I've attached two analyses: from earlier this month; and from several years ago (for reference).
The car has had exclusively Toyota 0w-20 from the forth oil change. All oil filters and air filters have been Toyota.
I changed the oil at 8,000 km intervals per the owner's manual until the warranty ran out at 160,000 km. I then extended the OCI to 10,000 km. The logic was that the same engine installed in a Camry was permitted to double the OCI to 16,000 km provided you use Toyota 0w-20 oil. For the last OCI I decided to extend it to 12,000 km and get an oil analysis which is attached.
It is apparent that the oil formulation has changed significantly from 2011 to today. Zinc, calcium and boron are significantly different.
I was interested to see how much TBN was affected by the longer OCI but the change in formulation makes it difficult to compare. From a TBN perspective the oil can easily be used for a longer OCI.
I have two primary concerns:
1. Silicon was identified as being high in both analyses. Virgin samples of Toyota 0w-20 show silicon to be 4-15 ppm so that is part of the issue. I've checked the full intake system on the car and sprayed every section with starter fluid and have confirmed no leaks.
2. Insolubles and oxidation have gone up. I don't how big an issue this is.
I have a lesser concern regarding iron. It seems rather high compared to analyses for other Toyotas. If there was a true leak in the intake system then a higher iron concentration would be expected. The current iron concentration is roughly half (per km) of the concentration with the previous oil formulation.
In both analyses the comment were:
- Condition: Abnormal
- Remarks: High Silicon (Si). Dirt in lube oil.
- Recommendation: Change out air filter. Change out lube oil and lube oil filter.
I don't have much reason to change from Toyota 0w-20 unless the current analysis looks bad (it doesn't look bad to me). Toyota 0w-20 is still the lowest cost 0w-20 I can get. Current everyday price is just over $6/L. Synthetic oil on special is typically around $7/L.
Comments are welcome.
Ian
The car has had exclusively Toyota 0w-20 from the forth oil change. All oil filters and air filters have been Toyota.
I changed the oil at 8,000 km intervals per the owner's manual until the warranty ran out at 160,000 km. I then extended the OCI to 10,000 km. The logic was that the same engine installed in a Camry was permitted to double the OCI to 16,000 km provided you use Toyota 0w-20 oil. For the last OCI I decided to extend it to 12,000 km and get an oil analysis which is attached.
It is apparent that the oil formulation has changed significantly from 2011 to today. Zinc, calcium and boron are significantly different.
I was interested to see how much TBN was affected by the longer OCI but the change in formulation makes it difficult to compare. From a TBN perspective the oil can easily be used for a longer OCI.
I have two primary concerns:
1. Silicon was identified as being high in both analyses. Virgin samples of Toyota 0w-20 show silicon to be 4-15 ppm so that is part of the issue. I've checked the full intake system on the car and sprayed every section with starter fluid and have confirmed no leaks.
2. Insolubles and oxidation have gone up. I don't how big an issue this is.
I have a lesser concern regarding iron. It seems rather high compared to analyses for other Toyotas. If there was a true leak in the intake system then a higher iron concentration would be expected. The current iron concentration is roughly half (per km) of the concentration with the previous oil formulation.
In both analyses the comment were:
- Condition: Abnormal
- Remarks: High Silicon (Si). Dirt in lube oil.
- Recommendation: Change out air filter. Change out lube oil and lube oil filter.
I don't have much reason to change from Toyota 0w-20 unless the current analysis looks bad (it doesn't look bad to me). Toyota 0w-20 is still the lowest cost 0w-20 I can get. Current everyday price is just over $6/L. Synthetic oil on special is typically around $7/L.
Comments are welcome.
Ian