Prius 2005_which engine oil at 119k/125k km's

The major concern is that you should use the correct viscosity oil: 5W-30. Engine oil brands vary depending upon your location. As long as you are using a quality brand, you will be fine.

Regarding maintenance, I suggest that you look at the engine and cabin air filters and replace if they are dirty. Hold the engine air filter up to the sun. If you don't see light coming through, replace that filter. Regarding the cabin air filter, its replacement depends upon how much dirt you are comfortable breathing through.

You may wish to visit the Toyota Europe website and look for a scheduled maintenance page. For example, the TMS USA website has this webpage:

http://toyotaowners.com/Owners/maintenance-guides.do?siteid=tcom_btmnav_owners_scheduledmaintenance

 

The OP lives in Ireland, not in the United States or Canada. I actually doubt a 5W-30 was used

All I can suggest is to continue using the same oil the car has received all along. May I suggest to the OP to simply ask the dealership, where the service history was obtained, what brand and viscosity of oil was used, and to keep using it

 

Toyota recommends 0-20 wt. for the Prius. H

 

Only for the 2010 and newer Prius. The OP lives in Ireland and recently purchased a 2005 Prius. Only in the Japan Domestic Market did Toyota ever recommend a 0W-20 for a 2005 Prius, and there are temperature limits on its use

Keep in mind that the EU market Toyota's offer a minimum 12 month or 10,000 mile oil change interval, running ACEA spec motor oils

BP makes a good oil, Visco 7000, that is intended for severe service. If I recall, BP now has Aral, BP, and Castrol, all are good choices for the EU market

If you go to the BP global site and click in lubricants, then select Ireland, you will be sent to the Castrol site for your country. You simply enter your vehicle registration number and a recommendation will be made

I did a general search for Toyota Prius and Castrol recommends their Edge 5W-30. Interestingly enough, Castrol recommends a maximum 36 month or 45,000km interval for the cvt, and they refer you to the dealership for the correct fluid

Castrol also recommends 10W-30, 15W-40, and 20W-50 depending on ambient operating temperature. Their Edge 5W-30 is made for VW/Audi and +2004 BMW LongLife service fills, which in those cars is 24 months and up to 50,000 km.

The Edge 0W-30 is also a great choice. This is similar to the Castrol Syntec 0W-30 sold here, which is actually Made in Germany. I have had very good used oil lab analysis results running this oil in the 4 litre V6 that is in my Toyota FJ Cruiser - my FJ is hard on oil, this Syntec holds up

Keep in mind that motor oil specs here in North America, the API, are complete crap. The bare minimum ACEA spec from 15 years ago is still better than the current API/ILSAC spec

The current API spec allows cold black sludge, and cold stuck rings. ACEA does NOT allow this. The assumed oil change interval here is 6 months or 5,000 miles.

Also keep in mind that the ACEA spec in the EU is set by the car makers, and each car maker is also allowed to set their own tough performance specs. Here in North America, the API is primarily represented by oil companies, they are in a conflict of interest as they try to support the oil change industry with frequent oil changes

So keep that in mind if a forum members expresses horror that you only change the oil once a year in your 2005 Prius, or use a viscosity different from that on the oil fill cap.

I would recommend you follow your dealership advice for oil quality and servicing interval.

 

Hi

My understanding is that the gen2 Prius requires 5w30 oil. Check out the following link to the UK Prius forum which is presently discussing this very issue.

Prius Gen 2 Oil - Toyota Owners Club - Toyota Forum

I would add that the www.priuschat.com forum is much more comprehensive though but being a US site, does have a US slant. Hope you're enjoying your new purchase and as others have said, changing the oil and filters is a good way of getting the best out of your new motor.

 

Hi Agape. There are plenty of good quality oils to choose from. Give us some more info and I'll make some specific recommendations.

Questions.

1. How often (time and or km) do you intend to go each oil change.

2. What is the lowest temperature you expect to be driving in (especially for cold starts) during the next oil change interval.

3. How would you describe your typical journeys in terms such as mostly short trips or mostly long trips or mostly rural or mostly city etc.

 

A "cold" start at -5 C really isn't "cold" compared to Winnipeg and area, which can easily dip to -40 C in winter

Given the nature of your driving, might as well stay with a xW-30, such as the Castrol Edge product I found. Just curious what oil the dealership uses?

 

0-20 all year around. Your FE will be better and the ICE will sound great on top of it and run smoother.

 

The recommended oil change interval (OCI) varies from country to country. Here in Australia it's 10,000 km and in North America it's 8,000 km (5000 miles). I'm not sure what they recommend in Ireland but I wouldn't exceed 15,000km. I'm sometimes stretching my OCI out to around 13000km without any issues. Consider spending a bit more on oil and using synthetic if you plan to go any further than a 10,000 km interval.

Ok that's a pretty mild winter, you definitely dont need anything "20" (0W20 or 5W20). You'll be fine with either 5W30 or 10W30 year round, though personally I'd use 5W30 as it will give slightly better fuel economy.

