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What type of oil needed for 2010 Prius with 140k miles?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by GreenTea&SaltWater, May 14, 2020.

  1. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    Need to know what oil is best for my Prius.
     
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  2. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Conventional 5w30 replace every 4K miles
     
  3. GreenTea&SaltWater

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    Thanks
    Would Synthetic 5w30 oil be fine?
     
  4. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Id definitely go with synthetic! Heck you can get a 5qt jug of synthetic for $16 at Walmart!
     
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  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Synthetic
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What's your oil consumption like, none, modest, moderate, a lot?

    If you're question's mainly what brand, they're all fine, meet the spec. I've used nothing but Toyota oil, fine so far, fwiw.
     
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  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You can get 2 (5 quart) jugs of full synthetic 5w-30 at Costco for $24.99. That's what I use on my Prius cars.
     
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just editorial... :whistle:
     
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  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    wanted to stress the Costco workers with longer lines
     
  10. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    I’ve used both and both come out dark at 4K miles
     
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  11. burebista

    burebista Active Member

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    Why 5W-30 and not recommended 0W-20?
    Just curious. :)

    I have the car for 2 years and made 2 oil changes. One with Yacco HY 0W20 and one with Toyota 0W20.

    Any reason to use 5W30?

    Thanks.
     
    #11 burebista, May 15, 2020
    Last edited: May 15, 2020
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  12. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    IF there is no evidence of any oil related problems.....keep doing what you have been doing.
    If the vehicle is new to you, use what the owners manual recommends.

    IF.....there are signs of excessive oil usage or other oil problems, then the answer would be somewhat different.

    In general, there really is NO "best" oil. All the majors are more than adequate.
     
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  13. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Color alone tells you NOTHING about the quality or performance of motor oil.
     
  14. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    The kind that meets the requirements specified in the OM that you will both monitor and change frequently.
     
  15. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Topped-off oil.



    Other than that there won't be $0.05 worth of diff between $2 5w30 that you get at the Dolla store(**) and the $20 a quart super-purple-amsoil designer blend.

    You have a G3 with 140,000 miles on the clock.
    BELIEVE ME
    The flavor of oil that you use isn't going to matter right now.



    You ONLY have to make sure that the oil you use has the API "starburst" symbol on the bottle and is somewhere close to the VISCOSITY that's appropriate for your car:
    (Hint: If you open your hood and find the oil filler cap....it's "probably" printed right there on the cap! ;) )

    upload_2020-5-15_8-26-51.jpeg


    (**) I mentioned the Dolla store because they DID sell oil in their automotive section that did not have the API starburst symbol on it.....and people bought it because.....it was cheap.


    Dollar General Obsolete Motor Oil Class Action Lawsuit Certified | Top Class Actions
     
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  16. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    Not to the original question, but if you haven't yet cleaned your EGR system at 140k miles, the type of oil you use is the least of your worries.
     
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'm also a bit off-topic, but anyway: I've been putting in precisely the spec'd 4.2 liters (or 4.4 qts IIRC), with oil filter change, and the level ends up a good 1/4" below the top mark. I leave it thus, and there it stays, for the duration, which is good.
     
    #17 Mendel Leisk, May 15, 2020
    Last edited: May 15, 2020
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