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Toyota 0 X 20 oil

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by alfon, Jul 23, 2009.

  1. alfon

    alfon Senior Member

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    I contacted my Toyota Dealer, Lum's Toyota in Warrenton, Oregon and the parts employee displayed a quart container of genuine Toyota motor oil, 0 X 20 weight, the container states that it is full synthetic and cost, I believe $7.75 / quart.

    He said he could not find a part number for a non - synthetic motor oil with a 0 X 20 weight.

    So, it appears synthetic motor oil is the only motor oil out there in a 0 X 20 weight.

    Alfon
     
  2. filiberti

    filiberti Junior Member

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    So I wonder if dealers will be charging a surcharge now for the synthetic 0-20w? In another chat I mentioned my friend with a 08 Camry hybrid which I was surprised also takes either 0-20 or 5-20, manual says either is OK and her dealer went and put in 5-30w. She took it back now and got a FREE oil change but I wonder how many dealers shortchanging folks ?
    unless you gonna go in garage and watch what oil they actually using ? I been changing my own oil but my 09 Prius still takes 5-30w so no big deal . just a heads up.
    NOW I wonder if my dealer actually putting 0-20 in 2010 Prius's at oil change time ???? I got no idea
     
  3. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    I discussed this very thing with the service manager at my dealer's place. I asked him before I took delivery how he would charge for the oil change. He said he didn't know, mainly because they'd be using the synthetic oil at about $8/qt.

    I'm not changing the oil on my 2010. I know several of you have purchased the tools to do it -- you are better folks than I. I'd much rather go in and pester the service manager to see that everything is done correctly than to try it myself and make a mess (forget about even doing it correctly without breaking anything!).
     
  4. wvgasguy

    wvgasguy New Member

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    My dealer oil services on my TCH were running around $60 for 0W20 and tire rotations. I believe the TCH may use more oil than the Prius as well.
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. DetPrius

    DetPrius Active Member

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    The guy that runs the service dept. at my Toyota dealer said they are going to charge the same $24.95 for the 2010 Prius as they do for other Toyota vehicles. I asked if he was aware of the 0-20w requirement and that it would be a more expensive synthetic. He said they are aware of that and talked about it with the owner and they don't want Prius owners to pay more for an oil change. We'll see what the price really is when I need my first oil change and how long it stays at that price...
     
  6. vertex

    vertex Active Member

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    Can anyone tell me what the recommended all change interval is for the Gen III?

    Thanks
     
  7. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    5,000 miles, regardless of the fact it uses 0 W 20 oil.
     
  8. FLP

    FLP Junior Member

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    The dealer I purchased from told me I need to do the first oil change at 3 months or 3,000 miles. Is this correct? By the way, I've had my new Prius for a whole week and am loving it! I keep learning new things about it each day. Can't wait for the first time I fill up the tank with gas and get to clear the trip meter....:)
     
  9. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Yep, you never know what will end up in the pan. Could be whatever crap, generic, no-name-low-bidder-of-the-week oil company that got the contract to refill the bulk lube tank out back for that particular month
     
  10. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    I don't believe you will find a 0W oil of any brand that is not synthetic.
     
  11. ceric

    ceric New Member

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    I don't believe that they will put in 0W-20 and continue to charge you $30 bucks for it.
    Only synthetic oil is 0W grade.
    They will lose money on every oil change. Even if they do, they won't keep it going for very long.
     
  12. wave_slider

    wave_slider New Member

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    What you might want to do is purchase your own oil, take it to the dealership, and ask them to use it. I do this on a regular basis to save a little money. I compared the cost of mobil 1 at my dealership to Walmart and found that it was $2.50 less per quart. I saw 0w-20 Mobil 1 at Checker's the other day, but it was $8.99/qt. At that price, I would rather us the Toyota motor oil.
     
  13. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    heck, i have a COUPON for my first oil change, now it does include a tire rotation, but its gonna be $54.95... i think the basic oil change for my SPM is around $35... how you getting it for $25???

    as far as profitability... no dealership makes money on oil changes... they pretty much charge you the cost of the materials, and they eat the labor and overhead.
     
  14. vertex

    vertex Active Member

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    5000 miles sounds very low for a synthetic. Wonder why that is?
    Thanks for the info.
     
  15. mindmachine

    mindmachine Member

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    I am not happy about it but I have talked with my Lexus dealer, my Lexus 400h calls for 0-20w or 5-20w and my Lexus dealer gives free oil changes for the first 40000 miles. They said they were using the 5-20w not the 0-20w when I asked. Well you can get non synthetic in the 5-20w so there is your option. It wont hurt the engine but it will effect your fuel effeciency but ever so lightly.

    My Porsche Cayenne S V8 uses Mobil 1, 0-40W and while it uses 8 quarts Porsche recommends up to 20,000 miles between oil changes.

    Go figure???
     
  16. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    For every car I've owned previously, the dealer invoice detailed parts and labor, and they were not doing the labor for free.

    Could be different for Toyota--I hope you're right, although I doubt it.
     
  17. vertex

    vertex Active Member

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    Porsche has it correct, with Mobil 1 extended life, you can go 1 year 20,000 miles. I have been using this for the last 20 years on my cars, with oil changes once a year, with 15K to 18K miles per a year.
     
  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Other posts in this forum refer to a past class action lawsuit over a Toyota oil sludge problem. Once burned over a defect, they may be especially shy about risking a repeat.
     
  19. vertex

    vertex Active Member

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    I just ran across this, anyone use it?
    The microGreenTM oil filter offers tremendous benefits
    and significant competitive advantages over conventional filters:
    • 2 Filters in 1 system keeping oil cleaner, longer
    • Patented microfilter captures particles down to 2 microns
    • 65-70% reduction in oil maintenance costs
    • Potential for up to 5% improvement in fuel efficiency
    • 70% reduction in oil use
    • 50% reduction in filter use
    • Improved engine life and vehicle maintenance
    • Better for the environment
    • US Patents issued: 6,605,215 and 7,048,848
    The microGreenTM oil filter is the most advanced technological leap in engine filtration in 30 years. It replaces a conventional oil filter assembly without requiring any modifications to the engine or filter housing. By continuously filtering a small portion of the engine oil through the patented microfilter system, the microGreenTM filtration system allows your vehicle to operate up to 30,000 miles without changing the engine oil.


    microGreen Oil Filter - Change Your Filter, Not Your Oil


    [​IMG]
     
  20. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Discussed in this thread. I don't know if anyone is using it. They are kinda expensive, and the volume of oil in the Prius isn't that much.

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-soms-technologies-microgreen-oil-filter.html

    P.S. Also see this bypass oil setup. I believe the microGreen filter is an attempt to replicate a bypass system in a smaller package.

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-modifications/23222-bypass-filter-install.html