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Synthetic Oil standard?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Rdkam, Oct 16, 2010.

  1. Rdkam

    Rdkam Junior Member

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    Since the oil change interval is 10K, is it safe to assume the oil that came with my new Prius V is full synthetic?

    If not, at what mileage would you switch to full synth?
     
  2. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    Yes, it's Toyota's synthetic from the factory.
     
  3. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi RDkam,

    The oil is 0W-20, too. I was at an Advance Auto Parts store today, and they are now stocking the Mobil 1 0W-20, $8/quart. It has a Green Cap on it, very nice.
     
  4. Rdkam

    Rdkam Junior Member

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    Thanks for the confirmation. I am thinking of performing a short cycle for the first change around 2500 miles then hitting the 10K on schedule.:rolleyes:
     
  5. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi RDkam,

    I fixed my post. This reply is to confirm, that Advance Auto Parts DID have the Mobil 1 0W-20 .

    I will probably short cycle too, and do a 5 K change, without an oil filter change.
     
  6. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    What a waste!!! H
     
  7. Rdkam

    Rdkam Junior Member

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    I am only considering this for the first change since the internal workings of the engine are getting used for the first time. After that I have no problem with the 10k interval.
     
  8. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    I am not positive about this, but when I purchased my 06 HCH2 new, I was told by the service manager to run until the M/M counted down to as close to 0% before changing the oil, or at the end of 12 mths. whichever came first. They claim special additives are added for break-in? You may want to check with you Dealer? H
     
  9. Jensent

    Jensent Junior Member

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    Walmart has stocked Mobil 1 in my area (N. Illinois) 0w-20 wt. For atleast 15 mo. $6.50 per quart. I get filters for our 2010 at NAPA for $4.00. NAPA Gold=WIX.
    Tom
     
  10. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    The factory oil has much higher moly content that any of the shelf oil. Furthermore, changing oil too often will increase wear, as oil wear protection is best after some use (heat activation). We are talking about small differences, but they are measurable in a lab.

    Bottom line, changing oil early is not necessarily a good thing.
     
  11. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

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    I got the break-in oil out at 1800 miles...guess I have doomed my engine. :p Was thinking of doing a another change at 5000 (what I'm about to hit) and then refrain from the next change for the next 7500 miles (UOAs seem to suggest Toyota-branded oil holds up well for this distance and starts to degrade around this marker).
     
  12. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

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    is Mobile 1 and Toyota the only two selling 0W-20?

    I've heard Mobile 1 is not nearly as good as other synthetics like Castrol EDGE and Pennzoil ULTRA.
     
  13. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

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    I'm fairly confident Castrol and Amsoil have 0w-20 oils on the market.
     
  14. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    Pensoil Platinum has 0-20. H
     
  15. DanMode

    DanMode Brooklyn Prius Guy

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    You can get Eneos 0W-20 from Amazon.com.
     
  16. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    I would not believe any such claims without evidence. It may even be the other way around. It's kind of like saying Toyotas are not nearly as good as Hondas. It's just advertising.

    Virtually all of the oil companies are going to say their oil is better than all the others and they may even offer up some kind of test to prove it. But the test may well be flawed and/or test some insignificant detail of oil performance while ignoring more important factors.

    There are at least 6 or 7 brands of 0W20 oil available now and more will follow.
     
  17. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi f_j,

    I am concerned about wear-in fines particulates, and any manufacturing debri - of course. We used to change oil at 3000 miles on cars with timing chains. So, such break-in issues were not of great concern. But going to 10 K miles on a new car is asking to be in that 5 percent of the normal distribution that has problems for the rest of the life of the car.
     
  18. Rdkam

    Rdkam Junior Member

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    Well, I took my car in yesterday to pick up my plates and went ahead and paid for an oil & filter change @ 2185 miles. When the scheduled 10K service arrives I will change it and stick with schedule (since Toyota will be picking up the bill).

    Full synthetic change 0W-20 $70.00 :eek:
     
  19. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    That sounds a little high, did they give you a cost breakdown? Specifically how much a quart for the oil and how much for the filter. Also there would have been over half a quart of oil left and they should have given you that, unless they use bulk oil. Oil capacity with filter is listed as 4.4 quarts but it is only about 4.3 because some of it doesn't drain out.

    I like the idea of an early oil change too. There is a lot of silicone and who knows what else left in the engine and I think it's good to get it out fairly soon. Even if it does no good an early change is not going to hurt anything.
     
  20. Rdkam

    Rdkam Junior Member

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    I will have to look at my reciept, but labor was in the $37 - $38 range. I think the oil (bulk) was reasonable.