Toyota supply their own "special blend" of motor oil in the Persian Gulf - the Toyota oil being a conventional 20W-50, and the Lexus being a full synthetic 5W-40. The supplier of both products is the Sharjah National Lube Oil Company in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
The Toyota oil hasn't been of interest to me, but the Lexus-branded oil is actually the cheapest full synthetic available on the market ($4.50 per litre). I could be wrong when I say it could be because most other synthetics meet ACEA specifications and this only meets API SM, but Mobil 1 15W-50 is on the same boat with no ACEA or manufacturer specifications, and it costs $11 per litre.
Having said that, I decided to give this oil a try. I've now put 2,500 km (1,600 miles) on this oil and I'm impressed. Not sure what sort of add pack it has, or if there's any "high mileage" content in it or something along the lines, but the engine is running very smooth and it's barely burned under 250 ml (valve guides shot, used to add a full litre every 2,500 km). If I'm not looking at the tach, I have to tap the gas to "make sure" the engine hasn't stalled. Any noise in the higher rpm range has also completely disappeared. I thought this was more like something in my head, but my father also said the same thing - asking if ARX or any other additive has anything to do with it. I just added the usual 90 ml maintenance dose of ARX, like like I always do. Usually when new oil is put in, these symptoms disappear after a couple of hundred kilometres. I have to say I'm very impressed with this oil.
I contacted the suppliers, and they said I would need to contact Lexus for information on viscosity at 40 C/100 C, VI and TBN. When I contacted the dealership, all I was told was it's "special oil for Lexus, very good oil"...which doesn't mean sheet. The supplier produces their own 5W-40 full synthetic, but the specs do not match (SL/CF vs SM, etc.).
Unfortunately, there are no VOA/UOA facilities available locally for me to find out myself either, and I am curious. I was wondering if anybody here works for Toyota/Lexus and if it is possible to access product information on their global product range. If not, it looks like by the end of this OCI, I'm going to be sending a UO and VO sample for analysis.
For the record, this is the said product:
The Toyota oil hasn't been of interest to me, but the Lexus-branded oil is actually the cheapest full synthetic available on the market ($4.50 per litre). I could be wrong when I say it could be because most other synthetics meet ACEA specifications and this only meets API SM, but Mobil 1 15W-50 is on the same boat with no ACEA or manufacturer specifications, and it costs $11 per litre.
Having said that, I decided to give this oil a try. I've now put 2,500 km (1,600 miles) on this oil and I'm impressed. Not sure what sort of add pack it has, or if there's any "high mileage" content in it or something along the lines, but the engine is running very smooth and it's barely burned under 250 ml (valve guides shot, used to add a full litre every 2,500 km). If I'm not looking at the tach, I have to tap the gas to "make sure" the engine hasn't stalled. Any noise in the higher rpm range has also completely disappeared. I thought this was more like something in my head, but my father also said the same thing - asking if ARX or any other additive has anything to do with it. I just added the usual 90 ml maintenance dose of ARX, like like I always do. Usually when new oil is put in, these symptoms disappear after a couple of hundred kilometres. I have to say I'm very impressed with this oil.
I contacted the suppliers, and they said I would need to contact Lexus for information on viscosity at 40 C/100 C, VI and TBN. When I contacted the dealership, all I was told was it's "special oil for Lexus, very good oil"...which doesn't mean sheet. The supplier produces their own 5W-40 full synthetic, but the specs do not match (SL/CF vs SM, etc.).
Unfortunately, there are no VOA/UOA facilities available locally for me to find out myself either, and I am curious. I was wondering if anybody here works for Toyota/Lexus and if it is possible to access product information on their global product range. If not, it looks like by the end of this OCI, I'm going to be sending a UO and VO sample for analysis.
For the record, this is the said product:
