I'm getting mixed responses from the web and techs at the dealer. Some say they don't know, no way to know, and some say full synthetic 0W-20 is used at the factory since '11 models.

I'm due for a oil change (changing oil myself) and was curious what was used at the factory so I can match it.

If for some reason 5W-20 was used at the factory there wouldn't be any harm in switching to 0W-20 full synthetic (Mobil or AMSoil) right?

 

Rest assured that they did NOT use a synthetic as a break-in oil, nor should you turn to synthetic until the motor is broken in. 5-20 is the factory oil and either 5-20 or 0-20 synthetic is good thereafter. The oil brand is up to you. Toyota oil is manufactured by Exxon/Mobil.

 

This^^^

 

What is considered broken in? I'm at 5036 miles right now and it's my box's first oil change. Planning to go AMSoil 0W-20 here on out because I drive a lot for work and I prefer a oil that I can change every 10,000 miles (AMSoil states 15,000 miles if used in combination with their filter but I'm going with 10K miles to be safe).

 

In my last 3 new vehicles, using oil analysis showed wear metals to slack off around 10k miles. I usually do 3k miles changes to 12k, then go synthetic the rest of the way.

 

Yep. I changed mine at 2,200 miles. (FIRST CHANGE) I'll go full synthetic at the next change. I will only change at 3,000 miles. My mind can't let me wait for 5,000. I'd go crazy if I ever thought about changing oil every 10,000 miles. The oil would have so many contaminants in it by then.....I know that some people do this. There are also people that never change oil, just top it up every now and again. I'm a retired mechanic, and if you're asking, I'm saying don't go a mile more than mother Toyota says to. 5,000 miles. Use a good oil of the correct weight and a Toyota filter. It's less than $25. Pretty cheap. It's my opinion that 10,000 miles with ANY oil may not be "safe"'. Including synthetics. The oil will not fail, but there are more things going on inside that engine. Contaminants need to be removed.

 

You should follow 5k changes as long as the engine is under warranty, or whatever toyota recommends. After that longer terms are more than acceptable.

Mobil1 with a mobil 1 ext life filter does fine over that in my xB.

 

Actually you can ship a sample of your oil to a testing facility in your area (Blackstone Labs) and they can tell you how many miles you have left before your next oil change.

3000 mile oil change is more of a old tradition than science, especially on newer vehicles. Porsche has a oil change interval of 20,000 miles, BMW revised their oil change intervals from 15,000 to 10,000 and Toyota has been shifting it's fleet to 10,000 mile oil changes using synthetics. Don't take my word for it, call Toyota/BMW/Porsche corporate and ask for yourself.

 

As a mechanic, It hurts my brain. But then again, I still remember the old cardboard oil "cans".

 

I wont do extended oil drains with say a cheap fram, I do not trust the cardboard endcaps, etc...

But many of these higher quality filters are designed for such. Its all about the components you use.

 

AMSoil specifically states you have to use their oil and filters for extended oil changes, if used with some other filter they recommend going by the manufacturer's suggested change period.