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How can you distinguish 0w20 from 5w20 oil

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by toyolover, Mar 5, 2010.

  1. toyolover

    toyolover Member

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    I had the first oil change at the Toyota dealer yesterday. I specified 0w20 full synthetic to be used. When looked at the invoice, they put in 5w20 synthetic instead. :mad: They said their 0w20 were out of stock and substituted it with 5w20 without my approval. :mad: Anyways, if I wasn't careful enough to check the paper work, I'd have thought the 0w20 was put in.
    How can I tell what kind of oil (i.e. regular, blended or full synthetic) the dealer actually put in, providing they are of the same grade? Do I suppose to trust what they say on the paper work?
     
  2. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

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    I would demand that they replace the oil with 0w20, at no cost, as soon as they get the proper oil. They should have asked you before using a substitute. If you cant trust your dealer, fire them and go to a different dealer.
     
  3. toyolover

    toyolover Member

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    The reason I went to this dealer was because I have 2 free oil change coupons which were "gift" when they missed the leather seat installation upon vehicle delivery date. I accepted the 5w20 because I was afraid they might put in regular 5w20 and tell me they had changed to the 0w20 synthetic I asked for. If they really do that, I have no way to tell what they actually put in. Afterall, the weather is getting warmer and 5w20 should be okay for now. :mad:What really makes me mad was that the service supervisor didn't even know the Pruis calls for 0w20 (but use 5w20 if 0w20 is not available). He finally and relunctantly apologized after checking up on the specifications. :mad: P.S. I had to pay the price difference btw the regular oil change and synthetic oil change - about $40.
     
  4. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    A detailed chemical analysis would tell you what sort of oil was put in. By "detailed" I mean far beyond the $20 wear analysis that is usually performed as part of used oil analysis

    The cost would probably be around $800

    In other words, if you don't trust the quality of dealership bulk oil - I have provided oil analysis of the crap my dealership uses - then just change it yourself with a known oil

    And never return to that dealership again
     
  5. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Which I hope the refunded after you discovered they refilled with unknown crap bulk 5W-20
     
  6. paulemus

    paulemus New Member

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    I always change my own oil because I don't trust anybody. When I got my Gen2 Prius new, the dealer had a free oil change. Some clown was getting ready to put in four quarts. I had a Tercel with over $500 in oil seals needing replacing from somebody over filling. If you look on most dipsticks, it specifically says "Do on overfill." Another time I had to get a drain plug tapped and threaded with a larger drain plug because somebody stripped the threads. Apparently the Gen3 may be different with the filter assembly. I imagine the zero in the 0-20 may have less to do with the usual climate temperature rating than because the engine starts and stops all the time, and a lower viscosity is better for when an engine first starts.
     
  7. Airbalancer

    Airbalancer Active Member

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    The dealer also did that to me
    I had them change it
     
  8. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Remember, usually it's not the star mechanic doing oil changes. The kid who last week was sweeping the lot, or scrubbing the shi**er, may have received a promotion to oil change boy
     
  9. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    FYI--there are 4.5 quarts of oil in the 2010 Prius, so you paid a ~$8/quart premium for synthetic--which is more than dealers around here charge for 0W-20 synthetic. My dealer charges the difference between standard oil & synthetic, which from memory was ~$16 total.
     
  10. Susan4ET

    Susan4ET Member

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    I need to remember to resolve these potential problems with my dealer _before_ I leave the car for an oil change and pick it up and start questioning the bill. It isn't that I couldn't buy the correct oil myself or don't have the full knowledge and tools to do the oil change myself--it's that I don't want to. I'm willing to pay the dealer to do it but not if they are going to gouge me on parts, oil, and labor.
     
  11. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    Agreed. I had to call 3 local dealers before finding one that would fairly handle the up-charge for synthetic. The first 2 wanted $30 or $40 extra, and wouldn't budge even after I explained that was too much for the delta between conventional & synthetic.
     
