What Oil To Use?

[nimraynn]

Hi there,

I've got a quick question for you guys on behalf of my Dad. Having owned nothing but Vauxhall cars myself, I'm not sure of Toyota's terminology sometimes...

He's got a 55 plate Toyota Corolla Verso T3 with the 2.0 D-4D engine (I think that's right anyway, whatever the 2.0 diesel is) and the oil change light has just come on. Now he said to me that he had an oil change back in August I think it was, but come September, the asked someone to do a check up while he had it in for new tyres and they told him that there was barely oil in it. They topped it up and it seems to have been OK, but he said that last night the oil change light came on again. I've just checked it and the oil is below the minimum mark on the dipstick.

Firstly, what oil should this engine use? I've looked in the manual and it says ACEA B1, API CF-4 or CF, but I have no idea what this means. I'm used to seeing things like 10W-30, so I don't know what I'm looking for. I did a quick Google search and didn't find much...

Secondly, why would it be using that much oil? I know engines can use up the oil as they run, but my Vauxhall Astra has had a decent oil level since I bought it 6 months as is coming up for service soon, but I do about 5 times the mileage my Dad does in his Corolla Verso, so I'd have thought if anything, mine would use more oil? I can't see any leaks anywhere, but I'm no mechanic so I have no idea if I'm looking in the right place.

And lastly, a completely unrelated question. Does anyone know what the power stats (BHP and Torque) are on these 2.0 D-4D engines? It pulls quite nicely, but my Vauxhall 1.9 CDTi seems to pull harder. I'm not sure if it's just the extra weight in the Corolla Verso, or whether my engine is actually more powerful.

Cheers in advance,

Mike B)