How many using 10W-30

[VFR800]

I haven't come around to a 5w-30 oil having better properties than a 10w-30 when it comes to hot ambient temperatures and wear properties.

I would like to know how many others are using a 10w-30 oil in their Tacomas (V-6 as well as 4 cylinder engines). The manual calls for 5W-30 but says you can use a 10w-30 if the other is not available.

Toyota like all other makers have to meet certain MPG standards across the board with their cars and trucks and a 5W-30 may give a minor increase in mileage but just because "the manual says", is it really the best oil to use in a southern climate. In general, the wider the viscosity range, the less lubricating properties an oil has because viscosity enhancers are not lubricators.

I spoke to the service manager about it and he mentioned about smaller oil passages but I find it hard to believe that a 10w-30 would not flow freely enough to be more than acceptable in our engines.

Bob

[Flash75]

Bob, I'm using 5w-30 in my 4 cylinder Tacoma. I doubt that the oil passages are any smaller than they were several years ago. My truck is a 2004 model and the manual does say 10w-30 is ok if 5w-30 isn't available, but go back to 5w-30 at the next change. The following sites have some interesting information about oil. One or two of these sites say that 10w-30 is the best all around oil. However the articles are a year or two old and the latest oil is API SM rated. I still have some doubts about 5w-30 but I see Ford is using 5w-20 as the preferred oil in some of their new vehicles.

http://www.nordicgroup.us/oil.htm#Oi...ynthetic%20oil

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/article105.html

Clifton

[ctesla]

'02 Tacoma PreRunner DoubleCab
2.7l (I-4) auto 2WD
48K
245/70R16
currently in Houston (hot&humid)
running 20W50 with a long filter (Fram =PH3600)
in about another month will shift back to 10W30 or 40
getting 22mpg with A/C ALL the time! (stop and go as well as run you off the highway speeds here in houston)

ctesla

[todds21]

I am running Amsoil 10w30 year round. I live in Dallas where its hot 6 months out of the year and the winters are mild. Sometimes I will run the 5w30 in the winter but in the summer I think its to thin with the heat. Just my 2 cents. 2001 Prerunner v6 double cab with 40K.

[bagwell]

02 prerunner dbl cab 40k

10W-30 only - temps never get below 75°F right now...up to 100 during the day.

and by the way...Fram filters SUCK...cut open a Fram versus the OEM and see the difference. FRAM allow all the oil to drain down into the bottom of the engine/drain pan.

[Flash75]

The Fram PH 3600 does have an anti-drain back valve. Most all filters have one. On a four cylinder Toyota Tacoma with a hang down filter it doesn't matter. I agree Fram filters aren't as good as some others and I have experienced problems with them on some vehicles, I don't buy them now. The standard Toyota Tacoma filter is rather small. I just cut one open after 4,000 miles and it was ok inside, the quality was good but not great. I have cut open around 15-18 filters recently and there are some big differences between competing brands. Highr priced filters aren't necessarily the best. I opend a Bosch premium and it had a bypass valve that pobably wouldn't work if needed and the anti-drain back valve was poorly constructed. It cost $5.99. In my opinion a Motorcraft Fl 400 S a better alternative than the Fram PH 3600.

Clifton

[Brian R.]

5W30 Mobil 1 all year around. Maryland

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by todds21

I am running Amsoil 10w30 year round. I live in Dallas where its hot 6 months out of the year and the winters are mild. Sometimes I will run the 5w30 in the winter but in the summer I think its to thin with the heat. Just my 2 cents. 2001 Prerunner v6 double cab with 40K.

Don't forget that once your engine heats up, the thermostat controls the engine temperature. The engine temperature (thus oil temperature when hot) is normally independent of the outside temperature. Thus 5W30 has the same viscosity when hot as 10W30 does when it's hot.

[VFR800]

Thanks to all that have responded. I have chosen to go with the 5W-30 here in Tennessee but it will be Mobile 1 only.

Thanks again,
Bob

[todds21]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Don't forget that once your engine heats up, the thermostat controls the engine temperature. The engine temperature (thus oil temperature when hot) is normally independent of the outside temperature. Thus 5W30 has the same viscosity when hot as 10W30 does when it's hot.

I just switched from Amsoil 10w30 to Mobil 1 5w30. The Mobil 1 has been showing lots of great UOA over at bitog and it looks like a perfect match for the Tacoma motor.