Best full synthetic 5w40 for 2012 for the money?

Everything is relative- the 1.8L engine in your Prius is more likely to burn oil than the 1.5L engine in mine.

Some mechanics believe that a thicker oil won't leak into areas where it can be more easily burnt. They might be right. Every engine is different, and this would be a harmless experiment to test.

...as long as you avoid the ZDDP-rich stuff.

 

YES.
A 5 in the oil viscosity is NOT necessary.
A name brand "high mileage" oil would be a good choice, probably.
Doesn't have to be a full synthetic either.

Total BS.

 

Variable Valve Timing. That's what the Prius engine has. It adjusts the valve timing depending
on the engine load.
And you would be WISE to use full synthetic oil because that is what Toyota calls for.

 

I respectfully disagree with that theory.
There is little to NO advantage to using synthetic oil in a vehicle that is more than 10 years old and has well over 100K miles AND already uses a significant amount of oil.
It certainly won't hurt but is absolutely not necessary.

Conventional oil would need to be changed more often but if it is burning enough oil, that isn't much of a factor either.

 

If you don't care about the engine, and are going to replace it, it doesn't matter.
In the Toyota manual, it says to use 0w20 synthetic oil for 10,000 mile oil changes.
You can use 5w20, synthetic, but to change the oil at 5000 miles and to use 0w20.
No where did I see Toyota recommend non synthetic oil.
I could be mistaken about the 5w20, it may have been 0w30, or 5w30. I don't feel like
going to the car, getting the manual and looking it up.

Using synthetic oil reduces wear, and there is less friction

Anyone can use any oil they want. You can even fill up your gas tank with diesel.

 

for cars with a few miles 0w20 is wayyy too thin, here in Australia anyway, you need better protection in warmer climates my coolant is thicker than 0w20 lol

Near everyone here with an old prius or camry with moderate miles on it uses 5w30, 10w30 or 10w40 and our engines chugg along up to and over 600-700,000km

Australian Manual states up to 20w50 can be used

If it were me I would start at 5w30 and find my way up as required

 

Have you tried cleaning the rings? I know some here have had success in reducing their oil burning by cleaning the rings and moving up in oil viscosity. I reduced mine a little bit by using BG EPR just before an oil change, though I've kept using 0w20.

 

Motor Oil University found on BITOG

 

The information found in Motor Oil University was originally posted on FerrariChat by AEHaas.

 

You can use up to 50 weight oil, it’s allowed in other parts of the world. Don’t fall for the BS of using 20 weight oil. I use 0W-40 and have no oil usage.

 

I’m reluctant to call you on that, really don’t want a row, but...: if you search the PDF of the North American Owners Manual, there’s something like two instances of the word “synthetic”, and they both pertain to upholstery.

Granted saying 0W20 is pretty much synonymous with synthetic, but I don’t see any instance of Toyota spec’ing synthetic. Around the world too, they loosen up about what oil weights are “acceptable”, Australia in particular. The heavier oil weights are commonly available in both synth and conventional.

 

I don't care what oil you use. Use 90w if you want.
I don't care what other countries are using. They can use 50-100 if they want.

The manual that came with my Prius is where I got that information.
Like it or not, Toyota knows more about the engines they spent millions of dollars developing
and building. But I guess a few people know more then they do.

I personaly have not seen non synthetic 0-20 oil, or any other weight for that matter.
I guess it's out there, somewhere.

The smartest thing to do is to read the vehicles owners manual and us the oil they say to use.

But, individuals can use whatever oil they want to use. It's there car, and there money.

As always: result may vary!
As always: result may vary!
As always: result may vary!
As always: result may vary!
As always: result may vary!
As always: result may vary!
As always: result may vary!

 

does that oil exist? And will it stop my oil burning issue also? I will put that after in at my next 60,000 mile oci.

 

YOU need to take a deep breath and CHILL.
Strict engineering data is not the ONLY reason for some recommendations.

In this case, the CAFE fuel standards has a good bit to do with it too.
Do not the same engineers design the cars in ALL countries ?

Answer: Yes they do.
And they make different oil recommendations for various reasons.

I don't enjoy pointless arguments like this. Do YOU ? REALLY ??
If you REALLY don't care, then why are you still typing responses ???

 

I am chilled......

and blah blah blah....

 

My point exactly.

 

I never learn...

 

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

 

Cafe Standard is the only reason 0W-20 is used and it’s pretty much used in all new cars for the same reason. The exception is German Manufactures who still want thick oil, enjoy your oil burner as it starts around 100k with your 20 weight oil.

 

Redline Oil 5-30 which acts like a 40 weight as it gets hot. Best oil on the market.

Here's my engine at 160,000 miles. Notice no wear at all on the cam lobes. No bad off gassing to clog the throttle body. Pic of throttle body is 40,000 miles past its last cleaning. i didn't even bother cleaning it.
Has a zinc pack in it. Its the only oil I have used in this car that quiets down the solid lifters.

Engine runs like brand new.

The TB has the usual pool of oil at the bottom of the TB but look how clear that oil is lol and its close to its OCI.
Never had any issues with my cat. In fact sold my cat.

The g2 engine is a very clean running engine. The car does not eat any oil between its 5K OCI.
You want clogged piston rings use a crappy oil.

If I owned a G3 with its EGR issues I would run an oil of this quality. $11 a quart you get what you pay for.

I use this oil in all my cars. And there trans fluid too. My G2 uses Redline D6 its entire life bought it new in 07. Really good product.