1. Home
  2. General Toyota Forum
  3. The '02 Corolla and oil thing

The '02 Corolla and oil thing

Finally got around to going and looking for the oil that the owner's manual specifies in Energy Conserving.

Went to Autozone and stood in line 10 minutes, then the guy who helped me had no idea what API SM Energy Conserving oil was, and had to go ask his manager.

He finally came back and led me back to the oil shelf and lo and behold, the seals look just like the Owner's Manual and are on the backs of some of the oil bottles. ( I had no idea. )

So I picked up some 5W-30 API SM Energy Conserving in Motocraft, and it was $4 a bottle. Nice that it cost no more than the other regular oils, I was a afraid it might be like $8 a qt, making it not cost effective.

Reply to
Jane_Galt
Loading thread data ...

The seals for API energy conserving oil is not just on some of the bottles; it is on all of the bottles of certified oil.

Reply to
Ray O

You mean if it's API, it's always Energy Conserving?

Reply to
Jane_Galt

API stands for American Petroleum Institute, the people who make the standards for oil. You can get oil that is certified by the API that is not energy conserving, so it could have the API label, but not be energy conserving.

Reply to
dr_jeff

Yeah ok, got that. But the Motorcraft that I got for $4 a bottle has both.

Looking forward to it.

Reply to
Jane_Galt

"Energy Conserving" means it has friction modifier additives in it that regular oil doesn't. It is for this reason that you aren't supposed to use EC oil in motorcycles that have a wet clutch that runs in the engine oil, the EC oil can be too slippery and make the clutch slip.

This is also why you aren't supposed to use Dexron III trans fluid in a Chrysler that specs ATF+3 or +4, and probably also Toyota's T-IV and WS fluids. ATF+3 and 4 are "slipperier" than Dexron hence Dexron causes clutch pack grabbing and binding that wrecks the trans and causes harsh shifts.

Reply to
Daniel who wants to know

No, if it is API, it will have an API mark on the bottle. If it is API Energy Conserving, it will have an API Energy Conserving mark on the bottle.

Reply to
Ray O

Gotcha. Well I bought the latter, in Motorcraft for $4 a bottle.

Reply to
Jane_Galt

I usually by Castrol or Quaker State synthetic motor oil when it's on sale for 30 - 40% off at Canadian Tire. I keep a jug or two in reverse for the next oil change.

Reply to
GM homepc

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.