Toyota to change engine oil recommendations

02 July 2008 19:20  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Toyota will change oil recommendations to lower viscosity for its Toyota, Lexus and Scion brand vehicles in North America, an industry association said on Wednesday.

The Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA) said that individual owner manuals would reflect the recommendation.

Toyota will switch certain vehicle recommendations from SAE 5W-30 or SAE 5W-20 to SAE 0W-20.

Toyota said it is switching to lower viscosity engine oil as a step toward achieving improved vehicle efficiency without sacrificing durability.

The company did not specify a timeframe for the switch.

“The recommendation by Toyota for this type of motor oil is another step up in demand for the Group II and higher base oils,” a producer said.

The recommendation also speeds up the decline in world demand for the Group I base oils, the producer added.

In 2003, the Group I base oils were 84% of total world base oil demand. However, Group I will just be 64% of total world base oil demand by 2015, according to the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA).

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By: Heather McGuire Doyle
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