Which Valvoline Synpower

[tackleberry625]

Vis @ 100°C (cSt)

0w-20 - 8.65
5w-20 - 8.65
5w30 - 10.7
10w-30 - 11.0

Viscosity Index

0W-20 - 170
5W-20 - 170
5w30 - 170
10W-30 - 152

Spec Gravity @ 60°F

0.848 - 0w-20
0.853 - 5w-20
0.853 - 5w30
0.857 - 10w30

Density(lbs/gal)

7.1 - 0w-20
7.1 - 5w-20
7.1 - 5w30
7.2 - 5w30

Flash COC (°C)

220 - 0w-20
221 - 5w-20
223 - 5w30
223 - 5w30

The vehicle is a 2002 Toyota Tundra 3.4L V-6 and is driven in South Florida. It calls for 5w30 so that is what I have been using since I bought it new. The truck has been babied through all it's life. It has 73K on it and no towing is done. The truck is mainly used to take highway trips to and from Jacksonville Florida, about 350 miles one-way at 70 mph. The temps range from 50s - 60s in the "winter" and 80s to high 90s in the summer. Which oil would you say is best based on the above info? Thanks for any help. The numbers are from Valvoline's website.

 

[Mr Nice]

Why not just stick with 5w30

 

[Bill in Utah]

Use *any* Valvoline 5w30 oil, change it 6 months or 5000 miles whichever comes up first and enjoy your truck.

All of the "info" you posted does not do anything for your truck.

Don't waste your time worrying about it.

Just change the oil when it is time.

Bill

 

[tackleberry625]

Thx guys.........I have never worried about different oil weights and have always run what the book said. After reading on here about people endorsing "thinner" oils (0w-20, 5w-20) in a vehicle that called for 5w30, I just thought about getting other people's outlook on it for my truck. It is BOGO at AAP so I want to stock up a little bit.

 

[Drew99GT]

If you wanted to get frisky with 20 weight, Synpower is a fine oil to do it with, as it is ACEA A5 rated - meaning the 5w-20 has a HT/HS viscosity of 2.9 cP, basically the same as a conventional 5w30.

 

[Drew99GT]

Well scratch that; it used to be but not anymore. Crapola!

 

[tackleberry625]

Do you think a 5w-20 would be too "thin"?

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: tackleberry625
Do you think a 5w-20 would be too "thin"?


Use what the manual says.

So for your engine 5w30 year round. ANY 5w30. Change it 5k or 6 months and your fine.

Its that simple!

You are going to gain NOTHING using/trying a 5w-20, 10w30, 5w-40, 10-40, 20-50, 0w-30, 15w-50 (what have I missed...) IMO.

Take care, bill

 

[Drew99GT]

I personally would not use 5w-20 in a vehicle not speced for it unless it had a minimum 2.9 cP HT/HS viscosity. I'd use Amsoil 0w-20 though at 2.8. Well, I'd use any 5w-20 in extreme cold climates.

 

[Oilgal]

OOPS

I was thinking of trying 0W 20 in my 1995 Mistsu 3.0. Sure glad I read this thread. I'll stick with the 5W 30 the OEM recommends.

Thanks you guys.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: tackleberry625
Do you think a 5w-20 would be too "thin"?

Yes, unless you live near the Artic circle.

New car manufacturers spec 5w30 not because it protects best, but rather to eek out every bit of fuel economy in order to meet their CAFE requirements.
Look for 0w-xx oils to be spec'd when the recently passed higher CAFE mandates kick in.

I'd use at least a 10w30 If I were you..

In the mean time check out this article:
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/article_detail.asp?articleid=518

 

[Drew99GT]

Oh lord, that pile of outdated non-sense horse manure has been peddled here for years.

Modern 20 weight oils in a vehicle speced for them are fine and people here have proven it. Heck, every UOA result posted here with 5w-20 in engines not speced for it have been immaculate.

You have a lot to learn if you think 5w-xx or 0w-xx is BAD.

 

[Oilgal]

I don't think 20 weight oils are bad. I just don't know if it would be good for my 13 year old 3.0L.

It is all so confusing to me!

Would it be good for my engine or not?

(wish we had an icon of a distraught women pulling her hair out)

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Oh lord, that pile of outdated non-sense horse manure has been peddled here for years.

Modern 20 weight oils in a vehicle speced for them are fine and people here have proven it. Heck, every UOA result posted here with 5w-20 in engines not speced for it have been immaculate.

You have a lot to learn if you think 5w-xx or 0w-xx is BAD.


Glad someone said this! Good post GT!

 

[Oilgal]

I am trying to learn, and I have been reading through the archive and using the search engine to the best of my ability.

Could someone PLEASE point me to thread that will help me decide if I should use 0W 20 in my 3.0L.

So far one old timer expert says one thing, and another old timer expert says something else, and mere comments about how hip it is to believe in 20W oils alone are not helpful to me.

 

[Brons2]

Oilgal I would stick to spec in your Mitsubishi. It's hard to go wrong with that.

Spec is probably 5w30.

How cold does it get there?

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Oh lord, that pile of outdated non-sense horse manure has been peddled here for years.

Modern 20 weight oils in a vehicle speced for them are fine and people here have proven it. Heck, every UOA result posted here with 5w-20 in engines not speced for it have been immaculate.

You have a lot to learn if you think 5w-xx or 0w-xx is BAD.


I used 5W-20 in my 1999 4.3 S-10 pickup at around 85K. Prior, all it saw was 5w30. I never knew my drain plug was magnetized until I drained that 5W-20. It was loaded and overflowing with metal particles/shavings stuck to the drain plug. That never happened prior - has never happened since I went back to 5w30.

 

[Oilgal]

Originally Posted By: Brons2
Oilgal I would stick to spec in your Mitsubishi. It's hard to go wrong with that.

Spec is probably 5w30.

How cold does it get there?


Well it used to be, anywhere from -5 to 28 degrees F here this time of year, but lately it has been an average of 40* F. Last week we were even in the mid 60s. It may get down to, oh, about 5 below zero soon, if the weather ever goes back to normal.

Thank you for your help Brons2. For now I definitely agree it is better to play it safe. Until I know better, for certain, someday, hopefully.

I run the OEM recommended 5W 30. I am pouring in Valvoline Synpower, when my ARX rinse is over, and then I am doing to do another treatemnt.

 

[tackleberry625]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: tackleberry625
Do you think a 5w-20 would be too "thin"?


Use what the manual says.

So for your engine 5w30 year round. ANY 5w30. Change it 5k or 6 months and your fine.

Its that simple!

You are going to gain NOTHING using/trying a 5w-20, 10w30, 5w-40, 10-40, 20-50, 0w-30, 15w-50 (what have I missed...) IMO.

Take care, bill



I just read over some materal that Dr. AEHaas sent me http://ferrarichat.com/forum/faq.php?faq=new_faq_item#faq_haas_articles and he recommended MC 5w-20 because of its better "flow", that why I started this hole thread. My mpg went down from 17 mpg to 14 mpg when I switched from RP 5w30 to Val Syn 5w30 so I figured if I got better "oil flow" with a "thinner" 5w-20, it may help with fuel mileage a little. I guess I'll just stick with the Val Syn 5w30 for now or go back to the RP. Dunno

 

[tackleberry625]

Anywayz........thx for all the input. BTW....in regards to my mpg loss, the driving was the same and I used the same gas........it just went down for some reason.