What color is the Prius synthetic oil?

Nope. Toyota 0W20 is kinda amber in color, when you're viewing a clear container of it. Still, when you have a look at the dipstick you'll see it's still very thin/clear looking, hard to read.

I went to a New Owners Evening, they had pitchers of Toyota oil on a counter, not sure what grade. Someone remarked on the colour, and the service manager just said that's how it looks.

I've been buying the Toyota 0W20 oil every 8000 km / 6 months for changes, seems fine.

 

See if the dealer added any additives in your oil, maybe mentioned on your service invoice. Our dealer always adds a liquid molybdenum additive that makes the oil very dark.

 

Dino oil won't hurt your engine. When in doubt, do it yourself. There are no guarantees when you leave your car maintenance to someone else. Figure this is a free service, some dealerships might save a few extra dollars by giving you dino oil.....but of course, nobody will admit to it.

 

Might be, but I doubt it. Toyota 0W20 costs me $5.63 (Canadian) per liter at parts department.

 

Toyota synthetic is superb quality by all accounts. I would have no idea if they attempt to make it excatly the same shade of amber every batch, presumably could be variations.

What are we talking about? Appearance on the dip stick? One would expect there could be some used oil left in the system so the second fill might be darker than the first fill after the minor contamination. Also conceivably the new filter might clear it up a little after running.

In any case, there are plenty of stories about mistakes on oil changes, so unless you do it yourself, there is some room for doubt. But my guess is you are fine.

 

when i siphoned some new oil out, after an overfill, i was surprised how dark it was in the jar, compared to the dipstick.

 

The second time my dealer changed my oil they used 5W-20 non-synthetic oil out of their bulk storage. Luckily the mechanic listed this as such on the Service Report. When I pointed this out to the Service Advisor he immediately took my car back to the oil change bay and let me watch the mechanic drain the oil and refill with 0W-20 synthetic.

When he asked the mechanic why he had used the wrong oil he simply stated that he uses what the Service Advisor recommends on the Service Order The SA walked off and left me to verify that the correcrt oil was installed.

Moral - you always need to check the Service Report and check your oil levels before leaving the dealership.

 

good point. is there any way to verify that it's synthetic, other than the report?

 

We'd have to ask those companies that do used oil analyses (metals/etc) if they can figure out if its synthetic. I am not aware of an easy test. Believe we can get detailed specs for the lubes (viscosity etc) and then it would be a matter of analyzing and comparing to the specs, but costly and if the engine was used much we'd be confounded by the aging and gaso contamination. Presumbaly cheaper to refill than to figure out if its the right stuff.

 

I'm surprised you had evidence, I would think dealers do this all the time and not note it, especially on the free service.

I once went in for an oil change with a free coupon, like introduction special. Left my car there and picked up after 5 hours. Told me my car is ready. Drive home checked the dipstick and it was the same old oil, not changed. Never went back again

 

This was back in 2010, prior to the free Toyota Care, so if was a paid visit with full Service Report. I was fortunate that the mechanic listed the 5w-20 oil on his report to the SA.

 

the new oil should like Mazola corn oil in color, when you change it it should be very dark. I use Mobil 1, 0W-20

 

Mine is never very dark. 'Course, that's in part 'cause I'm on the Canadian 6 months or 8000 km schedule, and months governs.

 

looks great to me!...that's what my new Mobil-1 looks like...never used the Toyota brand...I am not expecting clear, but convceivably some brands and/or some countries like to have it clear (like Japan maybe clear helps sales do not know).

 

Even if that is conventional oil, the Toyota site says if conventional oil is used, replace at 5k miles with 0w - 20 synthetic oil. So you're good till 10k miles.

SCH-I535

 

on the dipstick, mine is pretty close to clear. can't really tell from your pic, even in person, lighting is everything.

 

Synthetic oil is clear. It has no additives. Clear base stock poly. When I change my oil at 5-7K using M1 5-30 the dipstick is almost impossible to read its so clear. Same with other full synthetics I have used.

You got vat oil. And why not its a free oil change based on your post. There not going to drop $40 worth of oil on you.

 

mine is clear on the dipstick, but when i syphon out the overfill, it's light brown. is that because it's been in the engine, or are they putting in dino oil?