Toyota RAV4 Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

5w-20w vs. 0w-20 oil change

1 reading
Jump to Latest
21 - 40 of 42 Posts
#21 ·
Well I try to break things down to risk vs reward. In this case, your risk is the loss of what I'll call $50.00 for a single additional oil change, vs the reward of a "slight" less chance of damage to internal engine components during breakin period. Now go to 10 (every 1000 miles) additional oil changes and the risk (now $500.00) goes WAY up and the reward IMO will drop a far less comparable amount.
In reality the oil filter is suppose to catch these types of impurities, and very fine particles are more of a risk than larger particles, but unfortunately not everything works exactly as designed every time. There is no way of saying with any certainty, what is the ideal point in mileage to reduce risks. But if there are harmful impurities in your oil, we do know the longer they are in there, the greater the risk.
 
#23 ·
everyone is an oil expert

davidr001 said:
Howdy All-Knowing RAV4 owners!

Just looking for opinions on oil for my 2016 RAV4 XLE. I've read the owners manual that said 5w-20w is okay but that I should get the 0w-20 on my next oil change. I was shocked when I got to my local car maintenance store only to find out that they were heavily pushing the "all synthetic" $69.99 oil change, i.e., 0w-20. I asked him if there was an alternative and he reluctantly said yes, the semi-synthetic 5w-20w for $29.99.

In ya'll's opinion, is the 5w-20w an okay alternative to the full synthetic long term?

Thanks for any help/information you can provide.

David
Click to expand...
5w-20 will work great in your climate, 0w-20 if you go well below freezing. There is NO evidence that synthetic oils will reduce the wear in your engine. Any brand SN rated oil will go an easy 5,000 miles in your engine however without a used oil analysis (with a TBN/TAN) there is no way to really know when to change your oil , that includes full synthetic oils. To other posters, you might want to learn something about motor oils besides 'what you heard,what you learned from your dad, or just plain myths. What are my qualifications? I teach auto mechanics.
 
#24 ·
Man you guys gotta be nuts. I just changed my oil. The very first oil change on this like new 2018 rav4 awd. I did it myself. With the stupid little oil service key. (Embarassing) ( shoulda kept the spin on filter ) like GM uhhhh.. Anyway. That oil was shot. And stunk like hell. At 5000 miles. Only 5500 on it now. Change your oil every 5k. Toyota wants to sell you parts. And 10k is ridiculous. When you hit 100k miles hiw does your engine feel to only had 10 changes in its life. Or to me. How 20 feel. Engine love 20 not starving them at 10 changes. In that many miles. In the old day they changed every 3k miles mu great grandpa did it evry 2500. Sell parts?? Hahah
 
#25 ·
Did you save some for a used oil analysis?

I haven't seen a UOA yet that shows 10K OCIs to be bad for this motor. Perhaps you have an impending problem with your motor if it's chewing up oil that quickly. A UOA would reveal that.

www.rav4world.com

My Used Oil Analysis Reports at 5K, 10K, and 20K Miles...

Here are the first, second, and third used oil analysis reports for my 2013 Rav4 on Toyota oil changes. I accomplished the first analysis at 5,300 miles and the second one at 10,100 miles on the original factory oil fill. Vehicle usage was a pretty even split between highway and city miles. I...
www.rav4world.com www.rav4world.com

www.rav4world.com

Used Oil Analysis, 11k mi, 2013 RAV4 Limited

Oil: Mobil1 0w20 Extended Permformance Filter: Fram Ultra XG9972 Here is the recent oil change from my 2013 Toyota RAV4. This is my first extended oil change, having just come off of the ToyotaCare free maintenance not too long ago. I'm not sure where the elevated silicon came from, it still...
www.rav4world.com www.rav4world.com
 
#26 ·
No sir dont need to see oil analysis. We farm and have 10 semi trucks. 4 big john deere combines. Dad has 40 pickups and i own 6 4x4 pickups. Chevys and toyotas. We have so much iron and service each unit. Individually. 100 hrs per engine. On hard pulls. Engines like it better when you drop that oil. We tear down engines. To the block. The motors with multiple early service intervals. Seem to be way healthier. Than engines with 10 changes in 100k miles. Huge difference. Mechanics dont need to see oil analysis. But see engine and bearing wear.
 
#27 ·
Interesting. Do my 10,000-mile UOA numbers give you the impression that my motor is being harmed in some fashion by a 10K OCI? I certainly don't want to hurt my engine, and if you can tell me something that a scientific analysis cannot, then I certainly want to learn your secrets.
 
#28 ·
Have you tore down motors? And seen what it looks like when shes had 10k compared to 5k change intervals?

You have to measure the tolerances in a teardown. Other wise its all he said. She said.

I will wager to bet. A motor at 150k miles
That had 5k miles intervels

Will have less wear. Than the same 150k miles motor with only 10k changes!
 
#29 ·
I have indeed disassembled motors.

