A lubrication engineer could talk for hours on this subject, but the manual says use: "Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent to satisfy the following grade and viscosity. Oil grade: ILSAC multigrade engine oil Recommended viscosity: SAE 5W-20 or 0W-20. Most oils, conventional and synthetic meet the ILSAC standard and have the "gear"/API "Starburst"" symbol on them. In short you can use conventional oil and change every 5k miles, or you can use synthetic with a good filter and change every 10-15k miles. I use 5W-30 Synthetic in all my cars, except my really old car because synthetic seems to sneak past the seals and leak more on old cars. I don't know why, but I pay the extra couple bucks for the "High Mileage" 5 quart version. The 0W-20 viscosity stuff is really just an attempt by the manufacturers to squeeze an extra 1/4 MPG out of their fleet. In my opinion the 5W-30 will provide better protection especially in hot weather.

@@jimdandy6472 - And to add oil to the fire of 30 weight versus 20 weight oil, every other place on the entire globe outside the United States that this engine is used recommends 30 weight. So your instincts I think are correct, and that's what I put in our Highlander.

@@47f0 yes it’s the same way for the 2ar fe there is a range of oil for different climates and I have been debating following it vs using 0w20

@@thetechlibrarian - it's not just the climate. It's also I think (as was posted earlier) it's about American average fleet mileage regulations. Again, America is absolutely the only place on the planet where 20 weight is recommended for the Highlanders. Everywhere else, doesn't matter whether it's Denmark or South Africa, 30 weight is recommended for that engine. I don't think it's a mechanical requirement. I think it's an EPA requirement.

Sure because someone was in a hurry,my problem now is trying to undo the problem holding the oil filter with a pair of channel locks while using the 3/8 ratchet ain't working.

@@tomskix I used a pipe wrench to hold the oil filter cap. Another way is to use the oil filter cap wrench and put the oil filter cap on at 30 ft.lbs. then try removing the drainbolt. It that doesn't work try applying 35 ft.lbs. to the oil filter cap. The goal is to get the oil filter cap on tighter than the drainbolt (without breaking anything).

@@njsongwriter - Or... You could just ignore it. It's a cute convenience feature that ends up being less convenient than just taking the cartridge cap off and dumping it upside down in your drain tray.

@@47f0 I agree 100%. I've had oil dripping down my arm my whole life, while changing oil filters, so in practice this "drain" feature is more trouble than it's worth.