4 full quarts of 0W-20 in a 2004: engine overrev expected?

I had an '04 since new, sold it about 6 weeks ago. For most of its life, it ran on Mobil 1 0W-20

No difference whatsoever in engine sound, certainly nothing like what you described. I switched from 0W-30 to 0W-20

 

I've been using 0W-30 for the last two oil changes. No difference in any way compared to 5W-30.

 

Wouldn't want to run 4 quarts, as 3.9 already showed to be overfull. Makes you wonder if it is sucking a drop or two of oil in to the airflow meter sensor now and then.

I only put in 3 quarts (Mobil1 5W-30) during my last oil change, mileage is way up over where it was in similar weather last Fall with 3.5 quarts. Of course the car was new enough then that the tires and such might not have been fully broken in. I'm not planning to do test runs with increasing oil levels to find out...

 

Yes, as we have discussed in other threads, 4 quarts is too much. My car takes 3.7 qts to get to the top mark - several people use 3.5 or even 3 quarts and still end up in the acceptable range.

 

My Prius, 3.3 litres put the level right at the full dot

The Prius isn't the only Toyota that will be overfilled with the owner manual/shop manual oil capacity. My FJ Cruiser, the book states that an oil/filter change requires 5.2 litres.

If you actually put that in, the level is about 4mm over the full dot. Five litres has the level about 1 mm over the full dot

 

I remember someone (Patric Wong?) observed oil consumption after switching to 0W20. Don't know how common it is or whether it is a problem.

 

I switched my '04 to 0W-30 synthetic at around 10,000 miles. At around 20,000 miles I switched to 0W-20 synthetic. Running the oil 10,000 miles, the level went down perhaps 3 mm on the stick

Patrick's engine may have more wear, in which case using a lighter oil will result in oil consumption. I don't think he bought it new

 

what was the recommended oil? 0W-30 or 20? I've been running 20 for so long i've forgotten until the last change and the dealer put in 0W-30. I think I can tell a difference, not in engine sound but a little performance or mileage maybe, or maybe its just me........

 

For US cars (NHW-20), Toyota recommends 5W-30. However, as Jayman can tell you, they recommend other viscosity ratings (including 5W-20) in Europe, Japan, et. al.

It really depends upon your local temps and conditions. I am sticking with 30 as the hot viscosity rating because of the high temps (>100°F) that we have in Sacramento in the Summer. I use 0W-30 because it is priced the same as 5W-30. It may have a slight advantage in FE at lower temps, but I haven't seen any noticeable difference.

 

Running either a 0W-30 or 0W-20, you probably wont have a noticeable FE gain until the temps dip below 0 F

 

My car didn't even see 32°F this winter. I have the Explorer to go to the snow with.

 

You won't notice any difference then, running a 0W-30. Won't hurt, but no gain either

 

Give them three full quart bottles. Then there will be no waste, no overfill, and no fooling around with partially empty bottles.

 

That works too