Scrotally festering festive felicitations to you and yours and all your social and financial dependants.
I’m going to change the engine oil and filter in the old Hilux- some 0W - 30 apparently.
Is there any foo to be applied to oils? What does the home mechanic look for in oil?
Toyota own brand? Shell Helix?
Yes, there are differences, but mainly just make sure it meets the manufacturer specs.
If you really want to melt your brain, go take a look at bobistheoilguy.com and forums there for the oil wars.
Is the viscosity rating the manufacturer specs or is there a more esoteric set of rules hidden deep in the handbook?
Ha! That website is insane. 
IIRC there are a small range of viscosities applicable for these engine, but 0W-30 ACEA C2 is widely available. You need a slightly awkward 6.9L to include the filter!
The delightfully named Fuchs Titan Supersyn was the best combo of quality and price last time I DIY’d it.
I’ll let Bob the Oil Guy decide that!
Sounds spendy 
Very!
That could be one of THE most informative websites I’ve been on.
Currently just browsing Oil University, there is also a sub forum just for grease!.
You have my attention! 
“Keep it greasy so it goes in easy” as we plumbers like to say.
My uneducated preference is to use the long service interval oil specified by the manufacturer and change it more often as the schedule.
The long service intervals are to please fleet buyers and individuals who don’t run vehicles long term.
My 530D is a 20k interval which is done by a main dealer but I change mine every 5K inbetween, turbos love clean oil.
Edit: I keep my cars for a long time.
Another vote for Fuchs Titan. I used the semi synth varient as it was the closest match to the original spec for a TD5. I could have used any one of a number of fully synth oils at double the price, but no advantage to any of them. Manufacturers still play top trumps with oils, with their additive being better than their competitors etc. Most of it is less than marginal marketing bollocks,. If it meets the spec it will do.
Fuchs Titan that was recommended is very good.
Eneos is another good, reasonably priced brand to look at.
LiquiMoly has some very keen priced options for certain grades - 0W16 and 0W20 for example. I think it’s all pretty good value for money for German and other Euro manufacturer specs
Many thanks. I’ll get some Fuchs supersyn and an original filter and get draining.
I added one of these when I first did it. After a year it did indeed have a film of metal particles attached, though fortunately nothing more alarming:
Interestingly it has been filled with 5W 30 Petronas fully synthetic oil on its precious service.
The manual says either will do. Is 0W really an advantage?
I’ve got a bottle of the original Toyota 5w-30 oil that came when it had a recall for the airbag not long after I got it.
So thinking just getting 6litres of the OEM stuff and can use that extra litre bottle to take it to 6.9l else it is just going to lie around the garage.
All your good advice is gleefully ignored. 
