Prius Oil and Oil Filter Choices

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Jason Zarraga, Sep 21, 2013.

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  1. Jason Zarraga

    Jason Zarraga Junior Member

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    Hello all and I would like to thank you for reading this post. I bought a 2010 Prius a few months ago and am very happy with it (57-60mpg, far cry from my 19-22mpg Mazda RX-8, although I sometimes miss it, but that's besides the point)

    Anyway, I am about to hit 40k miles soon so I bought some Mobil 1 0W-20 and Bosch oil filter simply because Autozone had a promotion going on.

    My question is this:

    1. The the past, I've always used Fram filters. Now I know they get a bad rep, but I have yet to find a good source of tests that were conducted that showed Fram filters are as bad as they say they are. They are mostly "he said, she said" information, and most people lack the scientific background and the arguments they put out ("It looks bad", "It's made out of cardboard", etc) are simply non-scientific.

    Also, there seems to be this "More $$ means better product" mentality. If cardboard does the job, why not? You don't need titanium alloy for everything...

    Does anybody have a reliable source that I read up on? A simple google search yielded nothing but anecdotal information for me.

    2. Anyone ever heard of G-Oil? The supposedly renewable oil lubricant?

    Those things are about $20 expensive by 5 quarts compared to traditional 0W-20s. Anyone has a firsthand experience? I'd like to hear more, maybe for my next oil change, or I can return my stuff and wait for it to get shipped to my place. I'm really on the fence as it is $20 more but I am dying to be "greener".

    Thank you!!
     
    #1 Jason Zarraga, Sep 21, 2013
  2. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    don't knock yourself out and use what you got. in the next 10k timeframe you can do the research.
     
    #2 spiderman, Sep 21, 2013
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  3. KrisTheFrog

    KrisTheFrog New Member

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    AMEN!!!! Subjects have sort of been discussed ad-naus
     
    #3 KrisTheFrog, Sep 21, 2013
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  4. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

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    Jason, If there's one thing you can count on, someone will badmouth Fram filters in every discussion of oil filters. If interested, you will find that they make several grades of filters and the one that is chosen for the "tear apart and look what's inside test", is their least expensive.

    Wiki Fram (filter) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia says they have been made since 1934, so they are nearly as old as I am. My father used them when he had an auto repair shop, so as a teenager I started using them in my first car. Does this prove anything? Of course not!

    I think what we are seeing are individuals who want to impress us as "experts", so they will tell you what's good and what's junk while not having any basis other than what they heard. I wouldn't hesitated to use any known brand of filter.

    Now we can start counting those who think Fram is junk.
     
    #4 GrGramps, Sep 21, 2013
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  5. Kevine64

    Kevine64 Junior Member

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    All ill say is especially for a 10k oil change im not using a fram filter. Or anyother cheaper oil filter.

    The cardboard internal ones are just fine for daily driver cars as long as you keep up with changing them but i dont like it for 10k miles.....

    Not saying these are the best but usually use kn. Amsoil. And have used royal purple.

    Just use what you have now and start researching to make your own opinion.
     
    #5 Kevine64, Sep 21, 2013
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  6. vito.a

    vito.a Junior Member

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    I also used a Fram filter from Wal-Mart on my first oil change. It was convenient at the time.

    I did find a pack of five OEM Toyota 04152-YZZA6 filters on Amazon for $26.25. That price it tough to beat.
     
    #6 vito.a, Sep 22, 2013
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  7. engerysaver

    engerysaver Real Senior Member

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    On 9-9-2013, I paid $ 4.26 a qt. for 0w20 oil and $ 5.41 for YZZA6 air filter at Toyota dealership.
    I think I got good deal on oil! .... The air filter I think was high in price; the Fram air filter you got, if
    cheaper in price, will work just as good.
     
    #7 engerysaver, Sep 22, 2013
  8. Jason Zarraga

    Jason Zarraga Junior Member

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    That is actually a pretty good deal...... Thank you for the info, I may just score some of them for my next one!
     
    #8 Jason Zarraga, Sep 22, 2013
  9. Jason Zarraga

    Jason Zarraga Junior Member

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    Thank's for the advice.

    It sounds like for the most part the general consensus is Fram isn't as bad as what people say they are, but for a few more bucks, why not get a genuine...

    Your oil deal is crazy though, I got my mobil 1s for about 6.50 a quart and I thought that was a good deal, which dealership did you go to?
     
    #9 Jason Zarraga, Sep 22, 2013
  10. engerysaver

    engerysaver Real Senior Member

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    Classic Toyota in Tyler, Texas
     
    #10 engerysaver, Sep 23, 2013
  11. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Walmart sells 5 quart jug of Mobil 1 10-30 for $22.95
     
    #11 edthefox5, Sep 23, 2013
  12. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    I've used Fram oil filters exclusively since the first oil change on mo 2003 CR-V, it's got 180'000 mi on it now- no lubricant related engine problems ever.

    Agreed!
    I buy the OEM 04152-YZZA6 filters on ebay now usually in lots of 5 or 6 for under $30.
     
    #12 ny_rob, Sep 24, 2013
  13. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Toyota specifies 0w - 20 synthetic for the 10k OCI.

    SCH-I535
     
    #13 xliderider, Sep 24, 2013
  14. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Not much difference in the 2 except maybe real cold starting. Its Mobil 1 you could probably go 15,000 miles and many people do. In very hot climates I wouldn't run 0-20.
    The viscosity has little to do with the OCI anyway.
     
    #14 edthefox5, Sep 24, 2013
  15. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    True, doesn't have much to do with the OCI, but may affect fuel economy. The 0 weight oil reduces friction loss better than the heavier 30 weight oil.

    SCH-I535
     
    #15 xliderider, Sep 24, 2013
  16. Paul R. Haller

    Paul R. Haller Member

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    #16 Paul R. Haller, Sep 24, 2013
  17. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Can't find a better filter than a Toyota filter! There is a reason it costs more.
     
    #17 orenji, Sep 24, 2013
  18. DickD

    DickD Junior Member

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    If you want a site to learn a little about oil, check out bobtheoilguy he has a lot of information with some pictures showing what he does. It's quite interesting, if you like oil or filters.
     
    #18 DickD, Sep 24, 2013
  19. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I think it's bobistheoilguy.com

    SCH-I535
     
    #19 xliderider, Sep 24, 2013
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  20. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I've been going with the Mobil-1 oil filters as well as Mobil-1 oil...but Walmart stopped carrying the filters in the store, however, I believe on-line at Walmart they still have them last time I checked.
     
    #20 wjtracy, Sep 24, 2013
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