I prefer to use the highest viscosity oil permitted in the owner's manual...10W-30 in the summer and 5W-30 in cold winter areas. If the engine is working hard & hot, I like a 15W-40 or 5W-40 oil. I know, this isn't in our U.S. or Canadian owner's manual, but the same 2UZ-FE engine in Australia has 20W-50 recommended by Valvoline & BP.
Among conventional oils, I like Chevron/Havoline, Pennzoil, and Castrol. Among synthetics, Mobil 1, Schaeffer, Amsoil, and Castrol.
The new oil spec, ILSAC GF-4, will soon be on the shelves instead of the current GF-3. This is a tougher spec for the oil, and requires higher quality (higher cost) ingredients. Some oil makers are blending low quality (cost) conventional oil with some synthetic as a correction fluid to meet the spec, and trumpeting it as synthetic blend. It is, but it isn't anything special. An equally good or maybe better oil can be made from higher quality (cost) conventional oil. ConocoPhillips is one of the oil makers using this cheap synthetic blend to get their GF-4 oil at at the lowest production cost. Their brands are Conoco, Phillips, 76, & Kendall.
Don't run a synthetic beyond the recommended 7500 miles without a satisfactory oil analysis to protect your warranty.
Ken
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You get what you inspect
Not what you expect.
S&S Long Tube Hi-Torque Headers
TRD/Eaton Limited Slip Differential
Gibson exhaust system
Hellwig Rear Antisway Bar
Sylvania Xenarc H.I.D. X1010 Auxiliary Low Beam Driving Lights
Schaeffer Engine Oil, ATF, Differential Oil
Racor LFS22825 full-flow transmission filter
Towing a 21' Bigfoot trailer using a Hensley Arrow hitch, Jordan brake controller, McKesh mirrors
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