Besides individual viscosities, there are two types of oil worldwide: regular oil and synthetic oil. A third type is made by blending the two, but in most cases, care users will be dealing with either one or the other. What kind of oil does your Toyota use? What is best for your Toyota? We will answer all the questions often asked by car owners.
What kind of oil does your Toyota use?
For example, the 2020 Toyota Camry uses OW – 20 synthetic oil. This model has a kind of additive added to its OEM oil, which can be purchased at a Toyota dealership. However, any OW – 20 synthetic oil that is ILSAC – certified will be fine. Even if you cannot find OW – 20 synthetic oil, 5W – 30 mineral oil will work fine.
Related post: What Type Of Oil For A Toyota Camry?
Does Toyota Camry need synthetic oil?
At this time, all modern Toyota models are recommended to take synthetic oil. More and more are requiring it. To be sure, you have to consult the car manual. Simply speaking, synthetic oil is much better for the engine if you choose to use that.
What is the difference between synthetic oil and regular oil?
Regular oil comes from the ground, and synthetic oil is produced in a lab. Both are highly refined, and synthetic oil is usually more expensive. However, it does seem to get more reasonable each year.
Furthermore, synthetic oil is more refined than regular oil, decreasing the number of deposits in the engine. In other words, it is cleaner and has fewer impurities. Also, it does not break down as easily and, therefore, requires a longer service interval.
As for regular oil, it only has one advantage: It is less costly. However, because synthetic oil lasts longer than mineral oil, the savings are inconsiderable.
About synthetic oil
Since manufacturers make synthetic oil in a lab, they can make it with shorter carbon chains, helping the oil flow better, thus, creating a more efficient engine.
Other advantages of synthetic oil include much fewer impurities that can cause harm to the car’s engine over time. What is more, those shorter chains are more resilient. It means the oil does not break down over time and will last longer. Generally speaking, regular oil should be changed every six months or a year, whichever comes first.
On the other hand, it only requires looking at the odometer or trip meter with synthetic oil.
Synthetic oil is made up of uniform molecules that reduce the amount of friction in the engine. Because the purpose of engine oil is to function as a lubricant, this is a good thing. Less friction can result in less damage to the engine and the engine’s better performance.
Generally, synthetic oil is considered to be a better choice than conventional oil. It is engineered in a lab to remain stable at high temperatures and fluid at low temperatures. Hence, more and more people are choosing this oil over the conventional one.
How long can a Toyota go in between oil changes?
Toyota recommends servicing the vehicle every 5,000 miles for engine oil inspections and tire rotations checks. Nevertheless, you can drive your car a little longer between oil changes. It is possible to go up to 10,000 miles between oil changes if you use synthetic oil. However, it is recommended that users should not go much more than 7,500. Most Toyota owners choose to change the oil at the 5,000 – mile interval. It is still better than the 3,000-mile oil change intervals in case of using regular oil.
What happens if car owners do not change the engine oil?
All car manufacturers recommend getting an oil change after a certain distance traveled. Oil has various functions like cleaning, cooling, and protecting the engine. What would happen if users do not follow the recommended oil change interval or do not change the engine oil at all? Below is what could happen :
Wear of components
An engine comprises many moving parts, such as pistons and cylinders. The engine oil’s lubricating function helps protect these parts by reducing friction. After some time, the engine oil will deteriorate. It will not be functioning well enough to protect the components from friction. Gradually, the vehicle components will become susceptible to wear and damage.
Overheated engine
The coolant system alone is not enough to cool the whole engine. Engine oil also plays a vital part in this cooling process because it can reach places that the coolant does not reach. The engine oil breaks down and becomes thicker due to exposure to high temperatures. This thermal breakdown prevents it from absorbing heat, causing the engine to be overheated, gaskets to blow up, and parts to wear out.
Dirt buildup
Besides cooling and lubricating, engine oil also helps clean the inside parts of the engine. It removes small debris. Without engine oil, this dirt can build up, leading to plugging of the oil channels. This can considerably reduce the engine’s lifetime. The dirt buildup will also prevent the engine from functioning well, resulting in a loss of power. When you do not change oil for a long time, it will begin to accumulate and solidify in an engine, eventually turning into sludge. If this happens, the oil will not be able to circulate through all parts of the engine, causing oil starvation in the crankshafts, camshafts, bearings, and other components. This situation leads to severe damage to the engine, to the extent that it needs to be replaced.
Conclusion
You are having the engine oil changed plays an indispensable part in keeping your car in a safe and stable state and maximizing its lifespan. Choosing the right oil is also a vital task. If you don’t choose the correct oil, it can lead to premature wear and costly repairs. So you should thoroughly research before changing the engine oil.
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