Oil recomendations newbie

Then use that.
BUT.....if it is not near the "add" mark yet, just leave it alone and keep an eye on it.
It does NOT need to be "full" all the time.

 

It's 5W30.

If it's missing manuals, you download. Google "Toyota Techinfo", pretty much first link, and go to Manuals" tab.

Oil spec is probably also on the filler cap.

Personally, I would not let the oil get below halfway before topping up, but then I do the same with the gas, lol.

 

AFAIK there's no problem mixing oil weights.

 

You do know that the engine should have been OFF for a few minutes before you check the oil........right ??

No, mixing in a few ounces of a slightly different oil will NOT cause any problems.

 

There's no such weight as 0-30. If the car is new to you go get the oil changed.

As far as routinely checking oil level Let the car sit overnight and before starting the car measure the oil. Takes a Long time to let all the oil drip down to the pan.
If you shut off the engine and immed measure it will always show low.

The engine holds 3.5 quarts with a new oil filter change. The engine could care less if you mix all 3.5 oil weights. What the engine does care about very much is driving around with the oil level very very low and below the last notch is very low,

 

Edthefox5 it's important you Verify, before you give out information. There is 0W-30 weight oil, I use it. Mobil 1 makes it, and I am sure others do as well. You can get a accurate oil reading within 5 minutes of shutting down the car. Some manufactures recommend you don't measure the oil cold. But I do measure it cold and hot, and see no difference. So not sure the thinking behind that.

 

One thing when checking oil, pull out and wipe the dipstick, then wait, say 5 minutes. Maybe check the tire pressures? Then reinsert and check the dipstick, it'll be a lot cleaner and easier to read: the dipstick is prone to draw oil up the tube, making it hard to read. The delay gives the oil time to drain back down.

 

You aren't absorbing what is being said.

There is no "best" oil for topping up when it's a little low.........UNLESS you know what was put in there on the last change.

There is NO 5W30 that is not synthetic......so yes, any 5W30 would be fine, even synthetic blend.

 

Not that it matters, but I'm pretty sure there are non-synthetic 5W30. I have been buying non-synth 5W20.

But either way, I think it doesn't matter, there's no harm in adding non-synth if it's synth in there.

 

And I'm pretty sure that there isn't. But I guess you are too far north for a "Mexican standoff".

5W20 is just really thin oil. Synthetic expands the viscosity range.

 

There are plenty of conventional oils in 5W-30, Toyota even has one.

 

Here's the oil I have been putting into our 1998 Toyota 4Runner with 263 k miles on the clock:



Hope that helps.

 

What country are you in, Sam? In the United States just about every major oil manufacturer has a conventional 5W-30 motor oil. Just looking at WalMart: Supertech, Mobil, Castrol, Valvoline, Penzoil, Quaker State, and Havoline all have conventional 5W-30 motor oils. Or are you trying to say that even conventional motor oils these days have synthetic bases?

 

I was obviously operating with OLD information.
Sorry.