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Anyone using an oil other than 0w20?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by The Critic, Nov 23, 2012.

  1. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    I'm sure there was a lot of debate between the oil engineers and the marketing yahoo's when Toyota came up with this idea.
     
  2. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Maybe that's why the display shows "Oil Service Required" every 5000 miles too.
     
  3. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    They changed the oil change service to every 10,000mi. in 2011. IIRC, my readout says "Service required" at the 5,000 mark.
     
  4. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    :oops: Correction...my 2010 displays "Oil Maintenance Required" every 5000 after reset. Doing it today. (y)
     
  5. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    It just goes to show that this idea was an afterthought. Not good!
     
  6. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

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    "Afterthought" being a change of mind one disagrees with.
    "Improvement" being a change of mind one agrees with.
     
  7. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    My guess is that Marketing's idea for 2/25 free maintenance, which eliminated 3 oil changes, would save the Dealerships money, get the cars in for service and provide the opportunity to up-sell other services needed, or not needed, depending on ones knowledge, opinion or the ethics of said Dealerships. Either way, aside from my early break-in oil change, I have new oil/filter every 5000 miles. However I still use the Toyota filter and 0w20. But what do I know?
     
    Merkey likes this.
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    8000 km (5000~ miles) is still the Toyota recommendation in Canada. And Toyota's 0W20 goes for $5.65 a liter up here.
     
  9. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    Wow! That's cheap! I just priced some at the dealer yesterday at $8.14 per qt..
     
  10. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    Same in USA for severe service. Only non-severe (hwy driving) is extended to 10,000 miles. This is why the 5,000 mile reminder makes sense, for severe service drivers.
     
  11. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    I doubt the oil pump in a prius would do a good job with 20w50 i damaged a few engines in the 80/90 buy trusting a guy that worked on cars out of his guarage for a living, the oil was to thick for the car/truck to pump it good and i slowly destroid the engines. I should have just used the recomended oil.
     
  12. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    I bought my first GenIII in 2009 .... and a lot of others did the same. So you do not think there are already a sizeable numbers over 100k miles ... I beg to differ ... sure people with 10 miles a day average driving not, but super commuters are driving over 100 miles (round trip) a day they are getting there by now ...

    Taxis for sure ... have you or anyone heard reports regarding this ???

    Just asking ....
     
  13. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    That is because it was changed AFTER the first 2010 came out ... I am getting close to 500o with my 2012 I am really curious if this message comes up ... but Toyota still wants you to come in 5k for the rest of the maintance ... which is minimal of course ... and for me I will pay for the oil-change nevertheless !!! first 5k is probably the most important !!!
     
  14. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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  15. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    I'm just about to pass the 160,000 km mark and i have absolutely no sign of oil consumption. But as stated in a previous post Australian Toyota recommends 5-30. Interestingly while US Toyota recommends 10,000 mile oil changes, Australian Toyota recommends 10,000 kilometer oil changes. (??)
     
  16. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Through diligent research, I've found out how Toyota determines oil usage for each market area.












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  17. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    Do they say that the 5W30 has to be synthetic? If not, this explains the 10,000 km (~6,000 miles).
     
  18. alfon

    alfon Senior Member

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    Have nearly 94,000 miles on our Prius. Change oil every 10,000 miles with filter. Oil is either Mobil One
    0W20, Valvoline 0W20, or Toyota Brand oil 0W20, all are pure synthetic.

    I fill with only 4 quarts not 4.4, and when I change the oil and filter the old oil nearly fills up the
    one gallon jug that I use for recycling. The rest of the oil is probably from oil filter absorption.
     
  19. xpcman

    xpcman Senior Member

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    I used 0w20 on my 2008 for the last 10,000 miles. I got about 3 MPG better with the synthetic oil.
     
  20. The Dude

    The Dude Member

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    Why in the world would you not use the best recommended by the MAKERS of the car??? lol? good luck with that.