Hey all--hope to pick your brain on a choice of motor oil for my Toyota micro-mini motorhome. New to us, 1992 with the 3.0VZ engine with 84k miles. Always have used synthetic in all other vehicles so put Castrol Edge 10W30 in the Toyota. Have driven about 3000 miles and it doesn't use any oil, but sounds off especially when warm after hours of driving--too much clickin and clackin. Thinking maybe the oil is too thin as I have read that the Castrol is a thin 30W. Would appreciate input on what yall recommend as a better oil choice.
Toyota 3.0VZ motorhome--what oil?
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I use Castrol Edge in my 1993 Camry 3VZFE V6! It runs great with this stuff!!!
Hey Rand--thanks for your response. Any reason Valvoline MaxLife synthetic is a better choice than all the others?
Any HDEO 15W40 oil.
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How many miles a year do think you'll get to drive it? If 3000 miles is the likely limit ..and most of the usage will be longer trips void of severe cold, then I'd agree with a 15w-40 HDEO. Given the sensible expensive nature of such ownership (however much of a "good deal" it was) to begin with, I also wouldn't have to much argument with the added cost of a synthetic. That too I would probably go with a 40 weight since I see no downside to it in this usage.
Originally Posted By: RISUPERCREWMAN
I use Castrol Edge in my 1993 Camry 3VZFE V6! It runs great with this stuff!!!
Same block, different pistons, and heads.
Camry's & ES300 used the 3VZ-FE in 92-93.
This was a 24 Valve engine. I actually had a 93 Camry V6 SE with this motor.
Trucks and 4Runners used the 3VZ-E from 88-95. This is the
12 Valve engine. It is rather fragile, and prone to head gasket failure, unless it has the updated gaskets. You can check this by calling any Toyota dealer and asking them to check if it has had the X01 campaign performed. There is also usually a sticker in the driver's door jamb with the code, date, and dealer code for the SSC that was performed.
In this case it would say something like, SSC: X01 Dealer:28031, Date: 12/1/00.
Anyway I have one of these engines in my dad's plow truck, and it runs great on Valvoline Dino 5w30. It has been run on this since we did the head gaskets 130k ago.
If you want to run a syn, I'd try PP, or Synpower in either a 10w30, or a 5w30 with a quality filter like a Wix, or a Purolator, or any of their house brands (Napa Gold, Motorcraft) Walmart has all you need for about 25 bucks depending on what oil you choose.
Synpower is still $20 here, and PP is $23.
You could pick up a FL-910 Motorcraft filter for 3 bucks and your in business. (It isn't listed for this application, but it works just fine.) or you can go for the larger FL-400S filter for about the same price.
This being said I run Pennzoil Yellow Bottle in our 1986 Toyota Dolphin 21'. It is powered by the ledgendary 2.4 L
22-RE, and It loves it. No problems, and decent fuel economy.
(15 if I'm nice to it, 13 if I have my foot in it.)
Let us know what you decide and how it goes.
Thanks,
Justin
I use Castrol Edge in my 1993 Camry 3VZFE V6! It runs great with this stuff!!!
Same block, different pistons, and heads.
Camry's & ES300 used the 3VZ-FE in 92-93.
This was a 24 Valve engine. I actually had a 93 Camry V6 SE with this motor.
Trucks and 4Runners used the 3VZ-E from 88-95. This is the
12 Valve engine. It is rather fragile, and prone to head gasket failure, unless it has the updated gaskets. You can check this by calling any Toyota dealer and asking them to check if it has had the X01 campaign performed. There is also usually a sticker in the driver's door jamb with the code, date, and dealer code for the SSC that was performed.
In this case it would say something like, SSC: X01 Dealer:28031, Date: 12/1/00.
Anyway I have one of these engines in my dad's plow truck, and it runs great on Valvoline Dino 5w30. It has been run on this since we did the head gaskets 130k ago.
