Toyota Letter Confirming Use of 5W30 oil ?

My BS detector is going off big time!

 

Mine came off the lot with 5W30 (according to the oil change sticker), so it wouldn't surprise me if there is some truth to this. I'm at 550 miles. Should I demand 0W20?

 

I only assume 5W30 was used as that is the grade listed for the next recommended oil change...I'm not sure where the vehicles are initially filled with oil so I can't be 100% sure it's not 0W20 that was used but it seems unlikely.

 

I had my oil change 2 weeks ago at the dealer using the free coupon i got during purchase. I forgot to tell the service adviser to use 0w20 but when i check the receipt it say "0w20 synthetic 5qt" was used. But the next oil change on the sticker say next 5k miles, not 10k. So i don't know, it's just another shop. You just have to keep an eye on everything.

 

Sigh. No one hurts Toyota's credibility more than (some) Toyota dealers.

(You wonder why did Toyota have so much difficulty deciding to up the OCI to 10,000 miles in 2010 MY Toyotas, until you read Threads like this)

If you intend to change the oil at 10,000 mile intervals, only use 0w20 full synthetic. (if you are low on oil in the middle of nowhere you can use a quart of 5w20 to get you back to civilization)

Most owners have multiple choices to do oil changes, never return to a shop that does not use the correct parts and fluids. While it would be fun to shame the bad dealers, I think Priuschat would have to spend too many dollars winning slander and libel suits. (Truth is always a winning defense)

The Toyota website can locate alternative dealerships, the cartalk website can help find independent shops.

Toyota Dealer Locator Search - Find Toyota Dealer
Car Talk. Car tips, advice, and troubleshooting. | Mechanics Files

If they are only in it for the money, you can only hurt them by not spending any there.




(Vinnie I am unclear what you are claiming, it says you have an other non-hybrid, but you seem to be claiming to be mis-serviced by some dealer, presumably Toyota?)

 

Sorry, I haven't updated the profile and I need to do so. I haven't been hurt, I'm just not clear on the regularity (or lack thereof) of 5W30 being used on new vehicles. The sticker recommends a change in 5000 miles and 5W30 is listed as the grade.

 

Dealer installed oil change sticker? Ignore that and go with what the manufacturer recommends, 0W20 every 10k.

They're all filled with 0W20 at the factory. I can't imagine your dealer or anyone else taking the liberty of draining it and replacing with 5W30.

 

That doesn't make sense to me either (the car had 32 miles total mileage when I left the lot)...most likely it's just the dealer recommended viscosity at 5K miles/6 months. I think I'll go ahead and get the first change at 5K in any case, ensuring they fill up with 0W20 at that point in time.

 

I thought the temporary replacement oil for 0w20 was 5w20, not 5w30.

 

Thank you, it makes much more sense once I know what car we are talking about! I disliked the hurt wording and edited it quick once I read my own post. Once I write it, I can critique it.

Several (10?) 2010 Toyota models recommend 0w20 full synthetic oil*, Toyota recently extended the service interval for them to 10,000 miles. The 2010 Prius is one of them, insist your dealer use 0w20. Toyota is going to try to weasel out of warranty claims if the dealer insists on some other oil.



*if you are a quart low in Timbuktu, you can add a quart of 5w20, but then get the oil changed back to 0w20.

 

About the tire pressure. In my experience calibration and accuracy is not often checked on tire pressure gauges.

Poor eyesight and tires baked by the sun also play a role.

Not picking on you or them, but just offering some things to consider.

 

I think you are giving them far more credit than they deserve. It is more likely that the top notch technician who was changing the oil (you know they put their very best mechanics, those with an intuitive feel for vehicles and vast amounts of experience), didn't bother to look it up and did it while in cruise control.

 

Read from another forum that the Prius US manual specifies the use of 0w20 while Canadian manual says "use of 0w20 preferred but if it is not available, the use of 5w20 is also acceptable". I had my first oil change two weeks ago at the dealer. I specifically requested in writing the use of 0w20 but they still put 5w20 in it. When I asked them, they told me they didn't have the 0w20 in stock and so they put 5w20 instead (without my approval)! So be very specific about what you ask for and check your invoice before you leave the service department.

 

Well, to be fair, I don't understand why a vehicle with only 32 miles needed an oil change. Maybe it was just a preprinted tag they had available for new cars on the lot.

 

Sigh again. It would be so nice to locate a Toyota dealership that can find their a$$ with both hands. I need to get the cargo net fix done, and must get the brake recall, and would like to get them done on the same trip. When I call, they invariably say they have to inspect the cargo net for peeling off before they can order the kit--wouldn't they have them in stock? I've dealt with Honda, Acura, VW, SAAB, and GM dealerships who do not have institutionalized contempt for their clients. Very frustrating. The Prius is the only Toyota I'd consider, and I doubt I'll ever buy another Toyota until and unnless they clean up their act. Grrr.
~T

 

My dealer put the cheapest Castrol 5 -20 in my 2010 RAV 4 after I specifically asked them if they were going to use genuine factory parts and they said yes. I will never go there again. Period! I hope they are happy. I have never taken my 2010 Prius there for anything so far, not even the brake recall.

 

It is yet another dealer lie. In the USA, Toyota recommends 0W-20 and allows 5W-20 if 0W-20 isn't available provided you change it next change at 5,000 miles. Toyota recently sent letters to everyone that the oil change interval has been bumped to 10,000 miles if you use 0W-20 synthetic oil. It makes no mention of 5W-30.

The owners manual does give wiggle room to use an unspecified higher viscosity oil in some extreme situations, but it is left unsaid exactly what those situations might be.

Bottom line is use the recommended 0W-20 grade oil, demand they change it out and never go back there again. Only use different grades if you know why one might want to and you have that situation. For me, if I did long distance high speed driving in the American south west during the hottest months I might consider 5W-30, but in all likelihood would even then stick with 0W-20.

Rumple