Correct Engine Oil 2015 LX570

[Frosties]

GCC spec 2015 LX570 with 140,000km.

Here in Dubai, almost all of the garages recommend using Lexus Oil 5w40. In my last oil change, I opted for Shell but they still insisted on using 5w40. I'm not sure if I'm reading it correctly, but in my owner's manual, it seems to suggest using 5w30 for most conditions but also provides other optional grades like 0w20 15w40 and 20w50.

Is 5w40 year-round safe for my engine? Every mechanic here seems to suggests using 5w40 for better protection.

For context, during most of the year, the temperatures are 35-50 degrees C. During the winter, it's usually around 15-30 degrees C.

 

[Dunbar]

Yes, you are probably fine with 5w-40 year round. It's a contentious issue here in the US where government red tape compelled Toyota to print 0w-20 in the manual. Many people here insist that the automotive engineers approve that low weight because it's in print. They ignore what Toyota prints in the manual for the exact same engine in all other counties. My truck has free oil changes available from the dealer for quite a few miles but at my first oil change since buying the truck i did it myself with 5w-30 synthetic and felt creepy putting in such light oil. In Texas it's not as hot as where you are but I have run 15w-40 year round in my other vehicles, even on winter trips to the frozen north. I am much more willing to believe what is printed in your owners manual than the one tailored to meet government specifications here in our country.

Edited to repair damage by Samsung spell checker.

 

[bloc]

I agree 5w-40 is appropriate. This viscosity has been developed heavily due to it’s very common requirement in engines all over the world.

As for whether to use Lexus or shell product.. as long as it meets the published specifications any oil will work great.

 

[Frosties]

Yes, you are probably fine with 5w-40 year round. It's a contentious issue here in the US where government red tape compelled Toyota to print 0w-20 in the manual. Many people here insist that the automotive engineers approve that low weight because it's in print. They ignore what Toyota prints in the manual for the exact same engine in all other counties. My truck has free oil changes available from the dealer for quite a few miles but at my first oil change since buying the truck i did it myself with 5w-30 synthetic and felt creepy putting in such light oil. In Texas it's not as hot as where you are but I have run 15w-40 year round in my other vehicles, even on winter trips to the frozen north. I am much more willing to believe what is printed in your owners manual than the one tailored to meet government specifications here in our country.

Edited to repair damage by Samsung spell checker.

That's reassuring. I did in fact notice that the engine feels a lot smoother and quieter at operating temps, although I'm not sure if that's just a placebo.

Coincidentally, Scotty Kilmer just put out a YouTube Short about this very topic, and he insists using heavier oils is bad. But in this case, my owner's manual doesn't seem to recommend one particular grade that I'm supposed to be using, so I'll just keep using 5w40 and hope I make it to a million kilometers.

 

[Frosties]

I agree 5w-40 is appropriate. This viscosity has been developed heavily due to it’s very common requirement in engines all over the world.

As for whether to use Lexus or shell product.. as long as it meets the published specifications any oil will work great.

I was a bit skeptical as I don't think Lexus themselves make any oils, but it's almost unanimously recommended by mechanics here to use Lexus oil here for Toyota and Lexus trucks. And considering how abundant Land Cruisers and LXs are in this region, I may give it a go on my next service.

I did pay a premium for Shell Helix HX8 5w40, but so far good. And I don't care about spending a few bucks more on better quality oil if it's going to increase the life of my engine.

 

[bloc]

I was a bit skeptical as I don't think Lexus themselves make any oils, but it's almost unanimously recommended by mechanics here to use Lexus oil here for Toyota and Lexus trucks. And considering how abundant Land Cruisers and LXs are in this region, I may give it a go on my next service.

I did pay a premium for Shell Helix HX8 5w40, but so far good. And I don't care about spending a few bucks more on better quality oil if it's going to increase the life of my engine.

Lexus definitely relabels someone else's oil. In the US toyota oil is provided by Mobil.

 

[runnerxa]

Yep I think you will be fine with 5W-40 in the hot environment you are in. I spent a year in Qatar and boy was it hot (all day and all year).

That said, I have been using 5W-30 on my 2013 LX570 without issues even though the US manual says 0W-20. Reason is because the LC200 manual that I saw in Qatar calls for 5W-30. So I summarize that Toyota US is just following EPA to irk out a .01 mpg using 0W-20.

 

[ElJayBird]

I’ve also been running 0w-20 forever in my 2014 LC in the US for no reason other than, ‘that’s what it says in the manual’. But it bugs the crap out of me every time I think about it because it goes again every little piece of conventional wisdom that I have. 5w-30 seems much more reasonable. But I always come back to: ‘WTF do I know?’ And just go with what the Mr. T service guy tells me.

 

[Frosties]

Yep I think you will be fine with 5W-40 in the hot environment you are in. I spent a year in Qatar and boy was it hot (all day and all year).

That said, I have been using 5W-30 on my 2013 LX570 without issues even though the US manual says 0W-20. Reason is because the LC200 manual that I saw in Qatar calls for 5W-30. So I summarize that Toyota US is just following EPA to irk out a .01 mpg using 0W-20.