If you want to run a syn, I'd try PP, or Synpower in either a 10w30, or a 5w30 with a quality filter like a Wix, or a Purolator, or any of their house brands (Napa Gold, Motorcraft) Walmart has all you need for about 25 bucks depending on what oil you choose.
Synpower is still $20 here, and PP is $23.
You could pick up a FL-910 Motorcraft filter for 3 bucks and your in business. (It isn't listed for this application, but it works just fine.) or you can go for the larger FL-400S filter for about the same price.
This being said I run Pennzoil Yellow Bottle in our 1986 Toyota Dolphin 21'. It is powered by the ledgendary 2.4 L
22-RE, and It loves it. No problems, and decent fuel economy.
(15 if I'm nice to it, 13 if I have my foot in it.)
Let us know what you decide and how it goes.
Thanks,
Justin
There is lots of info at toyotanation.com about your 3VZ-FE. A few guys get more free flowing exhaust setups and change the valve lash so the exhaust valves don't get burnt up. They are not bad motors but some extra care needs to be taken. As for oil I would agree with a HDEO 5w-40 or 15w-40 depending on the ambient temp.
JHZR2
Staff member
Id probably run a 10w-30 or 5w-40 HDEO, like rotella in that engine. It surely is a higher-loaded version than what was in a camry, and youll want a more robust oil...
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Originally Posted By: tuckman
There is lots of info at toyotanation.com about your 3VZ-FE. A few guys get more free flowing exhaust setups and change the valve lash so the exhaust valves don't get burnt up. They are not bad motors but some extra care needs to be taken. As for oil I would agree with a HDEO 5w-40 or 15w-40 depending on the ambient temp.
Again it is NOT the 3VZ-FE. This is a CAMRY engine.
It is a 3VZ-E This is the truck engine.
FE= Dual Cam Multi valve, E= Single cam (per head) single valve.
+1 on Toyota nation, good info. One of the major downfalls of this engine is the crossover pipe in the exhaust that forces exhaust gasses from one head to the other. Many have had good luck running headers to a y pipe further down.
There is lots of info at toyotanation.com about your 3VZ-FE. A few guys get more free flowing exhaust setups and change the valve lash so the exhaust valves don't get burnt up. They are not bad motors but some extra care needs to be taken. As for oil I would agree with a HDEO 5w-40 or 15w-40 depending on the ambient temp.
Again it is NOT the 3VZ-FE. This is a CAMRY engine.
It is a 3VZ-E This is the truck engine.
FE= Dual Cam Multi valve, E= Single cam (per head) single valve.
+1 on Toyota nation, good info. One of the major downfalls of this engine is the crossover pipe in the exhaust that forces exhaust gasses from one head to the other. Many have had good luck running headers to a y pipe further down.
Originally Posted By: JustinC25
Originally Posted By: tuckman
There is lots of info at toyotanation.com about your 3VZ-FE. A few guys get more free flowing exhaust setups and change the valve lash so the exhaust valves don't get burnt up. They are not bad motors but some extra care needs to be taken. As for oil I would agree with a HDEO 5w-40 or 15w-40 depending on the ambient temp.
Again it is NOT the 3VZ-FE. This is a CAMRY engine.
It is a 3VZ-E This is the truck engine.
FE= Dual Cam Multi valve, E= Single cam (per head) single valve.
+1 on Toyota nation, good info. One of the major downfalls of this engine is the crossover pipe in the exhaust that forces exhaust gasses from one head to the other. Many have had good luck running headers to a y pipe further down.
That, and GE is a 4 valve head too.
As I remember reading,
-E SOHC engine with multi-port EFI
-FE DOHC engine with multi-port EFI, and small ports for all around performance
-GE DOHC engine with multi-port EFI, and the ports are large to promote better breathing at high RPM.
But the exhaust gas crossover pipe confuses me because many GM V6 engines in FWD vehicles have a crossover pipe which takes exhaust gas from the front cylinder head to the back cylinder head manifold, yet I don't get many exhaust related problems with those engines.
