Oil Change Observation - '05 V6 Highlander

[KMier]

Changing the oil on the car this evening; I've had it about 5 months, now with 34k miles on it. When looking into the oil fill port, I noticed what looked like a thin, crusty layer of dark crud just under the fill cap. Is what I'm looking at some sort of pre- oil filter screen just under the fill cap? It seems like the layer has begun to crack and flake (a little bit between my fingers seems gritty - I'm not liking that ).

I tried unsuccessfully to find a parts diagram of the valve cover area tonight. Should I be concerned, or is this a normal thing on the V6 Highlander engine?

Thanks in Advance,
Ken M

[ptinio]

hmm

is it like crusty? i had that when i changed my oil when i got it in 2002 but after the 3rd change, but i used cheap oil, quaker state. it was regular 5w30. i have since changed to full synthetic mobile 1 and have not seen the crud. i think thats what it is.

hope thta helps

[LifeTech]

I agree. I have seen this on OPT's. (other peoples Toyotas) what yu might be observing is varnish...the by-product of sludge or gelling (as Toyota describes it) as it hardens .

Are yu gellin like a felon?

M1 0w30 syn. Using M1 syn exclusively for over 30 years.

I have never observed an engine with sludge or gel that used any brand of SYN oil exclusively from day one .

They do say yu are what yu eat!

LT

[KMier]

Thank you for the replies. Yes, it is a thin crusty-like layer. For what it's worth, at this stage, I'll make a change over to synthetic. By the way, I used 10w-30 Valvoline this time (I live in the south - Alabama). How important is it to use the 5w-30 oil weight for the highlander?

[LifeTech]

Originally Posted by KMier

Thank you for the replies. Yes, it is a thin crusty-like layer. For what it's worth, at this stage, I'll make a change over to synthetic. By the way, I used 10w-30 Valvoline this time (I live in the south - Alabama). How important is it to use the 5w-30 oil weight for the highlander?

Do not use a 10w30!!!! I cannot overstate this enough. Yu are only adding to your sludge problem. Viscosity is too thick at cold start. It is not Toyota spec. Even in warmer ambient regions 10w-30 should not be used. I don't believe anyone should use a 10wXX in any late model Toyota engine.

Use 0w or 5w-30 ONLY. Regular use of Mobil 1 one should clean up some or most of the sludge. M1 has a great detergent package additive in their oil.
But do a very short Oil change interval for the first time ..Say 2- 3K miles. Believe me yu will see alot of dirt. Oil will become dark sooner. Means the M1 is working well .

Living in the Southern region... 5w-30 is fine. I live in the Northeast and am comfortable using the M1 0w30 year round. It is also a Green/Fuel Economy friendly oil as all 0w's are.

Good luck
LT

[KMier]

LT:

Thanks, I consider myself warned . Where is a reasonable source for Mobile 1 0W30? Does Walmart carry it? I'll make the change before the week is out, and run it for a few thousand miles before doing it again.

I'm hoping I don't see anything bad from this.

[bob259]

Originally Posted by KMier

LT:

Thanks, I consider myself warned . Where is a reasonable source for Mobile 1 0W30? Does Walmart carry it? I'll make the change before the week is out, and run it for a few thousand miles before doing it again.

I'm hoping I don't see anything bad from this.

Wal-Mart has it... but there is a shortage as the Mobil 1 plant was damaged in the storm and they said it wouldn't be back on line till February/March.

[LifeTech]

Walmart has little to no Mobil 1 let alone anything Mobil.

All over the country. Most Auto stores the same thing.
Here in the NE, I was able to stock up on M1 0w30 last ,month.

Between two Walmarts I was able to purchase (3) 5 qrt. Jugs. @$26 each. They had a limit, at the cashier, of 2 jugs per person. The price went up from $20 each.

[KMier]

I was able to find two jugs of M1 5w-30 at the Walmart here in Trussville, AL. $26.00 each.

