After 3 Prii, I finally said good bye. (Not to PC though!)

Escape and Gen 2 Prius don't use 0W-20 weight oil. 200k miles is an old motor, it has served your family well. Also isn't the hybrid Escape a bigger motor? Like 2.5 liters. It does not have too work as hard as a 1.8 liter motor.

 

As a Mechanic...here's my "opinion" on the Toyota 1.8L in question...having 2 Gen III Pri and had a 2014 Corolla. Your opinions may vary.

They are efficient engines. They both use 0W-20 oil "only" to maximize MPG. They are aluminum engines and have zero tolerance for low oil and overheat events. Most Prius owners think the these cars are bullet proof and do not require "normal" preventative maintenance. Most Prius owners don't check their oil level, tire pressure or anything for that matter.

 

I think I read on Autoblog/Green that 2018 is last year for CMax. Being dropped for a more CUV look coming from Europe. Or did I have an LSD flashback from the 60's?

 

Thank you for writing so throughly about the differences between the Prius and the C-Max. I’m on the verge of buying my first Prius (a 2014), but am coming from a 13 year relationship with a 2004 Ford Focus. When test driving the Prius, I had to adjust my seat way down to get the view “right” and still felt the visibility was .... cramped?

The salesman asked me if I even considered a Ford hybrid, and the answer was “no, because gas mileage. And trunk space!” But now I’m reconsidering. Off to find a C-Max to test drive!

Cheers!

 

the toyota salesman?

 

i believe you are correct.

 

They are already using an 0w-16 spec. in Japan and the new camry hybrid will too.

 

No, a third-party seller.

 

ah, that makes sense. all the best!

 

If the Cmax is the real deal, then my hats off to Ford. My problem is, I have had the worst luck with Ford cars. And I mean the worst! The worst dealerships, worst repairs (no matter where I took them), repeat issues after repairs that were to supposed to fix the original issue and the most expensive when it came to maintaining. It was always the "bells and whistles" that drew me back to buying their cars. So, because of that history, I cannot risk another Ford car. I know, I may need to "get over it", but I will let others enjoy the new fine Ford products, and I am glad Ford is producing such a wonderful car. But I have to ask myself this, why are they discontinuing such a great car? (Is it because they can't get you back in the show room within 3 years?

 

Yes, 0w-16 has been used for the past several years in Japan. This will be the weight to achieve even better MPG. But at what cost will it be to our ICE.

 

Yup, lots of challenges to keeping ICE drivetrains viable in the future; no surprise manufactures are working hard on other systems.

 

We nearly pulled the trigger on a '16 C-Max with 26k for$13k from a Hertz pre-owned lot before picking up the '15 CPO Prius Three from a Toyota lot. With that said, CPO '17 C-Maxes being pulled from Ford dealer loaner car fleets with only 4k-8k miles are in the $18k-$20k range.

We found the Sync 3 to be unnecessarily complex and the trunk space affected due to the oddball battery placement. Otherwise the C-Max was a rock star and we really liked it.

 

FYI: My wife and I own a 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid (the 2007 model year had the same drivetrain); it has a 2.3L I4 engine. The Owner's Guide recommends "Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 Premium Synthetic Blend Motor Oil". A 0W-20 should be fine in any situation where 5W-20 is appropriate, as at full operating temperature they would both both 20-weight oils.