TrailJustin
Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2025
- Messages
- 125
- Reaction score
- 11
- Tundra
- 2022 Limited DCLB TRD Offroad
Let me start with. This is what I am doing and what I believe to be best. You can follow it or do whatever you want.
1. Use a high quality top tier oil with additives.
2. Use the OEM Toyota oil filter or exact same flowing rate filter.
3. Do an Oil Analysis test once a year.
4. Change oil and filter every 5k miles
How did I come down to this? Read below.
Let me start with I am an engineer by trade doing technical IT work. But I also work int he manufacturing field helping in the designing and building of solutions to solve problems in manufacturing lines. I have a thing for picking apart problem thoroughly.
The Date Set:
2022 - 2025 Tundra sales 526,650
2023 - 2025 Sequoia sales 72,840
2022 - 2025 Lexus LX 600 sales 25,669
2024 - 2025 Lexus GX 550 sales 65,402
2018 - 2025 Lexus LS 500 sales 20,161
What do all these cars in the US have in common? They all run the V35A-FTS engine. Something to note here is the only model with an engine recall is the Tundra. The data set for the Tundra is much larger that could lead to that also. BUT something to also to consider is engine tuning and load. A truck is going to be in a lot tougher conditions than a LS500.
Why Are Engines Failing
From all the research I have found there is drivers to engines failing. This is bearing wear in the bottom of the engine. This can be caused by debris, not enough oil, and extreme load. To combat this issue there is only a few things we can do. That is make sure we filter our oil and change it so the oil stays in spec.
I have seen people say debris is wearing down the bearings. Which could be true but its not large bits that hurt the motor, its the fine powder metal that doesn't get caught in the filter but is like a fine cement dust in your oil. We are talking sub 40 microns.
Next I have seen people run oil pressure test and at idle the motor goes down to 6-9psi of oil pressure sitting. This cause low lubrication on the bearings which can also wear them down.
Finally engine load is a big one. But more importantly high mileage oil with extreme load. These engineers require an oil change every 10k miles but if your oil brand is shearing out of spec before then it leaves your engine not protected.
Engine Oil Brand and Type
I spent a lot of time researching motor oil types, additives, weights, and a whole rabbit whole on oil shear. Here is what you need to know at a high level.
This part is a little funny. You would think if the fine debris is the problem I will just run a really fine filter like the FRAM Ultra Synthetic or Amsoil’s heavy-duty filter. But it is not that simple because partnered with the low oil pressure at idle a lower particulate filter can also reduce oil flow.
So you would want to get a higher flow filter to keep oil pressure up but also that means you are only filtering at 40 microns compared to the Amsoil 20 microns. Now there isn't much data published about what filters flow the best in PSI compared to others only what brands claim but it seems the best bang for you buck in terms of flow and filtering is the OEM Toyota filter.
What does this all mean?
These engines are design specifically for their use and there is a lot that goes into them. As well as they are not just failing left and right it is a small subset of engineers that are plus there is a million factors that come into play between a perfectly fine motor and the one that has failed.
There are documented "issues" you could say with these motors but all in all they are performing well when looking at the actual data and not just Facebook Speculation. Sticking to a high quality oil that stays in spec, using the OEM filter, and getting a proper oil test to check on the wear of my motor is the best plan of attack I can think of to rest assured I can take my truck deep in the back country without a worry.
1. Use a high quality top tier oil with additives.
2. Use the OEM Toyota oil filter or exact same flowing rate filter.
3. Do an Oil Analysis test once a year.
4. Change oil and filter every 5k miles
How did I come down to this? Read below.
Let me start with I am an engineer by trade doing technical IT work. But I also work int he manufacturing field helping in the designing and building of solutions to solve problems in manufacturing lines. I have a thing for picking apart problem thoroughly.
The Date Set:
2022 - 2025 Tundra sales 526,650
2023 - 2025 Sequoia sales 72,840
2022 - 2025 Lexus LX 600 sales 25,669
2024 - 2025 Lexus GX 550 sales 65,402
2018 - 2025 Lexus LS 500 sales 20,161
What do all these cars in the US have in common? They all run the V35A-FTS engine. Something to note here is the only model with an engine recall is the Tundra. The data set for the Tundra is much larger that could lead to that also. BUT something to also to consider is engine tuning and load. A truck is going to be in a lot tougher conditions than a LS500.
Why Are Engines Failing
From all the research I have found there is drivers to engines failing. This is bearing wear in the bottom of the engine. This can be caused by debris, not enough oil, and extreme load. To combat this issue there is only a few things we can do. That is make sure we filter our oil and change it so the oil stays in spec.
I have seen people say debris is wearing down the bearings. Which could be true but its not large bits that hurt the motor, its the fine powder metal that doesn't get caught in the filter but is like a fine cement dust in your oil. We are talking sub 40 microns.
Next I have seen people run oil pressure test and at idle the motor goes down to 6-9psi of oil pressure sitting. This cause low lubrication on the bearings which can also wear them down.
Finally engine load is a big one. But more importantly high mileage oil with extreme load. These engineers require an oil change every 10k miles but if your oil brand is shearing out of spec before then it leaves your engine not protected.
Engine Oil Brand and Type
I spent a lot of time researching motor oil types, additives, weights, and a whole rabbit whole on oil shear. Here is what you need to know at a high level.
- 0w-20 oil is recommended due to engineer clearance, pump, and channels. I would stick to 0w-20 oil.
- I was using Kirkland oil but it does lack the premium additives so I will be switching AMSOIL Signature Series 0W-20 or Mobil 1 Extended Performance per The Motor Oil Geek.
- When you get into top tier brand oils you are splitting hears when it comes to what's better than the other.
This part is a little funny. You would think if the fine debris is the problem I will just run a really fine filter like the FRAM Ultra Synthetic or Amsoil’s heavy-duty filter. But it is not that simple because partnered with the low oil pressure at idle a lower particulate filter can also reduce oil flow.
So you would want to get a higher flow filter to keep oil pressure up but also that means you are only filtering at 40 microns compared to the Amsoil 20 microns. Now there isn't much data published about what filters flow the best in PSI compared to others only what brands claim but it seems the best bang for you buck in terms of flow and filtering is the OEM Toyota filter.
What does this all mean?
These engines are design specifically for their use and there is a lot that goes into them. As well as they are not just failing left and right it is a small subset of engineers that are plus there is a million factors that come into play between a perfectly fine motor and the one that has failed.
There are documented "issues" you could say with these motors but all in all they are performing well when looking at the actual data and not just Facebook Speculation. Sticking to a high quality oil that stays in spec, using the OEM filter, and getting a proper oil test to check on the wear of my motor is the best plan of attack I can think of to rest assured I can take my truck deep in the back country without a worry.
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