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0w-20 vs 0w30

25855 Views 70 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  ColoradoTJ
This is not a motor oil question or review, just an experience. I took my truck to the dealer last saturday for them to change my oil (first mistake). I bought 2 gallons of amsoil ss 0w-30, knowing our truck takes 7.9quarts. 1 gallon equals 4 quarts, so 8 quarts of oil and an amsoil filter. The dealer calls me back and states that I have the wrong kind of oil, the truck takes 0w-20. I tell them that I know, and that I want to use 0w-30 because I tow. The dealer then tells me that the 0w-30 may cause a check engine light!!! I told her she was full of it and go ahead and change it.
Two hours later, they call me back and the truck is ready, but it is a quart low on oil! I hit the roof! After much deliberation about their intelligence, I speak with the tech, and he claims that the amsoil fiter is larger than the toyota filter.? When I check the oil, of course it is not a quart low, just a hair below the full line.

Anyway, I wanted to let anyone know who is on the fence about using 0w-20 or 0w-30 There is no check engine light that warns you have the wrong oil, and that the truck is VASTLY quieter and smoother with 0-30. I never liked all the clank clank and diesel sounds my truck made with the 20 weight oil. It is like a whole different beast (ie, no clanking) now that I switched to 30 weight. I will never put that 20 in the truck again! I don't care what the book says about 20 weight, I want my truck to last, and 30 is the way to go for me!! No noticeable drop in MPG either.:machinegunner:
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My free service has ended at Toyota dealership so I am just beginning to read up on oil.

Could someone explain to me or post up a link to the claim that 30 is better for the longevity of the engine and 20 is better for the mpg? You would think that less viscosity the oil has better mpg and less wear the engine will experience. Are you saying that 20 is too thin for hot weather or heavy-towing/hauling application?
Your experience with 0w30 is good item of info. But I am trying to understand why what you said was true (that 0w30 is better for longevity). I certainly want to use what is better for longevity.

According to data I read elsewhere and provided by TundraRockWarrior, the viscosity is higher for 0w30 than 0w20. But wasn't the 'better oil' designed so that the oil flows quicker so it protect the engine when starting cold? If this is also the case when temp is higher, I don't understand why 30 is better for longevity of the engine.
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