oil for 2ZR-FE (in USA and Australia)

[rollarun]

I have a 2011 Corolla, with 2ZR-FE engine. What oil is recommended for this engine, in Australia?

____The manual in United States says, for 2ZR-FE, “SAE 0W-20 is the best choice for good fuel economy and good starting in cold weather.” If necessary you can use 5W-20, but “it must be replaced with SAE 0W-20 at the next oil change.” And re: the 20, "An oil with a higher viscosity (one with a higher value) may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high speeds, or under extreme load conditions."

[trentmeyer23]

Do you not have the factory owners manual?

[rollarun]

I live near Los Angeles (thus, Location: Non-Au) and am trying to solve a mystery. When asking “what protects the engine better, a synthetic oil that is thinner or thicker (lighter or heavier, like 0W-20 versus 5W-30)?”, I've read many posts in several USA forums, and have seen two theories:

____One theory claims that Toyota recommends 0W-20 in USA to help its fleet do better for CAFE standards by USA government, re: the required gas mileage for all cars made by a corporation like Toyota. (CAFE = Corporate Average Fuel Economy) To support this theory, some claim that owner's manuals in other countries recommend a thicker oil, and that's why I'm asking about the manual in Australia.

____The other theory is that Toyota's newer engines, beginning in 2009 with 2ZR-FE (and 2AZ-FE), are designed differently than old engines -- with the new engines having closer tolerances, etc -- so that, for best protection, the flowing-SPEED of the oil (0W-20 better) is much more important than its thickness (5W-30 better) because the thinner oil can “get into places” and “cover everything” more quickly and completely.

Edited March 24, 2015 by rollarun

[Hiro]

The US also sees much more varied operating conditions than Australia - our hottest temperatures are on par with the best Arizona and New Mexico can dish out, but our coldest is a mild autumn day in any of the northern states like Wisconsin or Michigan.

[Kenshin X]

holy shiet, have u travelled there before ian? :P

yes we use slightly thicker as most of us dont really see sub zero temperatures often.

[Hiro]

holy shiet, have u travelled there before ian? :P

Not to the US no, but at least I've travelled interstate without trapping my car in a secure carpark...

[rollarun]

a Toyota owner’s manual in Australia for 2011 Toyota (with 2ZR-FE engine) has oil recommendations on page 429,
https://toyotamanuals.com.au/docs/corolla-owners-manual-apr-10-dec-11/#page=430

Oil Grade:
____0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30 and 10W-30:
API grade SL “Energy-Conserving”, SM “Energy-Conserving” or

ILSAC multigrade engine oil

____15W-40 and 20W-50:
API grade SL or SM multigrade engine oil

____Then it has a chart with temperature ranges for different oil-weights (0W-20, etc) and principles: use 0W or 5W for starting in cold temperatures, and use 30 (or higher) “if the vehicle is operated at high speeds, or under extreme load conditions.”

____As explained earlier, I’m “trying to solve a mystery” and this information (Toyota recommending “only 0W-20” in USA, but giving options in Australia)* supports the CAFE-Standards theory, but may not prove it because…
____In an American forum, one critic of a CAFE-theory (he supports the FlowingSpeed-theory) claimed that engines in other countries are made differently (with different tolerances, etc) than in USA. He said that Toyota does this so in USA their cars will get better gas mileage. Would it be economically practical for Toyota to do this? Do they develop and manufacture engine-variations, so an “American 2ZR-FE” and “Australian 2ZR-FE” are different, so they require different oils for best protection?
____* The CAFE-regulations in USA state that the oil recommended in owner’s manual must be the same as the oil used in mileage tests, so if Toyota wants higher CAFE mileage (by using 0W-20 in tests) they must recommend the same oil (0W-20) in their owner’s manual.

Edited March 26, 2015 by rollarun

[Kenshin X]

When i still had my sportivo, it was burning oil. i had enquired about the 2zzge engines built by MWR in america. they recommended whatever that was in the manual for us. i think the difference is purely based on the climate in each country. It wouldn't be financially viable for toyota to do this because of cost. but in any case. there isn't much difference if you using either oil. the gas u would save would be fk all seriously...

holy shiet, have u travelled there before ian? :P

Not to the US no, but at least I've travelled interstate without trapping my car in a secure carpark...

m8pls. fark awfffff haha

[Marek0086]

I would very much doubt the internal clearances are different between countries. Its all to do with fuel economy if you ask me. But at the cost of engine service life. What oil to use all depends on engine, climate and how its gonna be operated. For example; if the engine is going to be mainly started (cold started) when temperature is at or below freezing... and then operated (easy... with no heavy hauling or spirited driving) at or below freezing... well then a quality synthetic 0W20 is the way to go.

If the scenario is the same as above... except operation once hot will be more severe (like hauling loads or putting your foot down)... well then you would want a quality syn 0W30.

If the engine is going to be mainly started (cold started) when outside temp is a good few degrees ABOVE freezing... well then you go with a 5W20 for light driving... or 5W30 for harder operation. These are all full-synthetic oil viscosities... i don't bother with mineral/petroleum crap.