Is Toyota 0W-20 Full Synthetic?

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I use whatever the dealer puts in which is 0w20 something ( I never chnage my own oil and never ask for or use non-synthetic). It may even be Mobil 1. Who would ever know? I take a Walmart jug in every 3rd dealer change. They say they are using synthetic with my normal changes. Not sure how I can prove that.

I am not sure how a customer can prove what was put into their vehicle. I have the dealer change it every 6K max period so it is what it is folks.

 

mine just turns amber at the recommended change point of $10,000 kms.

 

Do you run your oil 20k then change? I have no problem believing that synthetic is way better for an engine. and that benifit is even more for engines that use low weight oil. but I think it is bad to run a car with dirty oil

 

I meant I took my Mobile one in every 3rd dealer oil change.

Don't do that anymore and depend on the dealer to do it right every time.

BTW/had a rude awakening with my 2009 when the dealer put dino oil in it. He said I did not request synthetic.

So I traded the car the next month and at least ask for synthetic oil every trip these days. No way to ever know for sure what is in the large drums of oil or if they even used the correct oil. However your MPG will drop if they screwed up big time.

Wish I could watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

No we know for sure whats in those drums. Crap. That's Vat oil delivered by a truck that's never cleaned and fills drums that have never been cleaned. Its the cheapest product that can be called oil they make.

Having the dealer change your oil is an almost guarantee they are overfilling it. And they won't let you watch for a reason. To check my guarantee tomorrow morning before you start the car check the oil.
Don't be surprised.

Having the dealer maintain a Prius is a death sentence in my opinion.

 

If I was a young man and had a lift I would do it myself.

 

I use Jiffy now Havoline. I bring them the exact amount of oil and the factory filter. I stand there and watch. Costs $20 and takes 10 minutes. I don't let them touch anything else on the car.

Lately I have been running High Performance oil but usually I would go to Walmart and buy 5 quart jug of M1 10-30. for $24.95.
OEM filter is $5. So all in its like $40 for M1 change. Car only takes 3.5 so I take out 1.5 quarts.

 

re: " . . . Car only takes 3.5 so I take out 1.5 quarts (from a 5 qt jug). . . . "

Oil change folks at the dealer, Jiffy, and the local service station insist on using 3.9 qts.
They all say their specs show 3.9 qts. and that the extra 1/2 - 3/4 inch over the full line won't cause any problems.

Guess I'll try taking 3.5 qts in a jug and see what happens.

 

I've got a pdf of the 2005 owner's manual (US), one page 314, it's shows 3.9 (US) quarts as the spec quantity at oil change with filter change. That would put it on the full line on the dipstick I think.

 

Oil overfill | PriusChat This thread and other threads support the 3.9 quarts overfill issue for some Gen2s

 

This post:

Oil overfill | PriusChat

in that thread seems to say 3.9 US quarts will put it on the full mark of dipstick? Assuming a decent oil drain, and the oil filter being changed of course.

I guess if it's overfilling with that amount for you, it is what it is.

 

Maybe they are cheating on the filter. No that would never happen.

 

Yep, that happened to my daughter at a Big 3 dealer. She went off to college with a bright white JiffyLube filter. Had the dealer there change oil and filter three times: she had the receipts in the glove compartment. . . . At the end of the school year she comes home and we do our own oil change. The white Jiffy filter was still there. She was hoopin mad.

I guess the small town dealer figured they could cheat the students.

Anyway, the original owner of my 2005 Prius changed oil every three months at the Toyota dealer. The second owner did the same; and at over 300K it's not burning oil. I use synthetic blend and 4,000 OCI alternating between a Toyota filter and a Mobil1.

 

dealer and local mech always overfill mine, using the mfg 'specs'.

 

Its 3.9 if you let it drain for quite a bit. It holds quite a bit of oil up in the VVT section that takes a while to drain back.
At Jiffy its pretty quick dump so I always error on the maybe have to top it off maybe side. Better than its overfilled side.

And my Jiffy guy says it takes 5 quarts. After I stop laughing I say that's great..... today its 3.5. Lets go.

 

Third generation spec is 4.5 US qt's (4.2 liters) with oil filter change. I find when I put in 4.2 liters it's just shy of the top mark. I'd guess your mechanic's using bottles, using a full five quarts.

 

yes, i can't say. he claims the spec, but it's always a quarter inch high. you'd thing he'd want to keep the oil and the profit.

 

Apologies to everyone. I thought I was in the G2 forum. I was talking about the G2 Prius. Please disregard my comments.

 

That would never happen

BTW, in school, I taught that a little low (below the full mark) is best for most cars. But with full pressurized lubrication I suspect that the cup action may be minimized.

Anyone know how the Prius engine is lubricated on the bottom (crank shaft to pistons).