What type / brand of factory oil ... and

the 2010 comes from factory with Toyota 0w-20 full synthetic oil. I plan on changing mine at 2500 miles to get rid of the break in junk though.

 

I did mine at 1,000 miles with Mobile 1.

 

I think the Toyota oil is semi synthetic.

I am doing Amsoil 0w20 next week

 

The bottle I bought at the dealer said "full synthetic."

What's the source of your info?

 

You are right, I think differnet grades are semi


0W-20 (Fully Synthetic)
0W-50 (Fully Synthetic)
5W-20 (Fully Synthetic)
5W-30 (Synthetic)
5W-40 (Fully Synthetic)

 

is everyone comfortable going 10K miles on synthetic oil? I've never gone that long before and i'm sort of torn on the issue. I've always used mobil 1 (12 years at least) but never more than 5 or 6K miles.

 

I change regular car synthetic at 5-7M miles (Fit, Tacoma). Prius at 9200 was the least "used" looking of any oil I ever changed. Those who've run Blackstone, etc lab tests have found normal results at 10000 from what I've read here.

 

Yes, I've been doing that for over 4 years with oil sampling done to prove that there are no issues. In fact I go for 15000 to 20000 miles between oil changes. I have been using AMSOIL for this, which is designed for 20000 miles.

 

How about for a lot of stop-and-go city driving? I have never used synthetic oil before and am worried about going 10K miles before changing oil.

 

ok i feel better about the 10K on synthetic then. i will def send a sample to blackstone and have it checked.

 

I use 4.4qt. of Mobil 1 0W-20 (Full Synthetic) from Walmart ($6.37 per quart).

I measure it out to 4.4qt., then supply it to any oil chaging place every 10,000 miles. I haven't had any problems with Mobil 1 0W-20 (Full Synthetic) so far.

 

That's all I do. Synthetic is just flat a better oil in every practical way except cost. Especially in the additives to keep acid products in check and lubrication over a wide temperature range synthetics are really good. I have about 10 different used analysis reports on two (soon to be three) Prius's that I base that statement upon. The only worry about 10k miles would be doing that with a substandard, non-synthetic oil in super cold weather with lots of cold engine starts many times a day.

 

I'm thinking of using Eneos 0W-20 full synthetic on my next oil change (sometime in October), along with a TRD oil filter.

Any comments, good/bad/indifferent would be appreciated...

 

I pay attention to the specifications that the oils are rated. API (USA) specifications are rather loose. ACEA (European) specifications are much more demanding. For a 0W-20 oil, I look for a A1/B1 rating. I did not see the Eneos being ACEA rated, but I did not look hard and it would appear to be a first rate oil.

 

Priuscritter - welcome to priuschat. I had a sample done from blackstone with (if memory serves) about 9,200mi on the oil. It wasn't the factory fill, though--as you've probably seen on this forum, opinions vary widely on whether to change the initial fill out earlier or not.

I posted my blackstone report--which wasn't bad according to many here, but not stellar either as far as I could tell--on a similar thread. If you can't find it searching for it, and want to see it, PM me. I'd be curious to see yours if you go the full 10K on the factory fill.

~T

 

This reminds me of a question for the 'oil guys' out there (and you know who you are ) - I've wondered, with the frequent stop/start cycling of the ICE, is that better or worse for the oil and/or engine?

On the one hand, there's obviously less wear on the oil (when the ICE isn't running). On the other, the oil cools a bit and needs time, albeit little, but, nonetheless--to re-enter all the engine parts after every stop.

Opinions?
thx
~T

 

Thanks timo, I don't plan to go that long on the factory fill. I am one that still believes that you should get that oil out of there in short order. My plan is to change at 2K miles and then use mobil 1 for the next 8K and then send that sample in. I'll try to look up your blackstone report. I'm also really sold on mobil 1 filters. i saw a report of all kinds of filters on my rubicon forum and i just like the quality and construction of the mobil filters.

 

I sure don't see anything in my UOA reports that indicate the 01 Prius oil was subject to more contamination or breakdown than my 99 Camry oil. All indications are that other factors (e.g. hole in air filter, very cold weather) completely overshadow Prius startup/shutdown cycles.

 

An adequate film of oil stays on part to protect them for considerably longer than the engine shuts down.

If you ever take a part an engine that has sat a few months, you will still find an oil film on parts.

Even the journal bearings (crankshaft main bearings and rod big ends) maintain enough oil to form a hydrodynamic wedge was soon as the engine is cranked, well before the short time it takes for oil pressure to build up, and even that is most likely under a second.