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0W-30 Synthetic Oil

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by New_Yorker, Feb 6, 2010.

  1. New_Yorker

    New_Yorker New Member

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    I am taking the new Prius in for the oil change over to 0W-30 Synthetic, and the TRD oil filter they did not install on the car. The owners manual says that higher viscosity oil should be used in high stress and high speed continuous driving than the 0W-20 oil they otherwise recommend. I have to drive about 2000 miles next week and the car will be fully loaded for most of that, so I figgure this is the way to go. The engine will have about 500 miles on it by then.
    Any thoughts ? ? ?

    BTW my Prius is the Blizzard Pearl with Bisque, and I have a question to any who have the same model and color combination . . . .

    Did they deliver the car to you with Black Floor Mats ?:eek: I removed them immediately and installed some clear plastic mats myself, which look infintely better. I never heard of carpet and carpet mats not matching, and black on light beige carpet is not a close call.
     
    #1 New_Yorker, Feb 6, 2010
  2. Joe166

    Joe166 New Member

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    Yes, the very dark rugs are the rugs they use in this color combination. I don't know why you are grossed out by them. They are infinitely more practical than the beige mats and they are so much more comfortable than the plastic mats. My wife has had two Lexus GS and the earlier one had dark mats on a beige rug and interior and when she got the new one with beige mats she was grossed out with that and felt she could probably keep them clean for a couple of weeks. As the resident car cleaner, I agree and would dearly love to trade them for dark mats.

    I guess it is just a matter of taste.
     
    #2 Joe166, Feb 6, 2010
  3. neilz

    neilz Member

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    I also have the blizzard pearl with bisque leather. Mine came with the black mats. I asked about that and I was told that it's the right color combo. I didn't think it was right but the contrast did look good. My last car had grey mats and they get real dirty fast. The black ones hide the dirt and that's why I didn't ask to change them.
    BTW, mine was on the showroom floor and they called it the official car of the NY Yankees. They gave it a pinstripe.:)
     
    #3 neilz, Feb 6, 2010
  4. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    IMO that is a waste of an oil change. I consider your trip "normal" driving & the stock oil & filter up to the task. Why is a TRD filter expected on the car?
     
    #4 JimN, Feb 6, 2010
  5. jburns

    jburns Senior Senior Member

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    Personally I wouldn't change the oil viscosity. High stress on an engine is produced more by stop and go driving than on the highway. If there is an advantage to the higher viscosity oil it would be running at high temperatures. Not likely to be a problem in the US in February.
     
    #5 jburns, Feb 6, 2010
  6. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    Why not wait until warmer weather for a change to 0W-30? Then, your engine might actually get up to its maximum operating temperature, better justifying the higher viscosity; and you'll get a short-interval drain of any worrisome break-in particulates.

    Also, you may need to pre-order or bring your own TRD filter to an oil change, because these may not be stocked on a regular basis.
     
    #6 pjksr02, Feb 7, 2010
  7. New_Yorker

    New_Yorker New Member

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    Not 'dark', Jet Black on carpets that are very light and in a Blizzard Pearl White car. YUK !
     
    #7 New_Yorker, Feb 7, 2010
  8. New_Yorker

    New_Yorker New Member

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    My 2007 was a black Touring (see the albums section) it had similar color carpet and a nearly white custom leather, unlike the 2010 Prius the mats matched the carpet, and did not show the dirt at all. Black carpet shows everything. I have 2004 OVERLAND model Jeep Grand Cherokee that only comes with a two tone grey leather and all black carpet, it is in constant need of vacuuming because every crumb stands out like a neon sign.
     
    #8 New_Yorker, Feb 7, 2010
  9. New_Yorker

    New_Yorker New Member

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    The 0w-30 Zero designates the ability to protect the engine when cold, not the 30. The viscosity is the 30 that matters when the engine is at operating temperature and in need of resistance to wear. That is why the manual suggests the higher viscosity be used when the load is heavy, and the speeds high, as they will be enroute from New York to Atlanta and back next week. The TRD filter that removes the smaller particles down to about 3-5 microns is also better wear protection than the OEM paper filters they otherwise have attached to the engine. I just feel it will protect far better with this combination, especially when the engine is new and still wearing in. Engines typically wear as much in the first 5000 miles as they will in the next 50,000, so now is the time to be very concerned about wear protection.
     
    #9 New_Yorker, Feb 7, 2010
  10. Joe166

    Joe166 New Member

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    I guess you never lose a discussion if you just keep saying what you want to say. I am pretty sure that he was aware that the first number is what you say it is. The point is that the engine is going to get pretty hot no matter what the outside temperature is and going to a 40 weight is probably not justified in the middle of winter with the type of use you are going to be giving it. I also think that hardly qualifies as heavy use and would not do it, but it is your car, do what you want.

    By the way, I don't think that my mats are black. They are a very dark brown color. But to each his own. When two people have said they like them, what is the point of saying "YUK"? Now you have hurt my feelings. :hurt:
     
    #10 Joe166, Feb 7, 2010
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  11. New_Yorker

    New_Yorker New Member

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    The mats are black, I promise. But either way they would be color matched to clash with the carpet installed throughout the car, so I stand by my "YUK" comment.

    The Synthetic oil is 30, not 40 weight. It was the Prius owners manuals idea to increase the oil viscosity for what I will necessisarily be doing next week, not mine. I am simply following the Toyota instruction.:fencing:

    The engine operating temperature is not the problem, the load on the engine carrying max weight, at high speed, up mountain grades demands better protection of bearing surfaces and the higher viscosity that is unnecessary in one's casual drive to work or around town.
     
    #11 New_Yorker, Feb 7, 2010
  12. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    Yes, I know what the numbers in the SAE multi-grade oil-viscosity designations mean.

    My point was that the Prius engine will not as often be running at its maximum operating temperature in the winter in northern climates, during routine, non-long-distance trips; it begins to cycle off at stops after the coolant temperature reaches 104 [degrees Fahrenheit], or a value close to that.

    Be careful when you talk about a TRD oil filter, like I did several weeks ago ( http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...ended-performance-oil-filter.html#post1035534 ). You'll get attacked.

    My point about the TRD filter wasn't about filtration though, it was that if you aren't changing your own oil and filter, and if you expect that a, say, Toyota dealer, will have a TRD oil filter in stock when you arrive at their facility, you may be disappointed.

    Happy Wearing,

    Pete
    (TRD oil filter, Eneos 0W-20)
     
    #12 pjksr02, Feb 7, 2010
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  13. New_Yorker

    New_Yorker New Member

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    The day the Prius V and I hooked Up at the dealer I made a point of going into the dealer's parts department and asking about the superior TRD oil filters. You are correct in that they had to look it up, and then tell me they don't have any. I said I would be wanting the maximum protection for my 41K investment so they better stock up on them. They ordered 2 for inventory. I called a few days later to schedule this Thursday's oil change, and told them I will buy both filters to insure I have one with me in the car for when their massive inventory of 2 better oil filters runs out.

    My drive will be over what should be largely open road, no stop & go, and the first leg is 680 miles in one day. The Appalachain Mountains, my considerable weight, plus all the cargo that the folded down rear seat can accomodate, luggage, and what will undoubtedly be speeds of 65 to 70 continuously is why I decided to change the oil to 0 - W30, and install the best filter.

    It is sad that you you, like myself, seek a better filter to help protect the engine, and some people can nonetheless find fault in the idea. You are, of course, correct. There simply is no more vital component of engine protection than the oil and its ability to lubricate the high stress bearing surfaces within the motor.
    Thanks For your input.:yo:
     
    #13 New_Yorker, Feb 8, 2010
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