From Tundra Solutions web site.. oil viscosity

[thinshavings]

5w20 Vs 5w30, Response from Toyota May Suprise You..

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Disclaimer to the Flamer: This thread is not intended to stir up a debate, it is for information to others who may be interested in hearing what Toyota's response is. If you're not interested, read no further and simply close this thread.

OK, Here's the scoop,

I scheduled an oil change at my local dealership, and paid to have Mobile one synthetic use for the oil change. I requested either 0w20 or 5w20 per the owner's manual specification for 5.7L Engine. I am taking a 4,600 mile trip in 5 days, and wanted fresh oil for the journey in my new 2007 Tundra CrewMax. After arriving at the dealership to pick up my vehicle, I found that the dealer had installed 5w30 Mobile one synthetic instead of the recommended 5w20. I raised concern about the discrepancy, but was told it would not void the warranty, and there is little difference in performance. I questioned the response from the dealership, but I required the use of my truck, and it was already 5:30 PM when I picked it up from the dealer. I wasn't real happy about the response...

So I decided to do about 7 hours of oil viscosity research and also contacted Toyota Motor Sales USA by phone and email. I even searched this forum and saw TMS response to others with the same questions stating " Absolutely use 5w20".

After doing the math, and researching pressure, flow, and viscosity, I came to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with 5w30 (I am en engineer after all..it's what I do..). Why 5w20? Think CAFE (hinted to by Toyota below...).

Then, I received the response from Toyota as follows:

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We appreciate your interest in properly maintaining your 2007 Tundra and using the appropriate engine oil for your vehicle. We apologize for your concern regarding the oil viscosity used by your dealership.
According to our records, you contacted us telephone today on June 14, 2007 regarding your 2007 Tundra. At that time we referred we advised to you that 5w30 oil viscosity will not affect engine. Adv on next oil change can choose to use 5w-20 for best gas mileage.
Out vehicles come from the factory with natural petroleum-based engine oil. We are currently recommending American Petroleum Institute (API) grade SJ petroleum-based engine oil. In moderate climates, this oil should have a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) viscosity rating of 5w30. However, 10w30 is recommended for use in areas with higher temperatures. In our high mileage tests with preventative maintenance performed at the recommended intervals, the recommended natural petroleum-based oil has provided excellent service.
If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us. Your email is documented at our National Headquarters under file #200706140107. Toyota Customer Experience

(Not my vehicle or original post)

 

[njcruiser]

i saw your post over at ts, and now here. I'll tell you the same thing here, as I did there. you are not speaking with someone who knows anything about what you are inquiring. they are looking up info, and looked up the wrong info. that advice is for the 4.7.
for the 5.7 you need 0w20, or 5w20. read the manual. I have have the 4.7, and the 5.7, and have the manual. It mentions no use of anything besides a 20w for the 5.7.
I doubt the 30wt is going to kill your engine, but it is not right. I doubt it is mobil1 though, probally dino bulk at a synthetic price. I would go back, point to the manual, have them dump the oil in now, and watch them pour in new oil, straight out of a toyota sealed bottle. 8 freshies. Tell them your keeping the .6qts for topoff, and I would never go back.
Bad dealership, and bad advice from a toyota rep. I bet if you call back, and specify the 5.7 ten times to them, so it registers, you will get the answer I just typed in. Good luck.
Oh yea, I am using my first run of penzoil platinum 5w20.

 

[G-MAN]

Quote:

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Then, I received the response from Toyota as follows:

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We appreciate your interest in properly maintaining your 2007 Tundra and using the appropriate engine oil for your vehicle. We apologize for your concern regarding the oil viscosity used by your dealership.
According to our records, you contacted us telephone today on June 14, 2007 regarding your 2007 Tundra. At that time we referred we advised to you that 5w30 oil viscosity will not affect engine. Adv on next oil change can choose to use 5w-20 for best gas mileage.
Out vehicles come from the factory with natural petroleum-based engine oil. We are currently recommending American Petroleum Institute (API) grade SJ petroleum-based engine oil. In moderate climates, this oil should have a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) viscosity rating of 5w30. However, 10w30 is recommended for use in areas with higher temperatures. In our high mileage tests with preventative maintenance performed at the recommended intervals, the recommended natural petroleum-based oil has provided excellent service.
If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us. Your email is documented at our National Headquarters under file #200706140107. Toyota Customer Experience

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If this was cut and pasted from an e-mail from Toyota it sure was written poorly by the Toyota employee.

 

[Steve S]

5w/20 epa? don't have to be an engineer to figure that out!!

 

[47HO]

I would be suspicious of the response when it stated "grade SJ", as this is no longer offered, at least for autos.

 

[BGK]

I bet there are many dealers using oil that isn't recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for their vehicles.

 

[cheetahdriver]

47HO is right, SJ has not been offered since before the 5.7 came out. either someone cut and pasted in the manual or someone is distributing stale/old/inaccurate data.

if you want to know the real answer to the question, check the manual for Canadian 5.7 or Mexican units. for miata, we went to austraiia to find a oil recommendation that was unsullied by CAFE standards, but they don't sell the 5.7 in australia yet.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Well it just goes to show tht the recomendation on the 710 cap and in the owners manuals is just tht a recomendation! Unfortunately to many people are either to scared to see that or do not understand how large of a sweet spot their is with their engine in reguards to ideal sweet spot based on HTHS,viscosity and additive package. In the english lexicon the word "recommend" has never meant "required". I love it when OEM employee's contradict their own owners material!

 

[Panzerman]

Ive had a Ford dealership tell me all they use is 5w30 bulk. Ive talked to a oil supplier in Daytona and he told me he sells very little bulk 5w20, what he does sell he sells to private garages because it costs more, and doesnt even keep it in stock (this is where the dealerships buy bulk), area Dodge and Ford. I have a good Friend that works in a Chevy dealership in PA, told me everything gets 10w30.They buy it bulk. Another co worker used to work at a well known car service provider, this conversation came up and he told me alot of times they would change the oil so fast they never even looked at the work order and the cars paid for synthetic but got bulk 10w30, and they never said anything. The 5w20 is a CAFE bandaid and is to humor the EPA, it is not a better idea to prevent wear or new design or tighter clearences and if the heavier oil would hurt anything, than I think alot more than less cars would be noticing this since Iam betting over 50% are running on 10w30 or heavier wieght.

 

[thinshavings]

Wasn't my original post, I came across it at TS.
I found it curious about the SJ reference also.

 

[njcruiser]

It is kind of simple. Use what the manual states, 0w20, or 5w20. NO other listing for the 5.7. My 5.7 is loving the penzoil platinum 5w20 right now. Plan to do an analysis at 5K miles to confirm.
I dont beleive it is due to cafe. If that was the case, why is the 4.7 not using a 20wt? I think the dual VVTI system, and the overall design, must do better on the 20wt. By using the 20wt they are not achieving anything really. Its not like by using the 20wt they get around the gas guzzler tax or something.

 

[Pablo]

As soon as I got to the SJ part I knew this was phewy. Maybe just olde phewy.

 

[Max_Wander]

There was another thread about the specification of SJ motor oil in a 2007 vehicle manual. I believe they specify the lowest API rating acceptable. Logically, SM superscedes anything prior, so logically the consumer would have to assume that anything SJ and newer is backed by the manufacturer.