1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

0w-20 or 0w-16 oil? manual conflicts

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by TheClassic, Sep 20, 2018.

  1. TheClassic

    TheClassic Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    4
    5
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My 2018 Maintenance Guide gives conflicting information. In the Maintenance Log it indicates oil changes every 10,000 miles, but to change oil and filter after 5,000 miles if 0w-20 IS NOT used. In a different section regarding Engine Oil and Filter it says my vehicle is certified with 0w-16 oil with 10,000 mile interval. IF 0W-16 is not available 0w-20 can be used, however it must be replaced at 5,000 miles with 0w-16. What gives? Just went to the dealer for my 10,000 mile service and they used bulk 0w-20 now I'm wondering when it needs to be changed again.

    2018 Prius II
     
    knockknock_2 and Mambo Dave like this.
  2. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That's interesting - the 2016 Manual is different:

    upload_2018-9-21_23-10-41.png
    NOTE - that is 2016.

    My dealer puts an advice of when the next one is due both on a sticker on the windscreen and on the invoice. If they haven't, contact them and clarify.
     
  3. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    There's a lot of controversy about oil weight selection for cars in the U.S. Some say it is solely based on "CARB" and "CAFE" rules made by politicians. Especially in California.

    I'm fat, heavy, big, tall (and ugly!)... and I drive faster in some very hot areas. Plus a ton of short, stop & go trips in city traffic. Those are "extreme load" conditions. :ROFLMAO: "An oil with a higher viscosity may be better suited."

    So I switched to 5W-30 Mobil 1. Extended Performance. (15,000 miles.) :D Hasn't hurt the gas mileage one bit, and the engine sounds and runs better. I might only change the oil once a year.

    I'm a rebel.
     
    #3 Starship16, Sep 21, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2018
  4. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    The difference between 0W20 and 0W16 in MINISCULE......except probably for the price.
     
  5. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I can't believe they went to 0 Weight 16. They might as well just pour water in the engine.

    We need another good oil thread. Let the battle begin! :D
     
    knockknock_2, orenji, kithmo and 2 others like this.
  6. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    I think that may be a misprint; the 2018 Prius models for which I found information in the EPA’s database were certified with 0W-20 engine oil. On your car, what is the Test Group number shown on the Vehicle Emission Control Information label on the underside of the hood?
     
    alanclarkeau and TheClassic like this.
  7. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    What is written on the oil cap?
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yes, it looks like they screwed up. Excerpt from the Owner's Manual:

    upload_2018-9-21_10-9-4.png

    nothing but 0W20.

    Excerpt from pretty much any page in the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet schedule:

    upload_2018-9-21_10-12-3.png

    But then, on page 56 of the same booklet:

    upload_2018-9-21_10-13-0.png

    I would contact the service manager, point out this contradiction. Maybe link this thread, if you email him.

    Toyota 0W20 is all I've ever used, doing DIY oil changes on our 2010, since purchasing it new. For maybe the last 2 years I've been purchasing their bulk oil, it's the same stuff, just that you're not putting empty oil bottles in the recycle stream.

    FWIW, the Canadian 3rd gen schedule says to change it every 6 months or 8000 kms (5000 miles). I would likely continue with that interval even if Toyota changed the interval to 12 months or 16K kms (10K miles).

    For 4th gen the Canadian Schedule was revised to 12 months or 16K kms, mirroring the US schedule, but I would stick with the old schedule. :)
     
    krmcg likes this.
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I tried for about 15 minutes to send an email to Toyota USA, with a question about this and link to this thread. You're required to "select a state", and that field appears to be broken, doesn't show any states when I click it. Maybe the website can detect my location being outside of the States?

    Anyway, if anyone cares to try, this is what I was thinking to send:

    +++++++++++++++++++

    Page 56 of the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet makes statements about 0W-16 motor oil, in conflict with the rest of the booklet and the Owner's Manual, which only mentions 0W-20.

    More info:

    0w-20 or 0w-16 oil? manual conflicts | PriusChat

    ++++++++++++++++++++

    The Toyota USA contact page:

    Toyota FAQs | Send Questions to Toyota Customer Service
     
    TheClassic likes this.
  10. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    When that happens to me, I have to turn on the "allow cookies" on my iPad, and then the drop-down box appears.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Good suggestion. I tried Windows Internet Explorer (instead of my usual FireFox), and the email went through. Will post if I get any response.
     
  12. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I imagine it to be another way to lighten one's wallet.

    It's like refrigerant 1234yf and 600a which are both flammable. I'll keep my car with R134a as long as possible.

    Because 134a is regulated, the amount use in all new cars had diminished. I believe in environmentalism. But, there are extremes.

    The only way to really save the environment?; the extinction of human life.
     
    knockknock_2 likes this.
  13. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,516
    1,789
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    No mention of 0W-16 in either my 2017 Owner's Manual or Warranty and Maintenance Guide.
    0W-20 everywhere.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  14. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hmmmmmmmmm - Another variation based on country of purchase.

    I looked in the 2016 Aussie Manual - it gives a choice of 5 oils - with a graph against ambient temperature range ( upload_2018-9-22_10-49-8.png + 15W-40.). The EU Manual is similar - but omits one of them. I don't have access to a 2018 Aussie manual.

    But neither mention "0W-16".

    My last invoice from the dealer shows VPS 10W-30 (which I think is Valvoline) was supplied. And - my Warranty and Maintenance Booklet makes no mention of oil grade.
     

    Attached Files:

    orenji, Mendel Leisk and Starship16 like this.
  15. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,096
    2,163
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I heard that the Japanese are working on 0w8.
     
    Max Taiwan likes this.
  16. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, GOOGLE says "The new specification, which includes SAE 0W-8, is targeted for an April 2019 launch, says Satoshi Hirano of Toyota Motor Corporation".

    WIKI says "In line with car manufacturers push towards these lower viscosities in search of better fuel economy, on April 2, 2013 the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) introduced a SAE 16 viscosity rating, a break from its traditional "divisible by 10" numbering system for its high-temperature viscosity ratings that spanned from low-viscosity SAE 20 to high-viscosity SAE 60."

    It used to always be the nearest 10, then to 5 in the '80s.
     
    Mendel Leisk and Starship16 like this.
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I think I would ignore them, stick with 0W20, and 5K miles or 6 months. Not because I know better, I'm just cautious. And other brave souls can forge ahead, do the 0W16 and 0W08 for 10K miles or 12 months, for 50~60K miles, see what shakes out.
     
    Zaza 13, m.wynn, orenji and 2 others like this.
  18. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2008
    1,743
    613
    0
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I want to make my Prius more efficient. What's the thinnest oil I can buy
     
  19. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    That sure is some "skinny" oil.

    Better fuel economy, but at the expense of more rapid engine wear? Only Toyota engineers know.
    Man, that is some skinny oil. :eek: We need Bob's the Oil Guy" to help explain this. Toyota is going skinnier, and I'm going thicker. What's wrong with that picture? :LOL:
     
  20. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I would have thought you want the "best" oil, not the thinnest - oils are matched to an engine. Putting the "thinnest" oil could destroy it.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.