Fuel economy note with oil filter change.

I'm voting for the temperature change ......

 

wow, that was pretty awful for a 19 eco. how many miles on her? lead foot? 85mph average?

 

First, why are you NOT using 0W-16 oil? And warmer ambient Temps IMPROVE the MPG, if you do NOT use the A/C....

 

Yeah, you would have to be driving very fast to get such poor fuel economy or something is wrong with the car. On a recent 460 mile road trip, mostly highway speeds (65-70) I averaged 55 mpg. Granted it was cool and I had the AC blower speed on the lowest speed. What kind of tires you got on her?

 

FWIW: I‘ve been doing some research on oil filter brand differences and there is some evidence that different brands restrict oil flow more than others, Toyota’s being one of the least restrictive.
I’ve also researched the differences between the w20 and w16 oils and flow rates at higher temperatures. For my 2022, I’ve decided that even temps we’ve experienced in the AZ desert I’d stick with Toyota’s recommendation.
JMHO

 

I think the shift to 0W16 was mainly to eke out an additional 1/10th or two mpg. Maybe necessary after their low friction piston ring gambit backfired. And all of this in honour of THEIR bottom line.

The shift from 5w30 to 0w20, with the advent of 3rd gen, was similarly motivated methinks.

 

Back in 2008 I bought a new Ford F250 that had 5w-20 recommended for it even when doing heavy duty towing. I was pretty surprised to see that and concerned with it. When I asked the service manager at a dealership that had more than earned my trust he said to stick with it unless I wanted to end up with an oil burner! According to him, the tolerances were so tight going to a heavier oil wouldn’t gain anything except headaches. I followed his advice and I never had to add a drop of oil between the 5000 mile changes (due to pretty much constant heavy towing that was right at the max for the truck). Friends who felt the need for heavier weights ended up burning oil. FWIW

 

Yeah for our 3rd gen the oil spec is 0W20. 4th gen is a very similar engine.Checking the Toyota USA Owner's Manual for 2016 (pdf format, downloaded from Toyota Tech Info website), I see the spec continued to be 0W20:



Then somewhere along, maybe at the 2019 refresh, they revised to 0W16. Maybe because it had just become available?

Anyway, that switch to 0W16, from 0W20, with AFAIK identical engines, both 4th gen, has me thinking it's mostly policy, and quest for mpg "brownie points", that's behind the change.

 

One thing of note is a significant change in the 2022 manual
■ Engine oil selection
“Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” is used in your Toyota vehicle. Use Toyota approved “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent to satisfy the following grade and viscosity.
Oil grade:
ILSAC GF-6B multigrade engine oil
Recommended viscosity: SAE 0W-16
SAE 0W-16 is the best choice for good fuel economy and good starting in cold weather.
If SAE 0W-16 is not available, SAE 0W-20 oil may be used. However, it must be replaced with SAE 0W-16 at the next oil change.


That “GF-6B”. And the “must be changed” is a gotcha when it comes to warranty issues. While I can agree it might be “policy” I would think that “policy” could very well be based on science or at least engineering advancements, perhaps in the oil.
I haven’t found a 0w-20 in my area that meets that GF-6 requirement.

 

I don’t know about your 2019 Manbo Dave, but the manual for the 2022 specifically states
“Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” is used in your Toyota vehicle. Use Toyota approved “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent to satisfy the following grade and viscosity.
Oil grade:
ILSAC GF-6B multigrade engine oil”

And I have repeatedly checked (in fact, just now) for oils that meet ILSAC GF-6B and the ONLY oil that meets it is 0-w16. According to enginebuildermag.com (which I know nothing about) Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil: SAE 0W-16 meets it. Ironically, Mobile One never does claim theirs meets it.
I have yet to find a 0-w20 that meets it, the ones I found that come close only meet 6A at best.
I wonder if there was a supplier change on engine parts that might have resulted in the change? Regardless, with that statement in the manual, 2022 owners would need to be careful choosing another grade.

 

Maybe, but I doubt it. The later vs earlier 4th gen owners manuals really looks like someone just ran a search/and/replace function (2016 Owner's Manual, then 2022):




Yeah I see the grade difference too, but I'd wager there's nothing significant different in the engines.

 

That begs the question “has Toyota approved 0-w16 for earlier Gen4s?” The oil sites I’ve checked say the 6B is not backward compatible to earlier engines. So if Toyota hasn’t approved it……?

 

I have to correct myself on my earlier comment about Mobile One. I finally found a claim on their site that their 0-w16 DOES meet the 6B specs.