[IDontWorkForTheWaterCo]

Oh boy, I can’t wait for another 20 page oil thread… however

The problem with oil threads is, the first page or two they usually hang in there. But as the pages pile up people don't go back and read what's already been said and the same things get repeated over and over, either for or against whatever the subject is.....usually viscosity, but sometimes brands. What usually starts out as good conversation and information almost always devolves into "my oil can beat up your oil" or "you aren't smarter than the engineers" type stuff. Then it reaches a critical mass and turns into any oil thread that's ever been created on any forum since the beginning of the internet.

 

[GSPHerder]

The problems with oil threads is everyone has an opinion, rightly so. Its your truck put what you think is best then run an oil analysis and post it. Cant argue with real results instead of arguing opinions.

 

[spyderdrifter]

Been wanting to switch to 5w30 as well, but due to warranty and the maintenance plan I got, I haven't yet. Maintenance plan just ran out at 55k miles, and I'm sitting around 57k. Need to see how much time is left on the warranty, but from here on, I'm back to doing the oil changes myself. Spent $100 getting the oil changed a couple weeks ago, not knowing my maintenance plan had just expired. Not spending that much again when I can do it myself for $40ish like I always did on all my old cars.

 

[Miqie]

Been wanting to switch to 5w30 as well, but due to warranty and the maintenance plan I got, I haven't yet. Maintenance plan just ran out at 55k miles, and I'm sitting around 57k. Need to see how much time is left on the warranty, but from here on, I'm back to doing the oil changes myself. Spent $100 getting the oil changed a couple weeks ago, not knowing my maintenance plan had just expired. Not spending that much again when I can do it myself for $40ish like I always did on all my old cars.

OW-20 oil shoots out like hot water. Just hold a bucket up near the drain and you'll be fine.

 

[spyderdrifter]

OW-20 oil shoots out like hot water. Just hold a bucket up near the drain and you'll be fine.

Yeah, aware of that. Before my current profession, I was a tech for a number of years. Did plenty of 0 weight oil changes when I worked at Honda not a fan of that part. I appreciate the reminder, been a while since then.

 

[GSPHerder]

Not spending that much again when I can do it myself for $40ish like I always did on all my old cars.

$40? What da heck, i think i'm spending at least $70 doing my own.

 

[spyderdrifter]

It depends on the oil brand I think. I had a 2013 Kia Forte coupe prior to my Tacoma, so I could do oil changes with basic "store brand" oil from O'Riellys without concern for maximum oil quality. The car was decent, but the engine Kia used was trash anyway. Would put much better quality in my truck without hesitation like I do my Eclipse, so yeah, little more than $40 I suppose, but not as bad as $105 at the dealer for an job I can do in 20 min or less, and they take 90min+.

 

[IDontWorkForTheWaterCo]

My oils of choice....Typically Mobil1 Truck and SUV, Mobil1 Extended Performance and Valovline Extended Protection are really creeping up there price-wise with the current geopolitical bullshit going on. But even with that, I'm under $50, including an OEM filter or some of the Purolator PureOnes I bought on sale at Meijer a couple of weeks ago for a bit more than $5 a pop.

But for now, I'm at about $35 with oil/filter because I stocked up in the spring and early summer when I saw what was happening at a much cheaper price.

 

[IDontWorkForTheWaterCo]

OW-20 oil shoots out like hot water. Just hold a bucket up near the drain and you'll be fine.

Get some pee-pads....the kind you train dogs with and lay one on the ground get and smaller 3 gallon bucket and that takes care of that.

 

[Pappy]

$40? What da heck, i think i'm spending at least $70 doing my own.

I just bought oil. Valvoline Restore and Protect, 5W-30. $38/5qt jug. Toyota 90915-YZZF1 oil filter cost me less than $5. Of course I need to add a quart. The cost of oil has gone up a whole bunch lately. It wasn't long ago I was paying around $27/5qt.

Still, next oil change will cost me around $55.

 

[gmalkmus]

$40? What da heck, i think i'm spending at least $70 doing my own.

Damn 70? I got a 4 pack of OEM filters for like 20$ and 6 quarts of oil is less than 40$

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