All,

I'm getting ready to change the oil in my 2011 Camry. The manual says to use 0W - 20, every 10K miles, or if 5W - 20 is used, change back to 0W - 20 in 5K miles. Really 10K and very rare oil? Some questions...

1. Every 10K miles, this just sounds scarry, what duration are you using?

2. use 0W - 20. This stuff is very hard to find and I can only find this by the quart and at $9.50 or so (Mobil 1, can't find any other type). What are you using? The manual makes it sound like 0W - 20 needs to be used. Don't mind, but looking for feedback.

Thanks in advance.

 

A 10K interval is very reasonable for full synthetic oils, this interval is much more standard in other parts of the world.

If a USA car, Toyota needs to meet certain CAFE standards for overall fleet MPG, the thinner 0W-20 oil allows a very slight! increase in MPG over 5W-20.

If 0W-20 oil was used to obtain the CAFE MPG figures for a specific model of car/engine then Toyota is bound to recommend this weight. It does not mean you are bound to use it.

Either oil should work fine. If your are located in VERY cold climates then 0W-20 would have an edge when cold starting.

Wal-Mart stocks Mobil 1 synthetic products at would assume be a lower prices.

10K oil change periods are a recent event for US cars, would assume these oils will be better stocked in stores as demand picks up.

A google search on 0W-20 will turn up manufacturers such as Valvoline, Red line, Amsoil, Penzoil, etc. Toyota sells their own branded oil.

One other thing 0W-20 and 5W-20 appears to be available full synthetic or a blend. If adopting the 10K change period only use a full synthetic oil.

 

i have a 2010 camry that uses the same oil. it ended up being cheaper at the dealer for an oil change and i still do mine every 5000 miles. just cant bring myself to trust a 10000 mile change. they told me after a year that it could go 10000 miles. i wonder why it took them that long to realize that the oil "should" go for that long. idk. 5000 works for me.

 

oh the power of being brainwashed.....

I do mine anywhere between 12 and 15 000 miles. I have been doing 10 000 miles since 2002.
you just need to use right oil. I did 10K with Royal Purple, until I discovered Amsoil. Amsoil now only.
they sell 0w20 here on gas stations.
but here's the thing. I started off with regular 5w20, and then went for 0w20, as recommended. my mpg went down right away, and I went back to 5w20.
I started buying Amsoil in 4 qrt jars, makes it at about $6.50 a qrt.

YOU ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR.

 

OH, AND OUT OF CURIOSITY. our 94 Corolla manual said, change oil ONCE A YEAR.
that's 1-9-9-4. average year mileage is 12 000 miles.

 

Do you recommend full synthetic for my 05 Camry too? If yes what specs and what should be the interval between oil changes. Also any idea how much would a mechanic charge me for it coz I dont have my own garage? I was doing regular oil changes for 20 bucks every 3000 miles. How would synthetic affect my car?

 

Might use the same weight you now use assuming it is available.

If normal driving 3K on conventional is a short mileage period.

Call around for oil change prices, make sure the shop understands you want synthetic oil. The oil cost 2-3 times conventional oil.

If you changed the oil every 3K nothing should happen with the change except being able to extend oil change period.

Do some research on the advantages of synthetic oils.

 

ONLY. and Amsoil, as it's fantastic oil. no, I have no $$ involvement in that company. just great oil.
btw, new Toyotas take oil some. not bad, maybe half a qrt 4-5 000 miles.
you can take your oil to any oil place. but I do add Seafoam to oil, 5000 miles before oil change, and flush with flushing oil. my oil changes cost about $60 or so. still cheaper than g'ol 3000 mile changes.

 

if you plan on full synth oil, buy it in pails off internet. Amsoil here costs about $9 qrt, but $8 in 4 qrt jar. it's about $6 if bought in pail off internet. pos synth oil in parts store is about same price.

 

i still do mine a 3k lol