Oil Viscosity/Change Interval Recommendations for "extreme load conditions"

Questions:

1. 
   
   
   • Does Toyota ever define what actually constitutes "extreme load conditions" mentioned in the Owner's Manual?
   • For "extreme load conditions," what are Toyota's official recommended:
     • a. "oil with a higher viscosity?", and...
     • b. Oil Change Interval?

I have asked various Toyota dealer employees and have been searching the Internet for detailed specifics on this subject but haven't yet obtained an official response. The closest I came was an "off-the-record" statement from a long-time Toyota service manager that any "ILSAC GF-5 multigrade engine oil" is acceptable to Toyota and the viscosity is really the owner's choice.

Background:

I recently purchased a beautiful 2013 CrewMax 5.7L TSS (with factory towing package). She had only 55,000 miles on her and the local Toyota dealer maintained her using Toyota Synthetic 0W-20 oil her whole life.

Here in the Dallas, Texas area, I tow a 16-foot 6,000 lb. construction trailer an average of 20,000 miles per year. The highest temperature recorded in Dallas was 113 degrees F. in 1980, although, the maximum annual temperature is typically under or near 100 degrees for only a few weeks out of the year. Actual statistics can be seen at this link: https://www.weather.gov/fwd/dfwann

On page 676 (after recommending SAE 0W-20 - ILSAC GF-5 multigrade engine oil), the 2013 Toyota Tundra Owner's Manual states:

"The 20 in 0W-20 indicates the viscosity characteristic of the oil when the oil is at high temperature. An oil with a higher viscosity (one with a higher value) may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high speeds, or under extreme load conditions." ​

Assuming that towing my 6,000 lb. trailer qualifies as "extreme load conditions," I'm searching for the appropriate maintenance consumables, schedules and procedures.

Best regards, JR.

 

The shift to thinner oils is for mpg's. You can join bobistheoilguy if you want to really ask a bunch of oil nerds. I would day run 5w30 all day if you are concerned about a 20 weight shearing thin.

I'd also be looking at tranny fluid if you are hauling.

 

Newer Toyota trucks generally recommend 5000 mile OCI if towing or hauling heavy frequently. If you really want to know specifically for your truck. Do a minimum of 3 oil analysis tests and you will develop a trend and the lab tech will make a recommendation for you.

 

Thank you for that outstanding suggestion! After a couple of months of fruitless searching, that is the best proactive approach I've heard! Now I have to research the best way to obtain the "oil analysis tests!" Thanks again!

 

Heavy Service is defined as:

1) Tow/Haul.

2) High ambient temps over 90° on consistent basis.

3) City driving.

You meet all 3 criteria at the same time. Best to just do 2-3k mile oil changes on her to be on the safe side. The oil analysis idea sounds good, but that costs the same or more than a DIY oil change.

Do not change your oil viscosity from 0w-20 if thats what your manual states.

 

Great information and advice! Below is a screenshot of page 676 of the 2013 Tundra Owner's Manual recommending SAE 0W-20 ILSAC GF-5 multigrade engine oil, in addition to indicating

which is one question I've been searching to determine what the best viscosity is for my specific driving/towing/ambient temperature/etc. conditions.:



Thank you for the quick response!

 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and advice! It really is helpful to hear someone who has "been there!" Driving the Tundra is really a new experience for me since I previously towed with Econoline Super Duty 350 vans, which I traded in every 5 years or 100K miles due to increasing maintenance issues.

 

No you don't. Here it is. Many of us use Blackstone Laboratories in the Chicago area. https://www.blackstone-labs.com/?session-id=obc2v4qcfghgvd554yufac55&timeout=20&bslauth&urlbase=https://www.blackstone-labs.net/Bstone/(S(obc2v4qcfghgvd554yufac55))/

 

The most popular lab to use is Blackstone Oil Analysis. You can order free test sample kits. When you do your oil change, collect some of the oil into the sterile container from the sample kit, pack the sample in the included shipping container and mail it back to the lab.

 

Thank you all! Experienced recommendations really help!

 

You can use 5w30 if it makes you feel better, or better yet 0w30. You might lose a little mpg. Toyota specs 5w30 for the 3ur-fe for the rest of the world ( Australia and middle east) and specs the performance 2ur-gse sold here in the U.S. with 5w30.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/supercharged-5-7-oil-type-0w20-or-other.21025/

 

Great recommendation! Very nice that Sam's Club sells 5w30 Mobil 1 (for $4.80/qt until Jan. 26th) as well!

 

You can use 5w-30 just fine. In theory, it's better for the engine's life at the cost of MPG potentially. Personally, I do a 5w-30 oil change every 5k miles. But I'm also on 40" tires with 4.88 gears. I do my differentials and transfer case every 10k. And I do a drain/fill of the transmission pan every 20k. I haven't had any issues and still average just under 12mpg.

 

If i towed with that weight & frequency I'd use this quality 0-40: https://www.thelubricantstore.com/m...eNf17oimfEt7tsJHai8RxfwZhp8xb588aAuSgEALw_wcB

Luck and enjoy those Toyotas. : ^ )))

 

If I towed that 20k a year, I’d lease and drive it for 3 years or til it broke and then trade it in for a new one and not worry about the oil. That’s a lot of tow mileage.

 

Great option! So many advantages with leasing!

 

I tried 0-40 last summer. It didn’t feel like it ran the same. Ive had zero problems with 5w-30