I'm going to need to start flooring it more. I take a lot of short trips some weeks, where I drive less than 10 minutes to and from destinations.
Fuel Dilution
- Thread starter Blue Bear
- Start date
Since lunar decided to bring this thread back I wonder if moving to 5W-30 oil might help with the fuel dilution issue…
Yeah, I've been checking my oil before long road trips and getting a fuel smell both times. Thought I would check here, sounds common with hybrids.
Yea, I think it has something to do with the low viscosity oil being used and not being to create a good seal with the piston rings. I’m curious to try using 5W-30 at my next oil change to see if the gas smell goes away but it’ll likely come at the cost of some small mpg loss. Realistically though, I should be doing oil analysis but I’m too lazy and cheap to try lol…
That is a good way to have engine warranty voided if something related or unrelated happens to the engine.Yea, I think it has something to do with the low viscosity oil being used and not being to create a good seal with the piston rings. I’m curious to try using 5W-30 at my next oil change to see if the gas smell goes away but it’ll likely come at the cost of some small mpg loss. Realistically though, I should be doing oil analysis but I’m too lazy and cheap to try lol…
Because the dealership is going to know about the viscosity of the oil I’ve been using? Btw, other Toyota vehicles that use the t24a-fts engine do allow for 5w-30.
THE ONLY REASON that I would use 5W-30 is IF the 0W-20 gets so dilute that it cannot adequately protect Miss Daisy’s T24A-FTS engine. I have asked Lake Speed Jr. if I should go up in engine oil weight since the 0W-20 is getting diluted. I haven’t heard back yet from my last oil sample submission. 
Give us the deets when he gets back to ya!THE ONLY REASON that I would use 5W-30 is IF the 0W-20 gets so dilute that it cannot adequately protect Miss Daisy’s T24A-FTS engine. I have asked Lake Speed Jr. if I should go up in engine oil weight since the 0W-20 is getting diluted. I haven’t heard back yet from my last oil sample submission.
Yes because there are extremely simple tests for viscosity. Plus, ECU will be able to tell a sudden increase in internal friction, which is almost certainly is recorded.
It doesn’t matter if it is used in other t24a-fts, this particular engine is tuned to run with 0w-20z
here’s what AI told me…
No, a car's ECU cannot definitively tell if a higher viscosity oil was used solely through increased friction parameters. While a higher viscosity oil might cause friction to increase, it's not a unique indicator and other factors can contribute to such changes. The ECU primarily monitors engine performance parameters like temperature, pressure, and sensor readings, not the specific viscosity of the oil.
agree to disagree in this case. Anywho, I haven’t changed viscosity yet and there have been other major car companies that have been experiencing engine failures due to low viscosity oils. Their solution was to increase the oil weight. Btw, LSJ also has stated that increasing oil viscosity will not harm your engine.The chance a dealer would run an oil analysis for viscosity is just about zero. Unless you went to the service desk and said, "hey, I've been running unnapproved oil, but does it affect my warranty"? If never heard of a case where a dealer denied a warranty claim by proving the wrong viscosity oil was in the sump.
The viscosity thing is a big debate, but I can gurantee you it has plenty to do with corporate average fuel economy. Most of this drivetrain has to do with that, and emmissions, or it would have a nice v6 or v8 in it that ran 10W-40.
It's my belief that these engines can, and maybe should, run on slightly higher viscosity oils. I would not venture past 5W-20 at this point until I understand it more, as it's listed in the manual with it's weird-ass language stating it must be replaced with 0W-20 next time. There's also the debate whether the turbo is better served by a lighter oil vs. a heavier. Hell if I know, but I'm pretty confident stating that today's trend toward watery oils has much more to do with fuel economy than engine protection. I'd bet there's a happy medium somewhere above 0W-20.
Very interested in Ultane's response from LSJ.
Got my second oil analysis back today, went from .2ppm fuel to a unmeasurable trace. Seems no warm up and all drives reaching operating temp is doing my engine fine.
All wear metals are within this engines known averages for its mileage ( just over 5k) and on the lower side of the average scale!
Also no increase in dirt with drop in reusable air filter installed so all is looking good!
All wear metals are within this engines known averages for its mileage ( just over 5k) and on the lower side of the average scale!
Also no increase in dirt with drop in reusable air filter installed so all is looking good!
Has anyone waited to change the oil until 10k like Toyota suggest and then run an oil analysis?
Is it a K&N?
It is, was wanting something different but it works. I have had them one 8 different cars and never had an issue.
Good luck!
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