# Oil Viscosity **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, camry\ **Created:** [September 20, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423 "2013-09-20T21:40:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/1 "2013-09-20T21:40:42Z")
What weight oil should i use in a 92 toyota camry with a 4 cylinder where the weather gets to -50 ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/2 "2013-09-20T21:48:13Z")
Engine has 170000 miles on it ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/3 "2013-09-20T22:03:51Z")
Im coming up with 0-20 ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/4 "2013-09-20T22:11:47Z")
I would go with 0W-30, 0W-20 may be a little too thin when warmed up for this older, looser engine. ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/5 "2013-09-20T22:59:58Z")
Agreed Thank You and i went with Mobil 1 synthetic ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/6 "2013-09-20T23:19:26Z")
For those temps…I’d stick with a pure synthetic. But I think ALL 0w is synthetic. 0W-30 is probably the best. And if you have the ability…I’d consider getting a block heater for the nights it gets that cold. ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/7 "2013-09-20T23:56:02Z")
Block & oil pan heater installed Thanks ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/8 "2013-09-20T23:59:29Z")
5000 miles for a change with synthetic? I usually just change it when it looks ready ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/9 "2013-09-21T00:20:55Z")
> I usually just change it when it looks ready No way can you tell by the way it looks…IMPOSSIBLE. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/10 "2013-09-21T00:23:34Z")
What does Toyota recommend for your car? If you don’t have the owners manual anymore, the information is probably on line; maybe at the Toyota site. I know that you can download late model manuals, but I’m not sure when the cutoff is. I wouldn’t be surprised if Toyota recommends 5000 miles for that era car. Also, if you have a block heater, the outside, overnight temperature is not as important as the temperature of the engine block. It might turn out that you could use a higher viscocity mineral oil since the block temperature is never even -40 when you crank the engine. Here are some thoughts on viscocity. [http://www.blackstone-labs.com/oil-viscosity.php](http://www.blackstone-labs.com/oil-viscosity.php) Toyota probably recommended 10W-30 or 5W-30 in 1992. The zero winter recommendations are for improved gas mileage. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/11 "2013-09-21T00:35:38Z")
I would go to a full synthetic 0W30. The owner’s manual probably says 5W30 mineral oil. With a good battery and your block heater you should have no trouble starting and the oil will flow quite fast to the valve gear. I agree that 0W20 in such an old vehicle not designed for 0W20 will result in oil consumption. I’ve used 0W30 for many years, starting with 0W30 Shell Synarctic, a partial synthetic. ---
**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/12 "2013-09-21T03:53:38Z")
Coldfoot, Alaska? Heh, heh. ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/13 "2013-09-21T03:58:51Z")
I spent the night in coldfoot a few days ago. Wiped me feet on the pass and had to throw iron. ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 10:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/14 "2013-09-21T10:12:14Z")
No owners manual and i cant seem to find one i dont have to pay for/ Mike I know we have been here before but i find it real hard to believe that when oil turns brown, Dark brown or black that it doesnt mean its time to be changed. That to me means its dirty … ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/15 "2013-09-21T16:47:06Z")
@badbearing, color of the oil is not always a good indicator. In some cars, oil will darken quickly , but still be good for 5,000 miles. Smelling it for fuel saturation is a better indicator. Sending it off for oil analysis at certain intervals is even better. ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/16 "2013-09-21T17:01:07Z")
Agree with @BustedKnuckles and others. Oil color to the visible eye can’t be used to determine a need to change the oil. If one’s goal is to have the oil appear cleaner longer, non-detergent oil can do that (but carries other ill effects). ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/17 "2013-09-21T17:37:31Z")
Anyone remember Arco’s graphite oil??? It looked dirty right from the bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/18 "2013-09-21T19:34:26Z")
Are there any SAE viscosity grades thinner than “0w” ?? Is zero the end of the scale for motor oil? Is there anything “thinner” than 0w-20 weight synthetic oil? Fifty below zero…I think I’d be looking for a new job…Someplace South of Latitude 40…Way south if possible… Arco Graphite…Yeah, apparently graphite was not the answer… ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/19 "2013-09-21T20:10:54Z")
I remember Arch Graphite. I bought that sales pitch hook-line-and-sink. My father tried to talk me out of it - but I was young and knew everything. Then it came out that the graphite and teflon buildup would lead to clogged oil passages. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423/20 "2013-09-22T04:46:07Z")
In the past I’ve rubbed oil between my fingers to judge condition. If it feels watery and/or gritty it’s overdue for a change. One of my brothers had a ratty old van that cranked slow when hot. Oil felt about as slippery as beer. Oil change fixed the problem. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-viscosity/81423.md?page=2)