Why is Puerto Rico able to use 15W-40?

It's reasonable to assume that 0W-20 is the primary recommendation to achieve slightly better fuel economy. I will say, however, that the owner's manual for my 2020 has removed any reference to oil unique to Puerto Rico (even though PR is still mentioned in regards to other things). Also, it's not unreasonable to think that engine tolerances have been adjusted and tightened as continuous improvement has been implemented in manufacturing over the years. Or have been implemented as specified engineering adjustments. So the engine of 2020 may not be identical to the engine of 2010.

 

Well ok I'll respectfully disagree on this one... I guess the moral of the story is everyone needs to run what their comfortable with. And yeah I totally agree with running "thicker" in Florida, Arizona, etc... However I don't live there so I don't do it.

 

Electro and Single:
I'll take one more stab at this. You're conflating two different ideas. Everyone understands that the 0-20 recommendation is for CAFE. What I'm addressing is that there's this belief you can simply dump much thinner oil in an engine that was originally designed for a thicker oil and call it a day without addressing bearing clearances, oil pressure vs. rpm, etc. What you can do is revise bearing specs for 0-20 and then allow high temp locations to use a thicker oil because you don't run into cold flow problems. Hence, the "Puerto Rico" notation.

 

I'm on board with your post except for this part. I believe the only reason that information is specific to Puerto Rico is because they don't have the fuel economy regulations we do, not because it's hot there. If it was really about ambient air temperature, it should apply to everywhere the vehicle is sold.

I don't disagree that the 1GR has changed mechanically, as it went from single VVT-I to dual VVT-I at some point.

 

I run a 20w50 winter and 0w16 summer and everything works fine.

 

Right, but that's for Puerto Rico. It gets hot in the US, too.

Edit: my only point is that the different recommendation for Puerto Rico is due to political BS, not climate related. Otherwise we would all use the same chart.

 

I’m sure if you ran this by the “tribology” experts on BITOG they’d heartily agree.

 

I've seen this before across different car communities, why does it matter what other countries or areas run?

 

Haha I hope everyone knows I’m kidding

 

It doesn't. It's more a question of why it's different. I think we're all agreed that it's due to CAFE fuel economy regulations. Then one might wonder if the 0W-20 will protect the engine as well as 5W-30 over the course of a few hundred thousand miles.

It's just something to discuss and debate. These thing have so few mechanical issues that we need to find other things to talk about.

 

Yeah, people have been debating for years if thinner 20 weight oil will cause harm to engines that were designed when 30 weight was more or less the standard. Since the real experts at oil companies and auto manufacturers are silent on the issue, this and other forums keep guessing and going in circles.

One common thread I’ve seen is that the real automotive engineers or engine builders will tear down an engine and take measurements to get true wear damage results. Used oil analysis is useless to them.

 

So that settles it. I'm tearing the engine down and inspecting/measuring the bearings at each oil change.

 

I’m going to San Juan.

 

I went to TJ a couple times.

 

Happened across this. Posted for anyone that may be interested................or not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKdhgKUZhPA
.

 

According to the video by going from the 5W-30 to the 0W-20 you will get an increase in fuel efficiency of 0.5% at best.

Let’s see. 20 MPG x 0.005 = 0.1 MPG.
wow

 

I talked to my Toyota Service Manager about using 5W30 in a new 4Runner. He stated that ToyotaCare/ToyotaGuard would only reimburse them for 0W20, but of course I was free use Mobil 1 5W30 if I brought it in (works out to about $32/oil change if you buy it in 5 Gallon Jugs at Wallys).

I live at about the same latitude as Cape Town, South Africa (N / S), so I plan on following Toyota's recommended oil viscosity for South Africa, which is not CAFE regulated.



From Toyota 2020 FJ Cruiser South Africa Owners Manual

"President Obama on May 21, 2010, NHTSA and EPA have issued joint Final Rules for Corporate Average Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas emissions regulations for passenger cars and light trucks built in model years 2017 and beyond, and have also developed fuel efficiency and GHG emissions regulations for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles built in model years 2014 through 2018. 54.5 mpg is the target automakers are supposed to meet by 2025."

 

Bottom line the video states "always, always, always use your recommended oil viscosity" Again most way over think oil...

 

Go to wally world and buy their super tech synthetic. Just as good as any other synthetic

 

I go for the Costco full synthetic 5w30 2-5qt jugs for $22.

 

Nice I always forget about Costco. I need to get some next time I go.

 

Agreed! The 4Runner seems to like the SuperTech just as much as any other oil.

 

I don't think the 4runners know what brand is on the bottle.

 

Generally that’s good advice.
But it’s like telling people on this forum to never, ever install anything but stock sized tires, modify your suspension, or mess with adding anything to your electrical system.

 

It may be that any difference in oil recommendations for Puerto Rico versus the mainland may be due to the likelihood that people in PR are not likely to drive to the mainland, so their vehicles will remain in PR heat. People living in similarly hot areas of the mainland are quite likely to drive to colder areas of the US. and may therefore benefit from different oil recommendations.

 

http://ultimatesyntheticoil.com/ford-5w20

That's a Great Article and it makes a lot of sense!

Question: My owners manual species 5W-20 oil. Do I really need to use 5W-20 oil and why did my 2000 model year vehicle require a 5W-30 oil, while the exact same engine in my 2001, 2002 and newer engines “requires” a 5W-20 oil?

Answer: You do NOT need to use a 5W-20 oil. In fact, we recommend that you DO NOT. We know that even OEM Lubrication Engineers do not agree with Ford and Honda’s calling for a 5W-20 oil, because the engines are designed for 30-weight oil, and engineers believe that a 20-weight oil will decrease engine life.

I used to sell Amsoil back in 1982 (used it in my 1982 RX-7), back when people said using synthetic oil would destroy your engine.

My dealer said they can only provide free oil changes of the oil viscosity listed on the oil filler cap. Mine now says SAE 5W30 (12180-0H012). See if anyone notices.

 

Doesn't really matter....dead horse