Not real harsh driving conditions so 10,000 km interval will be no problems. You could stretch it a bit further if you using a very good oil.

 

Basically you can choose anything 5W30 from one of the big oil companies (eg Castrol, Valvoline, Shell, Mobil or Havoline). Those guys are big players and you can be sure anything they sell will have been well tested under just about every conceivable condition.

There's tons of choice but here's some examples (I'll give a lower cost and a higher cost example for each). The lower cost will be ok up to 10,000km but consider the higher cost option if you're stretching it past that or doing any really hard driving. (and in some cases the lower cost options might only be available in 10W30 btw).

Castrol Magnatec (or FMX) : Lower cost
Castrol Edge 5W30 : Better/best

Valvoline "Engine Armour" : Lower cost
Valvoline Durablend : Better
Valvoline Synpower : Better/best

Mobil Super 1000 : Lower cost
Mobil Super 2000 (may also be called "Synt S") : Better
Mobil One :Better/best

Ok they're just some that I use and trust. Shell and Havoline will have a similar range of products. Usually if you choose a brand that's a real high volume seller in your region then you'll get better value for money. Don't bother with expensive "boutique" brands.

 

The OP lives in Ireland and just purchased a used 2005 Prius. Two points

1. That year Prius, the 0W-20 was only recommended for the Japan Domestic Market, with upper temperature limits

2. Where in Ireland can you purchase a 0W-20 oil?

The lightest oil the OP will be able to find will be specialized 0W-30 oils intended for VW LongLife servicing, which is a condition-based oil change interval up to 2 years or 50,000 km

This specialized 0W-30 oil is actually a "thick" 30 oil. The older formulation is sold here in Canada at Canadian Tire as Castrol Syntec 0W-30, is made in Germany, and meets the BMW, VW, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes specs covering up to about 2004

The newer specs, such as the BMW one, are 5W-30

 

Honda dealers have 0-20 and I am sure Toyota dealers do as well. You can purchase 0-20 at any Automotive outlet. I have used it in my HCH2 and garden tractor since 2006. Mobil 1 have had it longer than that. I just purchased Pensoil 0-20 at Canadian Tire. All Toyota dealers have gone away from 5-20 and are now using 0-20. If you want better FE then change. It may suprize

 

Agape: I use it year round, I live in a semi arid area, Very hot in summer months. Lots of days over 40+ C. Down to -20c odd day in winter. Also our roads are from sea level to 1400 meters. Lots of up and down. Honda has gone to 0-20 in all their hybrids and I think most other models. I just purchased a 2006 Prius. It had 5-20 in it when I purchased it in Aug. I asked the service manager if it was OK to go 0-20 and he said yes as a mater of fact they just received a directive from Toyota to start using 0-20 in all Hybrid models. You will notice the engine runs quiet and your FE will improve. I use Pensoil Platinum 0-20 synthetic. My Prius only had 19,500 kilometers on it when I purchased it, but I would not hesitate even with the kilometers on your car. H

 

And again, Agape lives in IRELAND which if you look at a map of the United Kingdom, is far far away from here

Where can you purchase a 0W-20 in Ireland??

As far as a TSB, I would like to see the exact TSB

A similar issue came up with 2007 FJ Cruisers, for the rear differential oil. They were shipped from Japan with a straight SAE 90 in the rear end, there were some failures.

Toyota issued a TSB requiring a specially blended synthetic 75W-85 in the rear end. Evidentally, a lot of dealerships in Canada did not read that TSB, as they still warned customers NOT to use a synthetic 75W-90!

But the point of 0W-20 is entirely academic as Agape lives in IRELAND. Usually the lightest oil you will find in the EU is a synthetic 5W-30, though VW diesels on the Long LIfe servicing regime (Up to 2 years or 50,000 km) will run a special synthetic Castrol 0W-30

 

I actually did run Mobil 1 0W-20 in my 2004 Prius most of the time I had it. No difference in summer fuel economy, a very minor improvement in winter fuel economy temps down to -40

I did used oil analysis and had good results with the made in Germany Castrol Syntec 0W-30, Mobil 1 0W-30, and Mobil 1 0W-20.

You can't get Mobil 1 0W-20 in Ireland. The Mobil 1 0W-30 is the formulation for VW LongLife servicing. The Castrol 0W-30 you can buy in Ireland is also the formulation intended for VW LongLife II servicing - up to 2 year or 50,000km service intervals, based on flexible monitoring onboard.

You can use a VW oil in your Prius. The VW oil is formulated to hold up under severe turbodiesel demands and also for proper camshaft lubrication.

 

Agape I would take Halfords advice with a very large pinch of salt, according to their charts 5W/30 should be used in GEN3 prius witch we all know is wrong it should be 0W/20. I have GEN2 2008 Tspirit with 60,000 miles on the clock and use Mobil1 0W/20 witch gives 1 to 2mpg improvement over 5w/30 under the same weather conditions as you (Hereford UK). Oil change frequency 10,000miles/1year as Toyota specification hope this helps.