After First Oil Change Mileage Seems Lower

The 5K service does not include an oil change!! It's only tire rotation and a check of all components on the list. I don't know who told you the oil was changed, but that is done every 10K!

 

i found the right oil not being used......and it makes a difference
how to check?
i got a old plastic cup and put a hole in it f..filled it with oil with finger over hole removed finger and counted time
did the same with 0-20w oil
there IS big difference of about 20-30 sec oil draining from cup between the heavier oil and lighter oil

getting your sample out of the car is your big problem
you can drain and also buy 1litre of 0-20w to compare
worth it because the mpg difference is 3-4mpg

if there's a difference your toyota garage will have to put in the proper oil

don't let them away with it!!

 

In my uneducated experience if the dealers have used the significantly cheaper 5w30 oil (which protects the engine but ruins your mpg's), then the car will sound much smoother on cold starts; just at the expense of fuel economy. The 0w20 sounds exactly as before with new oil compared to the old oil.

In other words, I couldn't hear a difference when the oil is changed from 0w20 to 0w20 but could hear a smoother engine with 5w30. Whilst 5w30 is smoother, it ruins your mpg's. You can sort of tell by looking at the dipstick - 5w30 is darker even when new and 0w20 looks almost like water.

Good luck proving this though.

 

The best way to change the oil is to do it yourself... I came to this conclusion after reading all the stories.

 

I don't bother going to the dealer anymore for oil changes (on my 08). They overfilled it every time even though I told them not to. It takes longer, it costs more, and the job isn't necessarily done right. I DIY. The only downside is disposing of the old oil but most repair shops take the oil for recycling for free so no big deal.

 

Ditto, I do my own change. I read some folks thought the filter was not changed at the dealer.

 

I can confirm that 0W20 looks almost like the lightest canola oil you can ever see not at all like traditional oil.

Also you should be able to tell the consistency different from normal motor oil .. you pull out the dipstick and if you "used to " conventional 5W30 or something like that you would feel the syn very very thin almost like cooking oil

Just my take ... so yes right after the oil change you can tell ... later on it darkens and about 10k it looks likes dark chocolate and looks very much like what you would expect from normal oil but I think I still can "feel" it is lighter./...

 

That's exactly what I'm trying to wonder myself as I read so many (bad) stories of dealers not changing the oil right by either not putting the oil that is specified(ow-20) or overfilling. The latter happened to me as a local dealer overfilled my prius w/ 5 quarts of oil on my 1st scheduled 10k service. Of course I had the normal bad MPG right after. Now, I have much doubt or hesitation that the dealer can even do a proper oil change on our cars.

 

Possibly all three?

Makes you why people end up with the cheaper 5w30 oil on the 'free' service plans? Anything to do with 0w20 costing a lot of money and the dealer maybe thinking "hey, oil is oil. They're never gonna know the difference" and pour in the cheaper stuff.

I think we have finally got the wrong oil issue sorted here in the UK, with Toyota repeatedly stressing which oil should be used in their newer hybrids. Judging from comments on the UK forums, this persistence from Toyota seems to have paid off.

I am curious why you were getting the car serviced at 5,000 miles though, when the service plan for the 2010 is every 10,000 when using 0w20.

 

The OP states that the oil was change after one year and that is the normal service interval even in the UK. Service book says oil change at 10,000miles or one year witch ever comes first.

 

I think the question should be asked "what grade of synthetic was used?" as 0w30, 5w30, also come in synthetic form but, they are still the wrong grade.

 

I doubt she knows what oil was used & she & others will deny any wrongdoing unless you can prove it by the paperwork they gave you or oil analysis.

 

I am sure your correct there but an oil analysis is not required just a simple viscosity check.