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

Blackstone Labs 10K Analysis Pennzoil Ultra Platinum

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Elt31987, Feb 17, 2022.

  1. Elt31987

    Elt31987 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2016
    205
    149
    0
    Location:
    Derry, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I've been changing my oil at 10K since it was brand new and it doesn't burn any oil. So the last oil change 99K I changed it at 5K with Sunoco Ultra Synthetic and sent it for an analysis. Everything looked golden and was told to try 10K. This most recent time I ran it for 9.5K with Pennzoil Ultra Platinum and the wear is essentially the same with double the miles. This was with 3 trips a week to the gym of about 1.5 miles each way in the summer AND winter first thing in the morning. With 2 days a week driving into Boston at about 100 miles round trip(One way is 65 MPH cruise control, the way home is stop and go). So basically some of the worst conditions which SHOULD qualify it as extreme conditions. Obviously everyone's driving habits are different but id say you cant put a blanket statement saying that changing every 10K is going to ruin your engine. At least in my case the engine burns no oil at 110K with changing the oil every 10K its entire life(Except for the one time it was changed at 5K). For 25 bucks for 5 quarts the Pennzoil is an absolute steal.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2015
    886
    493
    0
    Location:
    Cow-lee-fornia
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    Yeah Pennzoil Ultra Platinum is among the best of the best synthetic motor oils to use.
     
    Elt31987 likes this.
  3. robsnyder20

    robsnyder20 Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2012
    372
    300
    0
    Location:
    SW Florida USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks for posting and sharing. I always wondered if I was loosing any engine longevity by changing at 10k? The oil never looks all that bad!
     
    Elt31987 likes this.
  4. Elt31987

    Elt31987 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2016
    205
    149
    0
    Location:
    Derry, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Agreed even at 10K the oil wasn't crazy dark
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,473
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    On the dipstick, or a collected jar?

    That said, with most conventional cars, even the oil on the dipstick looks terrible by 10K.

    Here's a comparison I did, with around 4k kms on the oil, vs new, with our 2010. Both oils are Toyota 0W20:

    upload_2022-2-19_9-31-29.png
     
    douglasjre likes this.
  6. Elt31987

    Elt31987 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2016
    205
    149
    0
    Location:
    Derry, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Dipstick wipe on a white cloth looked pretty clean considering. Oil as it was draining was still partially see through with a light. I definitely won't be pushing the oil change to 12K. I always wanted to just be able to do the 10K and it looks like at least for me that should be fine
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,473
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    4th gen have better piston rings and track record, that's for sure.
     
    Jburner, douglasjre and Elt31987 like this.
  8. Jburner

    Jburner Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2022
    68
    40
    0
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I’m wondering if because of the hybrid system and the engine turning off so often, that the oil is essentially getting half the life of ICE only vehicles.

    On a side note…
    Think there is any harm in using 0w-16 in Gen 4? Found a bunch of qts of Castrol for $2/qt
     
    Elt31987 likes this.
  9. Elt31987

    Elt31987 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2016
    205
    149
    0
    Location:
    Derry, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    For 25 bucks for 5 quart's I would stick with Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0W20. The difference is likely marginal
     
  10. 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
    The cheapest new clean 0w20 synthetic oil that meets specifications is better than the most expensive oil at 5 k miles.

    At 5 k miles, gasoline blowby products, and carbon and dirt detritus will continue to circulate throughout the engine for another 5 k miles.

    Nothing beats clean oil and a new filter. Oil and filters over the life of a car are cheap compared to a new engine. I'd use any money paid to Blackstone Labs to pay for a more frequent oil change.
     
  11. Elt31987

    Elt31987 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2016
    205
    149
    0
    Location:
    Derry, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Again, this is just an experiment of mine own desire. I recommend everyone due their own due diligence. But I'm MY case the 10K oil changes I've been doing over the past 110K show no issues at all. Everyone's experience will vary. And honestly, I'm just waiting a few years for more BEV trucks to come out and ill be purchasing one. Fingers crossed on a BEV Tacoma.
     
  12. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2022
    940
    343
    0
    Location:
    Midwest
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    FWIW the 2022 OM and Maintenance Schedule specifically states to us 0w16 with 12m/10000 mile intervals and if 0w20 is used then it is to be replaced with 0w16 at 6m/5000 miles.
     
  13. Elt31987

    Elt31987 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2016
    205
    149
    0
    Location:
    Derry, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yeah same with the prior years except it was use 0w20 for 10K and if 5w20 was used to change it at 5K with 0w20
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,473
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yeah seems like mostly a text editing exercise, a policy change. I doubt the engine is revised in any significant way.
     
    Elt31987 likes this.
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,473
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
  16. Jburner

    Jburner Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2022
    68
    40
    0
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,473
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yeah, the one weight they DON’T mention is 0W16. :rolleyes:
     
    Doug McC likes this.
  18. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2022
    940
    343
    0
    Location:
    Midwest
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    I can remember when we got our 2008 F 250 and the recommendation was for 5w20. I thought they had lost their minds. Did a lot a research and found that the tighter clearances somehow tolerated the lighter oils.
    watching the Car Care Nut on YouTube and his VERY strong recommendation for avoiding oil burning problems in a Gen4 Prius was sticking with the 0w16 and being very careful not to overfill. FWIW

    It is very strange that the OM for our Prius sold in the USA doesn’t give any options other than 0w16 for 10,000 mile oil changes, even for “severe use”.