oil

[_davin]

What oil is best? I used synthetic 5w30 this summer, I think I just used normal 1040 before that. Would any synthetic 10w40 be best for cold weather or something in particular?

[Pilot]

Rotella 5W40 synthetic in the blue 1-gallon container (white container is non-synthetic). It meets both the API specification required for MR2's and the specification for use in diesel engines (phosphorus and zinc) for added lubrication protection and cleaning. The best part is, it is one of the lowest cost synthetics available. Best price is often at Walmart at about 19.00 per gallon. Or, if you have a need to spend more money...can't go wrong with Mobil 1. If you want bragging rights on how much money you can throw around, you can always buy Amsoil. ;-)

When it comes to filters, look for Purolator (about 6.00), AC Delco (about 6.00) or Mobil 1 (about 10.00) because of their superior filter media; avoid the temptation of the cheap-price filters like Fram with its hidden paper components.

[Ben]

If you are in cold climates, you want 5W30 or thinner (5W20 or 0W20 if you are not leaking/burning oil)

[_davin]

Oh, I guess I need to do my research. I thought I had heard the opposite about using a heavier weight in the winter. Also what about normal NAPA/carquest/K&N etc. oil filter, I didn't know there was a difference.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Ben

If you are in cold climates, you want 5W30 or thinner (5W20 or 0W20 if you are not leaking/burning oil)

There are several websites that will lookup a particular make/model car and advise what oil weight should be utilized. This is from the Amsoil site for a particular MR2 (1989):

100% Synthetic 5W-40 Motor Oil (AFLQT)
XL 10W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil (XLOQT)
Above 10F......15W-40, 20W-40, 20W-50
Above -9F......10W-30, 10W-40, 10W-50

This is also consistent with the 1989 MR2 handbook. I am not sure what, if any, variance is shown in the OEM handbooks for other years.

The 5W40 synthetic Rotella is ideal for MR2 winter operations.

[nocashrider]

Originally Posted by _davin

Oh, I guess I need to do my research. I thought I had heard the opposite about using a heavier weight in the winter. Also what about normal NAPA/carquest/K&N etc. oil filter, I didn't know there was a difference.

i know for a fact that the carquest filters are a rebrand of the WIX filters because those are the ones i buy and it saves me like 4 bucks and they are a really nice filter

[Jason.MZW20]

Originally Posted by Ben

If you are in cold climates, you want 5W30 or thinner (5W20 or 0W20 if you are not leaking/burning oil)

Toyota never approved the use of an xW-20 weight oil for the 5SFE. This is because the greater piston ring tension will effectively shear the oil on the cylinder walls at an increased rate of the retroactively approved engines (like the 3VZFE and such). This causes the oil to wear faster, and subsequently thin faster as well, potentially leading to engine failure over time. Toyota did long term testing on every engine in service (within 10 years) at the time, and that included the 5SFE. Their engineers weren't happy with using a 5W-20 in the 5SFE, likely because of the oil film requirements of the engine, and that's good enough for me.

Newer engines can use thin oils because of their reduced piston ring tensions as they don't squeeze and shear the molecules of the oil as greatly (less friction), as well as their friction (and therefore, heat) reducing moly coated piston skirts.

[_davin]

So I'm a bit confused I thought the 5SFE was supposed to take about 5 quarts, but I just put in about 3.5 and the dipstick says it's full...

[Ben]

Depending on how much oil you drained, the 5SFE takes about 3.5 to 4 quarts. No matter what anyone tells you, the dipstick is always right.