RedM Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 I'm down to about halfway on my oil level and I've noticed that on long, sweeping left handers (mostly m-ways) the oil lever warning light (orange) comes on and then goes off when the car straightens. Same when parking on an incline with the left of the car higher than the right. Am I correct in assuming that the sensor is situated to one side and that's what causes the light to come on. Seems a bit of a daft position as it could be read incorrectly. Also, I'm on 5w40 and have reached halfway full within 2600 miles. I guess the thinner oil evaporates(?) quicker in the summer and I maybe should have had a thicker oil for summer. Right or wrong? No leaks FWIW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardasaliah Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Correct me if wrong but i don't think motor (fixed) oil evaporates. Top it up and keep an eye on it. 10w-40 is recommeded. 5w40 is thinner and more likely to pass oil seals etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 I didn't literally mean that it evaporates. I couldn't find the right word. Consumed (by the engine) would be like it. A 5w40 in this heat we've been having and me doing about 1500 miles in M-way driving and another thousand in urban driving might have got through a thinner(?) oil than if I'd used a 10w40 or something. Thoughts anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew7 Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Correct me if wrong but i don't think motor (fixed) oil evaporates. Top it up and keep an eye on it. 10w-40 is recommeded. 5w40 is thinner and more likely to pass oil seals etc. The 5W figure is only active at low temperatures for low temp protection and startup. The 40 figure is what is relevant as the engine gets up to temp. 40 should be plenty stable enough (not thin out) at high temps for a Soop. However it does depend on which brand oil you are using, as some lose a lot of their properties within a very short period of pouring the oil into the engine.....you'd be surprised..... What oil are you using?...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n00b Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 i was thinking this aswell.. i have to buy some more today ..... i do alot of motorway drving (75 miles a day) and i dont know where all my oil has gone is it the heat? n00b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew7 Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Noob, buy the best oil you can afford. It does make a difference. I would now only use something like Silkolene or Amsoil. Their long term test results speak for themselves.... Are you Turbo or N/A?... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Another point is that multi-viscosity oil tends to gravitate towards the 'low' figure as it ages and breaks down. So if you leave it in the engine for long enough, the 5w40 will be thinner than the 10w40 even when cold. Add this to the fact that the 'range' of 5w40 is so much wider, and it makes it less attractive for a turbocharged engine. Try to keep within the narrowest range possible. 10w30 is what Toyota would like in this climate, maybe they know better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 I've got Miller Oils XFS 5w40 in at the moment. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 10w30 is what Toyota would like in this climate, maybe they know better... Is that year round or do you mean in this weather? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew7 Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 TBH oil technology has advanced a bit in the last few years. It is probably better to ask what oil Toyota would be recommending if the car was produced today. i think the answer to that would more than likely be a fully synthetic of good quality. As for grade, I have been using a 0W-30 instead of 10W-30 (Toyota recommended for my car) with no problems (Amsoil) and no increased oil consumption. I had an oil test done at 3000 miles (which is my car's (Soarer TT) recommended change interval) and the laboratory recommended that I could use the oil for another 3000 miles, soi although the oil was more expensive initially, I have at least doubled the change interval. I saw an oil performance comparison test some time ago and it was surprising in that some of the well known branded oils broke down quite substantially on some of the tests. Hence my final choice of oil... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 I've just been out to check my level having had the car on a flat surface all morning. It's reading about a third full. Seems like I've burnt through a fair bit in 2600-2700 miles. I usually change it every 4k but looks like I'll be doing it sooner this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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