Originally Posted By: tuckman
There is lots of info at toyotanation.com about your 3VZ-FE. A few guys get more free flowing exhaust setups and change the valve lash so the exhaust valves don't get burnt up. They are not bad motors but some extra care needs to be taken. As for oil I would agree with a HDEO 5w-40 or 15w-40 depending on the ambient temp.
Again it is NOT the 3VZ-FE. This is a CAMRY engine.
It is a 3VZ-E This is the truck engine.
FE= Dual Cam Multi valve, E= Single cam (per head) single valve.
+1 on Toyota nation, good info. One of the major downfalls of this engine is the crossover pipe in the exhaust that forces exhaust gasses from one head to the other. Many have had good luck running headers to a y pipe further down.
That, and GE is a 4 valve head too.
As I remember reading,
-E SOHC engine with multi-port EFI
-FE DOHC engine with multi-port EFI, and small ports for all around performance
-GE DOHC engine with multi-port EFI, and the ports are large to promote better breathing at high RPM.
But the exhaust gas crossover pipe confuses me because many GM V6 engines in FWD vehicles have a crossover pipe which takes exhaust gas from the front cylinder head to the back cylinder head manifold, yet I don't get many exhaust related problems with those engines.
Originally Posted By: JustinC25
Originally Posted By: tuckman
There is lots of info at toyotanation.com about your 3VZ-FE. A few guys get more free flowing exhaust setups and change the valve lash so the exhaust valves don't get burnt up. They are not bad motors but some extra care needs to be taken. As for oil I would agree with a HDEO 5w-40 or 15w-40 depending on the ambient temp.
Again it is NOT the 3VZ-FE. This is a CAMRY engine.
It is a 3VZ-E This is the truck engine.
FE= Dual Cam Multi valve, E= Single cam (per head) single valve.
+1 on Toyota nation, good info. One of the major downfalls of this engine is the crossover pipe in the exhaust that forces exhaust gasses from one head to the other. Many have had good luck running headers to a y pipe further down.
I dunno why they designed the exhaust manifold like that. The 5VZ still uses a crossover pipe but it does not shove exhaust from one had to the other head. If I get the time I might install headers on my 1990 4Runner. I'm still on the original headgaskets and I probably have the lowest mileage 4Runner in the world.
Originally Posted By: tuckman
There is lots of info at toyotanation.com about your 3VZ-FE. A few guys get more free flowing exhaust setups and change the valve lash so the exhaust valves don't get burnt up. They are not bad motors but some extra care needs to be taken. As for oil I would agree with a HDEO 5w-40 or 15w-40 depending on the ambient temp.
Again it is NOT the 3VZ-FE. This is a CAMRY engine.
It is a 3VZ-E This is the truck engine.
FE= Dual Cam Multi valve, E= Single cam (per head) single valve.
+1 on Toyota nation, good info. One of the major downfalls of this engine is the crossover pipe in the exhaust that forces exhaust gasses from one head to the other. Many have had good luck running headers to a y pipe further down.
I dunno why they designed the exhaust manifold like that. The 5VZ still uses a crossover pipe but it does not shove exhaust from one had to the other head. If I get the time I might install headers on my 1990 4Runner. I'm still on the original headgaskets and I probably have the lowest mileage 4Runner in the world.
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Quote:
But the exhaust gas crossover pipe confuses me because many GM V6 engines in FWD vehicles have a crossover pipe which takes exhaust gas from the front cylinder head to the back cylinder head manifold, yet I don't get many exhaust related problems with those engines.
What does any contemporary engine use this for anyway unless it's for EGR or something?? Tons of older engines had it for carb warming with a flapper on one exhaust flange.
But the exhaust gas crossover pipe confuses me because many GM V6 engines in FWD vehicles have a crossover pipe which takes exhaust gas from the front cylinder head to the back cylinder head manifold, yet I don't get many exhaust related problems with those engines.