Did it mention to use 5w30 only, or did it recommend something along the lines of "5w30 for most conditions" and then suggested other grades like 15w40 and 20w50 if desired? I think I even saw someone using 20w50 oil in their LX570, But I don't think I'd ever go above 40.

It seems 5w40 is indeed the sweet spot year-round for my region. I've gotta say I just checked my dipstick after around 1500kms since the service, and the oil level is still at the same mark (although I've never had an oil burning problem so far) and it looks and smells brand new. I'll check again in a few thousand kilometers and see if the story is the same, but so far I'm all for this engine oil.

 

[Frosties]

I’ve also been running 0w-20 forever in my 2014 LC in the US for no reason other than, ‘that’s what it says in the manual’. But it bugs the crap out of me every time I think about it because it goes again every little piece of conventional wisdom that I have. 5w-30 seems much more reasonable. But I always come back to: ‘WTF do I know?’ And just go with what the Mr. T service guy tells me.

I wouldn't worry about it since there are plenty of Toyota 5.7L V8s that have only ran on 0w20 and easily made it over 300,000 miles

 

[ElJayBird]

I wouldn't worry about it since there are plenty of Toyota 5.7L V8s that have only ran on 0w20 and easily made it over 300,000 miles

Yeah, guess my old school brain is still hung up on 5w-30 being the one size fits all solution. Engines have improved quite a bit over the years and so have oils.

I won’t lose sleep over it - consensus seems to be the 0w-20 is just fine.

 

[anian12]

I bought a 2008 LX570 with 100k got my 1st oil change wit0h mobile1 full synthetic 0w20 and engine got rod knock after just driving 600 miles

 

[bloc]

I bought a 2008 LX570 with 100k got my 1st oil change wit0h mobile1 full synthetic 0w20 and engine got rod knock after just driving 600 miles

And yet tens of thousands of similar engines have gone many millions of miles without that issue. Seems safe to say yours is unrelated to the oil itself or an outlier.

 

[runnerxa]

Did it mention to use 5w30 only, or did it recommend something along the lines of "5w30 for most conditions" and then suggested other grades like 15w40 and 20w50 if desired? I think I even saw someone using 20w50 oil in their LX570, But I don't think I'd ever go above 40.

It seems 5w40 is indeed the sweet spot year-round for my region. I've gotta say I just checked my dipstick after around 1500kms since the service, and the oil level is still at the same mark (although I've never had an oil burning problem so far) and it looks and smells brand new. I'll check again in a few thousand kilometers and see if the story is the same, but so far I'm all for this engine oil.

The second one, 5W-30 for normal conditions (in this case middle east) and other grades depending on your operating environment. I don't remember seeing 0W-20 mentioned anywhere in the ROTW manual. Maybe someone have a copy they can look at.

 

[runnerxa]

Yeah, guess my old school brain is still hung up on 5w-30 being the one size fits all solution. Engines have improved quite a bit over the years and so have oils.

I won’t lose sleep over it - consensus seems to be the 0w-20 is just fine.

Agree.

I bought a 2008 LX570 with 100k got my 1st oil change wit0h mobile1 full synthetic 0w20 and engine got rod knock after just driving 600 miles

Since you just brought it, it may be a pre existing issue hidden by the seller. I don't think the oil change have anything to do with the knock. Did you have the vehicle inspected by a trusted mechanic or yourself if you are knowledgeable? You might want to get an OBD scanner and see if you have any stored/permanent codes.

 

[Lester did that]

Just another thought among many thoughts about engine oil. The first number is the viscosity when the engine is cold. The second number is when the engine reaches operating temperatures. Living in a colder climate I use 0W-30 even in the warmer months. The oil pumps up quick and lubricates when bone cold but once it reaches normal temps, not that long at all, its 30. For me it's the best of both worlds. Low viscosity at start up but motor friendly 99.9% of driving time. I also let it it run at least 2 min in the summer and until the heat kicks on in the winter before pulling out. I have a block heater so it's about 4 minutes @ -10 F.

 

[AnyMal]

Im cycling between 0W-30 and 5W-30 seasonally.
0W-20 is too noisy for me and doesn't seem to build any pressure when it really should be.

I would run 5W-20 in the winter but we all know what happened last year. Or was it this year? Geez.
Some of you wouldn't even consider 40-50 F winter but its a magical world after all.

 

[Bunga]

0-20 OEM winter, 5-30 Redline summer. -20 to +110F coverage.

 

[AnyMal]

It’ll be 90F again here next week once the cloud cover is gone.

 

[Frosties]

The second one, 5W-30 for normal conditions (in this case middle east) and other grades depending on your operating environment. I don't remember seeing 0W-20 mentioned anywhere in the ROTW manual. Maybe someone have a copy they can look at.

I took some pictures of what my manual says. It seems to provide a range of options rather than just recommending 5W-30 (Except for extremely low temperatures).

To reiterate, my temperature ranges are definitely on the right half of that graph. It doesn't seem to mention 5W-40 but does mention 15W-40. I just want to pick the right oil to maximize the life of my engine. If 5W-40 causes more wear than 5W-30, I'd obviously go with the latter.