UOAs contain a variety of tests for the amounts of metals and compounds in used oil. That includes PPM measurements for the metals associated with engine components. Do you believe those scientific tests are capable of indicating if there's abnormal wear on specific components?
 
#30 ·
I said it before and I'll say it again. What's the Benefit for Toyota to tell you oil will last 10,000 miles if it would harm your engine?

They don't pay for the oil changes! You do!

Does anyone really think Toyota wants to be know as having engines that wear out too soon ?

Why would you buy a car from someone you don't trust?
 
#31 ·
@2011rav4 said:
I said it before and I'll say it again. What's the Benefit for Toyota to tell you oil will last 10,000 miles if it would harm your engine?

They don't pay for the oil changes! You do!

Does anyone really think Toyota wants to be know as having engines that wear out too soon ?

Why would you buy a car from someone you don't trust?
Click to expand...
One possible motive for implementing a 10K OCI is so they can brag about lower total cost of ownership. Fewer oil changes means less money, and lower total cost of ownership may attract buyers.

Hence the reason lots of people have performed UOAs...to determine if Toyota is being honest based on mechanics and science or being dishonest so that they can brag about a lower cost of ownership.

Every UOA I've seen confirms that Rav4's pass the 10K OCI test with flying colors. Hence, Toyota's claim is demonstrably correct.
 
#32 ·
240sx drift Rav4 said:
Have you tore down motors? And seen what it looks like when shes had 10k compared to 5k change intervals?

You have to measure the tolerances in a teardown. Other wise its all he said. She said.

I will wager to bet. A motor at 150k miles
That had 5k miles intervels

Will have less wear. Than the same 150k miles motor with only 10k changes!
Click to expand...
Interesting. My 2005 RAV now has almost 220k miles on it. I change the oil every 10k and use a mixture of 50% synthetic and 50% dino. I mix it myself. Car is driven all the time, does not burn oil, and runs great.
So...how soon before my engine dies because I didn't change my oil every 5k? Just curious because my guess is the body will fall off long before than engine stops running, which has been my experience with both my Toyota trucks that had well over 300k on them.
 
#33 ·
RTexasF said:
Enjoy your closed mind. I suggest you attempt to learn more about modern engines and oils. That "cheap insurance" line is as old as the hills for those that refuse to learn how much things have changed. Do as you wish by all means. I choose to go with the modern and proven methods as I have done the research. There is also nothing wrong with your method, I'm not knocking it at all. I'm only saying that there is a lot of information out there if you care to open your mind and learn.

I grew up in the era of the 1500 then 3000 mile oil change. The world has moved forward as have I. Some simply refuse to do so. A 5K mile oil change is prudent but you can go twice as far with no problems using the correct oil, filter, and conditions.
Click to expand...
Hey, he needs to be on the 3 month, 3000 mile schedule.
His mechanic has 4 kids in college and a balloon payment coming up on his boat. LOL
 
#34 ·
You boys do whatever you want. I’m just speaking from experience.

ive seen my dad wear more stuff out than anyone

all the tractors and ton of semi trucks

he will not run a single engine past five thousand miles.

100 hours on the tractors
that pull for hours in the field

if you translate 10k car miles to tractor hours

it would translate to 500 hours each oil change

if you waited 500 hours on a tractor you WILL score every bearing.

and will be taking it out for a rebuild.

tractors only live a total life of around 10,000 hours.

do the math guys. Right now. Thats only 20 oil changes.

in an entire life of an engine

my dad has done hundreds of services on a John Deere

thousands. Total
 
#38 ·
Sean27 said:
I do 10,000 mile OCI myself and the first 100k miles have been driven.

I'll get back to you guys in another 100k miles.

Pushing for 300k like the last RAV I owned.

Anything past 250k and I will be happy.
Click to expand...

Right. Toyota knows more about their engines than some local mechanic who makes money on oil changes.

Toyota ia a muti billion dollar company who access to the best testing equipment in the world. Plus you can always send your oil out to get it tested if you have any doubt.
 
#39 · (Edited)
@2011rav4 said:
Care to show me all those damaged engines in the junk yard form changing oil at the recommended intervals?

Must be MILLIONS OF THEM.

How did any of them make it to 2 hundred thousand miles?
Click to expand...
To be fair, how many 4.4 rav4s have made it to 200k?

Drivers should follow Toyota maintenance guidelines. That could be 5k OCI, 10K, or somewhere in between. In rare cirumstances their OCI could be shorter than 5k according to Toyota.
 
21 - 40 of 42 Posts
About this Discussion
41 Replies
21 Participants
Last post:
billmichael
Toyota RAV4 Forums
posts
1.1M
members
174K
Since
2004
Rav 4 World is the internet's largest Toyota Rav4 SUV and EV online forum community. Discuss towing, modifications, and more.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
4.3 General 4.3 Mechanical 4.5 RAV4 Hybrid (except Prime) 4.5 RAV4 Prime 4.3 Exterior