synthetic oils

[Wyidelode]

I have a grand total of 51 miles on my new Prius. I got >201K miles out of my wonderful old Escort wagon, and I attribue some of that to the use of synthetic oil for the first 115K. Does anyone else here use a synthetic, and if so, which one?

[furkidsnprius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wyidelode @ Jun 4 2006, 08:32 AM) [snapback]265533[/snapback]</div>

I have a grand total of 51 miles on my new Prius. I got >201K miles out of my wonderful old Escort wagon, and I attribue some of that to the use of synthetic oil for the first 115K. Does anyone else here use a synthetic, and if so, which one?
[/b]

pretty much everyone. There is a lot of information already posted about this Search for Oil, or Synthetic Oil.

[Wyidelode]

Hey Marie! Thanks for the prompt reply.
Where do I go on this site to personalize my posts with car picture, and details like that?

[aaf709]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wyidelode @ Jun 4 2006, 05:55 AM) [snapback]265539[/snapback]</div>

Hey Marie! Thanks for the prompt reply.
Where do I go on this site to personalize my posts with car picture, and details like that?
[/b]

Welcome!

You would go My Controls and click on Personal Profile in the lower left. That give you access to your avatar. You can add one of your own, or chose from a collection. When you get to 500 posts you'll get the option of changing "Senior Prius Poster" to just about whatever you want.

In answer to your question, I use Mobil 1 synthetic. I waited until the first oil change (5,000 miles) before I did.

[hdrygas]

The best reason I can think of is that it is not made from Dino Oil.

[jrct9454]

I'be been using synthetic in all our cars for the past 10 years or so, but have serious doubts about doing so in the Prius. The reason is the ridiculously short REQUIRED 5k / 6 month oil changes, which of course are fallout from Toyota's oil-gelling scandals with the Camry [and some other engines]. If you're going to dump the oil every 6 months or 5 k miles, it makes very little sense to pay for synthetic.

Since we retired in the mid '90s, our annual mileage has been right around 8000 miles - some years more, some less, depending on whether or not there were some long roadtrips in there. This year, we have a couple of really long trips planned, so we might go as much as 13000 miles in 2006. When I was changing the oil once a year, or in the case of our Mercedeses [multiple], every 18-24 months depending on what the computer called for, synthetic oil is the only way to go. The oil change requirements on the Prius, combined with the squeaky-clean emissions, make synthetic an unnecessary expense....and I'm a big fan of synthetics in general.

Anyone who uses synthetic in this or any other car doesn't get an argument from me, but I'm not at all convinced it is something I intend to do with our '06 Prius.

[brandon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jrct9454 @ Jun 5 2006, 09:05 AM) [snapback]265934[/snapback]</div>

I'be been using synthetic in all our cars for the past 10 years or so, but have serious doubts about doing so in the Prius. The reason is the ridiculously short REQUIRED 5k / 6 month oil changes, which of course are fallout from Toyota's oil-gelling scandals with the Camry [and some other engines]. If you're going to dump the oil every 6 months or 5 k miles, it makes very little sense to pay for synthetic.[/b]

Required as a precaution for the warranty. This is no different than any other car, except most cars have a recommended change interval of 3k / 3 month oil changes, much shorter than that of the Prius.

I use Mobil 1 5w30 synthetic because it performs better than dino, has fewer impurities, etc. I'm sure some of the more technical folks here will tell you why they use synthetics; my philosophy is pretty simple. Sure, dino will get the job done, but if you can afford to use a superior product, why wouldn't you?

[cdavid]

So I was in Walmart to buy oil, and Mobile 1 is about $4.40/quart, and their branded full synthetic is about $13 for a 5 quart container. It states it meets all the same standards that Mobile 1 meets. Why wouldn't I buy this brand instead?

I had a summer job once and I was testing some equipment in a peach cannery. They can peaches over a 2 month period or so and the rest of the year they just roll labels on the cans and ship them out. They were printing labels for a "discount grade" store labeled product. He told me next week they were changing the labels to a premium and more expensive label, Del.....

Do you think there is a difference?

[ceric]

Another synthetic oil thread...

To make my points as short as possible, there are two major reasons to use synthetic oil
- longer oil change period (if convenience is important to you) - required on BMW vehicles on which the oil change period could be as long as 12K miles.
- high engine operating temperature - like BMW (US models are hotter than European to cut down emission).

I failed to see either one fits my Prius. Therefore, no synthetic oil on my Prius. On my BMW, it has been synthetic oil since new.

[IsrAmeriPrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon @ Jun 5 2006, 07:42 AM) [snapback]265952[/snapback]</div>

...except most cars have a recommended change interval of 3k / 3 month oil changes, much shorter than that of the Prius.[/b]

That has not been the case in years. Most manufacturers recommend 7,500 miles or 12 months intervals. Car dealers on the other hand...