2.8 Engine oil

[JohnLynn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JohnLynn]

I expect this has been discussed many times but I wonder has the recommended oil changed in the last few years. I ask because my late 2015 2.8 GXL has been stood up for almost three years as I have been stuck in the UK mainly due to covid.
Before it was stood up I changed oils and used Shell Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 0W-30. I presume but cant remember that I must have researched and got this correct back in early 2020?
Now that I need to service it again I searched on the usual retailer websites like Repco, Supercheap and Autobahn to discover that this oil is not easily available and also shown as not suitable for my vehicle. The suggested ones on Repco are Penrite Enviro C2 0W-30 or C3 5W-30. Supercheap suggest a cheaper Mobil 5W-30 or Nulon 5W-30. So what has changed? I thought at first that the viscosity may have changed from 0w to 5W oils but although the majority seem to recommend a 5W-30 oil there are still some 0W-30 oils shown as well apart form the Shell variant where the 5W-30 is listed as "not suitable" however the specs say this on the Repco website:
Shell Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 can be used for modern petrol engines, diesel engines with particulate filters and gas engines and is suitable for use in vehicles currently using SAE 5W-30 or 10W-30 grades, providing enhanced engine protection and fuel economy (Applicable where an API SN or ACEA C2/C3 oil is required.

Can anyone enlighten me please? Btw the Prado has only just covered 50,000Kms from new.

[watsea Member Find all posts View Profile Close watsea]

Hi John,
i probably not directly answering your question but maybe this information may help. Previously with my old petrol Series 90 Prado, I serviced it, over 17 years, with a Mobil 1 fully synthetic oil, (5W-50) I think. Traded that vehicle, running beautifully with 394k km on the odometer.
But for my 2019 diesel, I have been getting service by a dealer, because of its warranty concerns. So I assume it gets a Toyota oil.

For my travels, I like to carry suitable spare oil, for the unexpected and topups. So I purchased 5L of Toyota oil at the dealer. It is branded with diesel Toyota Synthetic Engine Oil. 0W-30 C2. At the time of purchase, its 5L pack was about $12 cheaper than the 5L Mobil 1 oil that I had purchased previously.
I think the Toyota oil is actually a Castrol oil. Somewhere I heard that Toyota and Castrol had a deeper relationship than their motor sport relationship but I have not been able to confirm. I hope this Toyota oil can work for current vehicle as well I believe the Mobil oil worked for my previous vehicle.

[bing10 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bing10]

I use penrite C2 0W30 in my 2016 2.8. Its readilly available at supercheap and Repco. wait till its on sale then its only $85 for 7 litres.

[JohnLynn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JohnLynn]

Thanks for the replies above, I am still confused as to why what I consider to be a perfectly good oil for the 2.8, designed with DPF etc in mind should be shown as "not suitable"
Also if an oil is marked as "C3" does this mean it automatically is C2 compliant as well?

[ptommo59 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ptommo59]

Hi John,

No expert but checkout the Penrite Knowledge Centre ACEA Service Classifications description which should answer your question.

Appears C2 and C3 are same apart from minimum HT/HS viscosity requirement (C2 min 2.9, C3 min 3.8)

So yes C3 compliant oils would also meet C2 specifications .

C2 only oils (HT/HS >2.8 < 3.8) aimed at fuel economy,

C3 oils provide enhanced durability with reduced economy compared to C2 only.

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

I've been using 5w30 C3 in between dealer services since new. No issues. I found it burns off less than the 0w30 the dealer uses. Don't get as much chain rattle either. C3 oil's also available in 5w40.

[ptommo59 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ptommo59]

Hi John,

I had a look on the Shell Australia LubeMatch website (which is probably where you got the original info) and the Shell Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 0W-30 oil you originally used is still the preferred Shell product for the 2015-2020 Landcruiser Prados. They also mention that 0W-30 is the preferred oil for vehicles fitted with DPFs possibly as the additional agents used in 5w-30 increase soot produced when burned but only guessing.

[peterg4508 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peterg4508]

I have been running the New Nulon Apex Multi 23 5w/30, meets C2 and C3

[Lee0110 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Lee0110]

It sounds like there may have been some changes in the industry since early 2020 when you last changed your oil. The main reason for this could be the introduction of new specifications for oils, such as ACEA C2/C3, which are more stringent than the previous specifications. The new specifications require oils with higher viscosities, such as 5W-30, in order to provide better protection for modern engines. Therefore, if your vehicle requires an ACEA C2/C3 oil, then a 5W-30 oil would be the best choice. However, if your vehicle is still using the older specifications, then a 0W-30 oil may still be suitable. It's worth noting that some manufacturers may also specify a different viscosity oil, depending on the climate in which the vehicle is being driven, so it's always best to check the manufacturer's recommendations.

[OzDriver Member Find all posts View Profile Close OzDriver]

My dealer uses Castol (shown on service invoice) on my 2016 2.8. There may be better oils but I am a light user most of the time and since the DPF has a 10 year warranty I am keen to be able to blame Toyota or the dealer if any PDF issues (or similar) arise. No PDF issues since I owned it from new - thankfully.