5w-20

Yes. I use 5w20 over 5w30 here in California at 10,000-15,000 miles intervals.

I don't know if it improves my mpg since I've been using it since my first oil change. I typically use Royal Purple because it is easier to get, but sometimes I run on Amsoil or Redline. All of them are superior to Mobil 1 and cost about $6-7/qt. Of course, only synthethics. Also of equal importance is the filter.

Not being technical, but most Honda 4 bangers recommend 0w20 or 5w20 on the oil caps. I had zero problems running 5w20 and 0w20 on a Honda 1.7 liter for 80,000 miles. Seals did not leak either.

'05 @ 44,000 miles

 

Repeat post. Delete.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(silentak1 @ Dec 3 2006, 01:02 AM) [snapback]356874[/snapback]</div>

Are they superior enough to warrant the much higher cost? The price for Mobil 1 5w-30, when bought in the bulk, 5-qt jugs, can bring the cost down to $4.40/qt.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rudiger @ Dec 3 2006, 08:40 AM) [snapback]356930[/snapback]</div>

I would say yes. On my previous car I ran Mobil1 most of the time, but it wouldn't hold up to 15,000 miles. Right around 11,000-12,000 mark the oil would look very dark indicating that it was time to change. The oils mentioned above have all been capable of running to 15,000 miles without significant signs of dark coloring; they only reach 10,000 miles if you use a purolator one or bosch filter.

It's really up to you though since ALL of them (including Mobil1) will protect your engine far better than Penzoil, Valvoline, Quaker, etc.

Here are a few articles comparing oils (some of these are from the manufacturer's website...so might have slight bias):

Royal Purple
http://www.royalpurple.com/techrp/summary.html
http://www.performancemotoroil.com/Royal_Purple_info.html

Amsoil vs. Redline
http://www.performancemotoroil.com/Redline_test.html

Amsoil vs. Mobil1
http://www.performanceoiltechnology.com/Amsoilvs.Mobil1.htm

Amsoil vs. Common Brands (Penzoil, etc.)
http://www.go-synthetic.com/amsoil_testing...il_testing.html

And this one is from a Tundra forum
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/engi...e-vs-mobil-1-a/

 

Well I'm no professor of engineering. But after putting 280k on a 3.3l 1990 Grand Caravan and 180k on our current Chevy Venture both of them never use any oil between changes and never any engine problems I'd say Quaker State is good enough and I'll save the extra dough LOL.

It's really up to you though since ALL of them (including Mobil1) will protect your engine far better than Penzoil, Valvoline, Quaker, etc.

Here are a few articles comparing oils (some of these are from the manufacturer's website...so might have slight bias):

Royal Purple
http://www.royalpurple.com/techrp/summary.html
http://www.performancemotoroil.com/Royal_Purple_info.html

Amsoil vs. Redline
http://www.performancemotoroil.com/Redline_test.html

Amsoil vs. Mobil1
http://www.performanceoiltechnology.com/Amsoilvs.Mobil1.htm

Amsoil vs. Common Brands (Penzoil, etc.)
http://www.go-synthetic.com/amsoil_testing...il_testing.html

And this one is from a Tundra forum
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/engi...e-vs-mobil-1-a/
[/quote]

 

I normally use Mobil 1 0W-30 with good oil analysis results, even at 10,000-11,000 km intervals. Last winter I thought I'd try Mobil 1 0W-20, and the wear results were BETTER than 0W-30.

No difference in highway fuel economy that I could determine, but around 10-15% better city fuel economy in bitter temps. This winter I'm using 0W-20 again, will let you know in Spring what the wear results are. I'm using the dealer parts Toyota/Nippondenso oil filter.

I no longer worry about pushing the interval, based on my used oil analysis. In most of the EU market Toyota has a 12 month/16,000km interval for the Prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LongRun @ Dec 4 2006, 01:05 AM) [snapback]357245[/snapback]</div>

I would like to continue using 0W-20 year round, but Canadian Tire only carries Mobil 1 5W-20 now. I have enough 0W-20 for another oil change, and if I had to choose, I'd prefer the 0W-20 be saved for winter use.

I agree that with the frequent start/stop cycles in city driving, especially in temps of -20 to -40 C, a synthetic 0W-20 is the Prius best friend.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LongRun @ Dec 3 2006, 06:34 PM) [snapback]357141[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, while Amsoil, Royal Purple, and Redline are all 'probably' better synthetic oil than Mobil 1, the difficulty in proving that definitively isn't enough to justify the extra cost for most people. It's similiar to Tupperware kitchen products and Snap-On tools, which are undoubtedly superior to more easily obtainable and much less expensive alternatives.

Advance Auto has the 5-gal jugs of 5w-30 Mobil 1 on sale for $20 through Dec. 27. At a net cost of $4/qt, it's not worth the effort to go to the trouble and expense of using the other, higher quality synthetic oil, particularly in a car like the Prius where the whole idea is for the ICE to operate as little as possible.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LongRun @ Dec 9 2006, 05:28 PM) [snapback]359873[/snapback]</div>

By the same example, at my hobby farm I run Esso XD-3 15W-40 summer, and XD-3 0W-30 winter, in my diesel tractor and 1984 Ford F-150 work truck. Esso claims the 0W-30 is synthetic, with far more approvals than Mobil 1, and priced here in Canada 1/2 the cost.

http://www.imperialoil.ca/Canada-English/F..._Xd-3_extra.pdf

About the only hesitation I have to running something like the Esso XD-3 0W-30 year round is that it is a "thick" SAE 30 oil at tested operating temp, so I would expect a small fuel economy hit.

 

Not really sure if you can get Esso XD-3 in the U.S. I suppose that would depend on if Exxon and Esso share brands. There is a large Esso bulk distributer just south of the Perimeter on hwy #3 in Oakbluff, I could give him a call tomorrow to ask.

I really wonder if there would be a huge difference in fuel economy anyway - when I compare Mobil 1 0W-30 to Mobil 1 0W-20, I've never had any difference on the highway. In the city, the 0W-20 maybe 5-10% at most.

Last time Mobil published MRV data for their Mobil 1 oils, the 0W-20 was something like 120 Poise at -40 C, the 0W-30 around 160 P. In contrast, the Esso XD-3 0W-30 is rated at 226 P at -40 C. The XD-3 is clearly more viscous at -40.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LongRun @ Dec 9 2006, 05:28 PM) [snapback]359873[/snapback]</div>

For a third of the cost, I can see using Motorcraft 5w-20 instead of Mobil 1 5w-20 (particularly in a fleet application).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LongRun @ Dec 10 2006, 09:00 PM) [snapback]360187[/snapback]</div>

I did call the Esso dealer in Oakbluff during lunch, and he claimed it should be available at larger truck stops and Exxon bulk oil dealers. However he was under the impression only the 15W-40 and 10W-30 grades were down there.

Looks like the XD-3 0W-30 and 0W-40 are targeted to the Canadian market only

jay