# Whats the right oil **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 17, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743 "2011-05-17T20:09:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yampadog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a183cd/32.png) [@yampadog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/yampadog)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/1 "2011-05-17T20:09:05Z")
what is the best oil to put in a1987 toyota landcruiser (inline six) ? I have been using a 10w40. ---
**Author:** ![mleich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mleich](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mleich)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/2 "2011-05-17T20:13:05Z")
10w40 is most likely correct. Is the recommended type marked on the oil filler cap? This is often the case. Is it specified in the owner’s manual or in your repair manual? ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/3 "2011-05-17T20:25:00Z")
What oil is recommended on the oil filler cap and the dipstick? I believe most cars of that era used 10W-30. ---
**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:** [May 17, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/4 "2011-05-17T20:46:51Z")
Anything sold as “Motor Oil” should work okay in that…10-30 if it’s under 100K miles, 10-40 if it’s over…5w-20 in the wintertime… ---
**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:** [May 17, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/5 "2011-05-17T20:47:10Z")
Anything sold as “Motor Oil” should work okay in that…10-30 if it’s under 100K miles, 10-40 if it’s over…5w-20 in the wintertime… ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/6 "2011-05-17T20:55:04Z")
Ha! It’s not just me! ---
**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:** [May 17, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/7 "2011-05-17T21:05:47Z")
No, it’s a major glitch… ---
**Author:** ![doubleclutch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/doubleclutch/32/1281_2.png) [@doubleclutch](https://community.cartalk.com/u/doubleclutch)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/8 "2011-05-17T21:38:32Z")
Wow! A sensible oil question. I was expecting another OCD synthetic vs. dino thread. The above posts are correct. That engine shouldn’t be real picky. 10W-30 or 10W-40 will work fine. If it is really cold in the winter, 5W-30 will work. ---
**Author:** ![chaissos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/chaissos/32/2347_2.png) [@chaissos](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chaissos)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/9 "2011-05-17T23:05:32Z")
That year Land Cruiser, 4.2 6 cylinder, actually calls for 10W-30. If you operate in very cold conditions (below 0F) then you want to run 5W-30. Regardless of mileage. If you’re having problems with it, that’s a different issue. Chase ---
**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 10:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/10 "2011-05-18T10:41:32Z")
If you use 10W30 synthetic, you can use the same oil year round. (there, I’ve started the synthetic vs. dino aspect of the thread) Seriously though, if it doesn’t say on the oil cap or dipstick what it should use, and the manual is long gone, you could probably find a Landcruiser forum or do some googling and find out the recommended weight. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/11 "2011-05-18T12:23:57Z")
**_Yampadog, What ? No 1987 Toyota Land Cruiser Owner’s Manual ?_** Although some of the oil API Service Category specs (Read the botttles and choose oil that meets or exceeds those old specs.) have improved since 87, the book will still give you preferred viscosity and a wealth of other information. You must like the vehicle or you wouldn’t be asking about the best oil. Helm Inc. has a new 87 Toyota Land Cruiser Owner’s Manual (Price: $15.95 & S&H - In Stock) and they’ve even got a new 81-87 Toyota Land Cruiser Repair Manual (Price: $70.00 & S&H - In Stock). [http://www.helminc.com/helm/homepage.asp?r=http://www.bing.com/search?q=helm+inc&form=MSNH14&qs=n&sk=&x=65&y=14](http://www.helminc.com/helm/homepage.asp?r=http://www.bing.com/search?q=helm+inc&form=MSNH14&qs=n&sk=&x=65&y=14) CSA ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 12:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/12 "2011-05-18T12:39:40Z")
I think 10W-40 is the correct oil. If you live where it is very cold in winter (ie 0 degrees F or minus 10 C) I’d use a 5W-30 or 40 in the cold winter months and 10W-40 in the spring - summer - and fall. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-right-oil/64743/13 "2011-05-18T13:55:46Z")
Avoid any 20 grade; I would use 0W30 in the winter and 10W30 in the summer. These old engines had “generous” clearances, and the lighter grades would result in significant oil consumption at highway speeds or heavy loading.