What does any contemporary engine use this for anyway unless it's for EGR or something?? Tons of older engines had it for carb warming with a flapper on one exhaust flange.
I've seen bunches of those 3.0L's with head gasket issues. I replaced the head gaskets on one when I was younger. It was a tough job as everything has to come off.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: JustinC25
Originally Posted By: tuckman
There is lots of info at toyotanation.com about your 3VZ-FE. A few guys get more free flowing exhaust setups and change the valve lash so the exhaust valves don't get burnt up. They are not bad motors but some extra care needs to be taken. As for oil I would agree with a HDEO 5w-40 or 15w-40 depending on the ambient temp.
Again it is NOT the 3VZ-FE. This is a CAMRY engine.
It is a 3VZ-E This is the truck engine.
FE= Dual Cam Multi valve, E= Single cam (per head) single valve.
+1 on Toyota nation, good info. One of the major downfalls of this engine is the crossover pipe in the exhaust that forces exhaust gasses from one head to the other. Many have had good luck running headers to a y pipe further down.
That, and GE is a 4 valve head too.
As I remember reading,
-E SOHC engine with multi-port EFI
-FE DOHC engine with multi-port EFI, and small ports for all around performance
-GE DOHC engine with multi-port EFI, and the ports are large to promote better breathing at high RPM.
-GE also designates a 70 degree valve angle, -FE designates a 22.5 degree valve angle. Anything with a -GE suffix has traditionally been a performance engine. However, there are some -ge engines with 2 valves. Case in point 5M-GE 2.8 I6 in old Supra's, and Cressida's.
Originally Posted By: JustinC25
Originally Posted By: tuckman
There is lots of info at toyotanation.com about your 3VZ-FE. A few guys get more free flowing exhaust setups and change the valve lash so the exhaust valves don't get burnt up. They are not bad motors but some extra care needs to be taken. As for oil I would agree with a HDEO 5w-40 or 15w-40 depending on the ambient temp.
Again it is NOT the 3VZ-FE. This is a CAMRY engine.
It is a 3VZ-E This is the truck engine.
FE= Dual Cam Multi valve, E= Single cam (per head) single valve.
+1 on Toyota nation, good info. One of the major downfalls of this engine is the crossover pipe in the exhaust that forces exhaust gasses from one head to the other. Many have had good luck running headers to a y pipe further down.
That, and GE is a 4 valve head too.
As I remember reading,
-E SOHC engine with multi-port EFI
-FE DOHC engine with multi-port EFI, and small ports for all around performance
-GE DOHC engine with multi-port EFI, and the ports are large to promote better breathing at high RPM.
-GE also designates a 70 degree valve angle, -FE designates a 22.5 degree valve angle. Anything with a -GE suffix has traditionally been a performance engine. However, there are some -ge engines with 2 valves. Case in point 5M-GE 2.8 I6 in old Supra's, and Cressida's.
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Quote:
But the exhaust gas crossover pipe confuses me because many GM V6 engines in FWD vehicles have a crossover pipe which takes exhaust gas from the front cylinder head to the back cylinder head manifold, yet I don't get many exhaust related problems with those engines.
What does any contemporary engine use this for anyway unless it's for EGR or something?? Tons of older engines had it for carb warming with a flapper on one exhaust flange.
On those engines, it reduces the amount of piping in the exhaust system.
Quote:
But the exhaust gas crossover pipe confuses me because many GM V6 engines in FWD vehicles have a crossover pipe which takes exhaust gas from the front cylinder head to the back cylinder head manifold, yet I don't get many exhaust related problems with those engines.
What does any contemporary engine use this for anyway unless it's for EGR or something?? Tons of older engines had it for carb warming with a flapper on one exhaust flange.
On those engines, it reduces the amount of piping in the exhaust system.
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