Ken

[LifeTech]

I tried to get the last 3 Jugs of M1 at one Walmart. They said no. The register would not even scan the 3rd jug. I asked to make a second recpt. (cash)on the 3rd jug and the supervisor said no way.
So I went to the second Closer Walmart and they also had just 3 left . I bought 2 more.

Walmart is funny with certain products. They sell out and don't replenish for several months sometimes. But when yu need to do an OCI it's hassel to run around for several days locating stuff. Autozone and Pep Boys,and Strauss Auto charge almost $2 more per quart. And the largest Jug size they might have in M1 is a 4 qrt. jug.

Mobil/Exxon exclusively packages 5 qrt jugs of M1 for Walmart. References Walmart on a small lable on the Bottle.

Best to be prepared for that next OCI...extra filters and Oil should always be on hand.

[DeWat]

After hearing about the Mobil 1 shortage over at Toyota Nation, I started looking for my 20,000 mile OCI oil immediately (I'm at 19,6xx right now). Well the second Walmart that I visited today had two 5-gallon jugs of straight Mobil 1, 5w-30, and believe it or not, a single 5-gallon jug of the Mobil 1, 5W-30 Truck & SUV oil. Naturally I locked onto the 5-gallon Truck & SUV oil right away, but I could not find any 5w-30 Truck & SUV singles (the 1-quart bottles). So I ended up buying two "regular" Mobil 1, 5w-30 quart bottles for the 1 to 1&1/2 quarts that go in after the 5-gallon jug. Now here's my question: besides slightly diluting the Truck & SUV additives by adding 1 to 1&1/2 quarts of "regular" Mobile 1 of the same weight, are there any unforseen circumstances that I'm not thinking of right now?

Thanks,
DeWat

[bob259]

Originally Posted by DeWat

After hearing about the Mobil 1 shortage over at Toyota Nation, I started looking for my 20,000 mile OCI oil immediately (I'm at 19,6xx right now). Well the second Walmart that I visited today had two 5-gallon jugs of straight Mobil 1, 5w-30, and believe it or not, a single 5-gallon jug of the Mobil 1, 5W-30 Truck & SUV oil. Naturally I locked onto the 5-gallon Truck & SUV oil right away, but I could not find any 5w-30 Truck & SUV singles (the 1-quart bottles). So I ended up buying two "regular" Mobil 1, 5w-30 quart bottles for the 1 to 1&1/2 quarts that go in after the 5-gallon jug. Now here's my question: besides slightly diluting the Truck & SUV additives by adding 1 to 1&1/2 quarts of "regular" Mobile 1 of the same weight, are there any unforseen circumstances that I'm not thinking of right now?

Thanks,
DeWat

Your V6 Highlander with filter change takes 5 Quarts total, not 6 - 6.5. If you are adding that you are over filling the crankcase.

[DeWat]

Originally Posted by bob259

Your V6 Highlander with filter change takes 5 Quarts total, not 6 - 6.5. If you are adding that you are over filling the crankcase.

I'm already drifting away from the OP, and don't want to get too far off, BUT:

2008 Toyota Highlander Owners Manual; 6-1 Specifications; Page 529; Oil Capacities; Without filter change 6.0 quarts; With filter change 6.4 quarts.

This will be my sixth OCI, and I always fill by stick. One 5-gallon jug is never enough.

DeWat

[bob259]

Originally Posted by DeWat

I'm already drifting away from the OP, and don't want to get too far off, BUT:

2008 Toyota Highlander Owners Manual; 6-1 Specifications; Page 529; Oil Capacities; Without filter change 6.0 quarts; With filter change 6.4 quarts.

This will be my sixth OCI, and I always fill by stick. One 5-gallon jug is never enough.

DeWat

Interesting... my 06 is 5 with filter.

[LifeTech]

01-07 3.0 and 3.3L Highlander V6's take 5 qrts. with filter.

08-09 Highlander Hybrid (also 3.3L) takes 5qrts with filter.

Only 08-09 Non Hybrid Highlander 3.5L V6's take the 6.4 qrts. (with cartridge style filter).