  12. Susan4ET

    Susan4ET Member

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    Hmmm...interesting. I was thinking I could end up between a rock and a hard spot because there is only one Toyota dealer in Central Oregon. But if I stay several days visiting a cousin in Portland I could get the service done there. She likes to do the local driving around anyway. Not to think of it until things turn that bad, which after years of service so far they won't.
     
  13. F512M

    F512M Member

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    Sad to see this happening. Like some members indicated, have the oil replaced with the correct one (Ow-20) at no cost. If you have a dealer putting the wrong oil without your approval, then I would look for another dealer or do it yourself.
     
  14. toyolover

    toyolover Member

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    Thanks to all those who responded. It makes feel better after venting my steam. Actually, I thought about asking them for refund or put regular 5w20 and return later for the 0w20 synthetic. But the Toyota user manual says clearly "Use 0w20 but if not available, 5w20 is acceptable". So I couldn't say the didn't follow the book. The dispute I had with the dealer were: (A) They didn't follow my specific request for 0w20 (B) They substitued the 0w20 synthetic with 5w20 synthetic without asking my permission first. On my next oil change, no matter where I go, I will stay and watch them pour in the oil to make sure. :)
     
  15. Susan4ET

    Susan4ET Member

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    Interesting. Since I'm 5K away from my first possible oil change I hadn't actually read what the manual said about engine oil to use. I found the reference on p. 560. It and the oil service cap mention _only_ 0W-20 (or 5W-20 for short use between one oil change). I wonder now if you do need to use 5W-20 because 0W-20 isn't available if it will be good one-time for 10,000 miles?

    I wonder if during the course of miles using 5W-20 and you need to add oil if adding 0W-20 is acceptible? The grades would have to be compatible together. I never had to add oil between 5K oil changes on the 2007 Prius, but going 10K now it may be normal and necessary? Are any of you needing to add quarts of 0W-20 between your 10K oil changes?

    So the real question now might not be bothering to be able to tell the physical difference between 0W and 5W -20 but whether the grades are compatible together if you must use 5W-20 for one oil change for 10K?

    Maybe the information Toyota is sending out to us including the new maintenance schedule will go into these particulars?
     
  16. aapoppa

    aapoppa formerly known as "Popoff"

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    FWIW, I buy 5 qts of Mobil1 0W-20, hopefully on sale and/or with a rebate from Mobil sometime during the period between oil change intervals. Worst case, Wal-Mart almost always has it on the shelf for $6.27/qt. I bring the oil in to the dealer at oil change time and he happily uses it. I think most dealers will use customer provided oil with no problem.

    If, in the ensuing 10k miles, the car needs oil (IMHO unlikely) I've got what's left over to top up as need be.

    Mobil 1 Promotions - Save on Store Purchases and Oil Changes
     
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    5W20 is semi-synthetic or so I was told. So yeah, like the manual says, just make sure 0W20 is put in the next time. My service advisor didn't know and was questioning me. Thankfully a service technician walked through the door at that same moment so she asked him and he said all 2010 Priuses use 0W20. I was like "yay!!!!" (in my head of course).

    Also, my dealer said the cost is the same. (as it was shown on my work order receipt... 0W20 and the price I'm familiar with based on all our past Toyotas)
     
  18. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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  19. toyolover

    toyolover Member

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    From my knowledge through reading and discussion among car nuts, even the oil manufacturers say you can mix synthetic with regular blend, but it is best not to do so. You can mix different grade of oil but try mix synthetic with synthetic and regular blend with regular blend. It makes sense to me too. If you are going to mix synthetic with regular blend, why not use the Synthetic Blended at the begining? Can any mechanical engineer in this forum give us a better answer here?
     
  20. Susan4ET

    Susan4ET Member

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    I'm not talking or interested in blending regular with synthetic even if there was no problem. I'm talking about blending 0W-20 with 5W-20 or 5W with 0W--the other way around.