What Type of Oil Should Be Used for Toyota Levin?
3 Answers
Toyota Levin should use genuine oil with the specification 5W30. The oil serves functions such as lubrication and wear reduction, auxiliary cooling, sealing and leak prevention, rust and corrosion protection, and shock absorption. Engine oil consists of two parts: base oil and additives. The base oil is the main component of the lubricant, while the additives compensate for and improve the performance deficiencies of the base oil. The Toyota Levin is a compact sedan with body dimensions of 4640mm in length, 1780mm in width, and 1455mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2700mm. The hybrid version of the Levin is equipped with a 1.8L Atkinson cycle engine and Toyota's THS II hybrid system, featuring a front MacPherson strut independent suspension and a rear double-wishbone independent suspension combination.
I've run an auto repair shop for twenty years, and I know all the ins and outs of changing oil for the Levin. Toyota's manual clearly recommends either 0W-20 or 5W-30—using either of these is a safe bet. The 0W-20 oil is as thin as water, making cold starts incredibly smooth, especially in winter when the engine fires up instantly. If you live in an area where winter temperatures drop to -20 or -30 degrees Celsius, 0W-20 is your safest choice. The 5W-30 is versatile for all seasons and keeps the engine quieter on long drives. I've handled a few cars that mistakenly used 10W-40, and the owners were shocked by the high fuel consumption. Always remember to use oil with GF-6 or ILSAC certification—the starburst symbol on the packaging is your guarantee of quality.
Just had my 2017 Levin serviced last week, so I've got some insights on oil changes. The dealership used Toyota Genuine 0W-20 full synthetic, but I find Shell Helix Ultra 5W-30 more cost-effective. Pay special attention to using SN grade or higher oil, and make sure to fully drain the old oil before refilling. Once at a quick-lube shop, the mechanic forgot to change the oil filter before pouring new oil, forcing me to make an extra trip. Now I always supervise the process and request an extra half-liter of oil as backup. By the way, the manual states that the 1.2T engine requires low-ash oil, while naturally aspirated engines don't have this restriction.
