0w20 is what is recommended in US spec FJ's
I use 5w 30


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Not in the earlier FJs, 5w30 was the recommended oil. Later models had 0w20 as a recommended oil

 

toyota engineered the fj cruisers to run 0w20. This is the engine oil that will perform best in your vehicle, if you let your vehicle warm up in winter it works perfectly. Switching oil weights in modern fuel injected vehicles is not recommended as it can adversely affect the calibrations of computer controls and emissions systems. If you want to keep your engine clean, stick to factory specs on oil.

 

5W30 is what recommended in the instruction manual. I believe Toyota recommended 5W30 for earlier FJ Cruisers but then switched to 0W20 for 2010 and later models.

 

5W30 is what recommended in the instruction manual. I believe Toyota recommended 5W30 for earlier FJ Cruisers but then recommended 0W20 for 2010 and later models.

This is true. I have an 07 and it takes 5W30. Just run what Toyota recommends and you will be OK. 5W30 is fine in cold weather.

 

I've also heard that the 0w20, etc was recommended only in the US manual to help the FJ make the mileage numbers that were needed here, and that manuals for FJs sent to other countries listed different weights of oil. I'm pretty sure there have been a few threads on that specific topic.

 

And this is the reason I run 5w 30


Panzerman
2011 Army Green 6MT, stage 2 icon, warrior bumper VR10000s, AllPro sliders,

 

Toyota says 5w30 is fine to -29c so you should have no issues using it.

 

0w30 is the lowest viscosity that I go

 

Earlier FJ's have different engine designs especially in the valve train. The new engines use rollers instead of tappets. The water jacket is different allowing to use lighter oil.
5W30 should be good in most cases.

 

I'm sure this has been discussed before but the two numbers represent cold and hot viscocity.

The W stands for winter. 5W is a thinner viscocity in winter for easier start up. Then 30 is the viscocity when at operating temp. I dont think it matters much what the first number is 0W or 5W because you aren't cold for very long. The 30 weight is thick enough to protect bearings and rings. Going to 20 may put your 2007-2009 engine at risk since it was designed for thicker oil.

Oil weights explained

https://youtu.be/tYkg0oDUXs8

 

Here are a few facts...

Oil viscosities are chosen based on 3 primary factors: 1) bearing clearances and pump flow rate, 2) critical bearing loads, and 3) operating temperature internal to the engine.

Item 1 is an engine design factor. Item 2 has to do with mission profile (race car, towing, gramps daily driver, ...). Item 3 has to do with cooling capacity, cooling design, and ambient temperature.

To say an engine is designed for a certain oil is only part of the story.

 

You forgot the fourth category , at least here in the USA
4. Nanny state dictating fleet wide fuel mileage standards.

Ford recommended 5-20 for the 6.2 gas engine since it came out in the F-250, until 2016 when they revised to 5-30, same engine, obviously they were seeing problems as these trucks see severe duty and the 5-20 was not cutting it. The interesting part , is when I saw this and changed to 0-30 at 6000 miles I immediately saw a 1 mpg jump in fuel mileage in my weekly route where I tow 3000 lbs .....

The FJ now due for it's first oil change since we bought it is going to get the same treatment.