0W-20 OIL......WHY WE USE THIS GRADE OF OIL??

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by orenji, Sep 5, 2016.

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  1. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    I have done hours of research on the reasons of oil consumption on the Prius and other makes of cars. It is my belief that oil consumption is a direct result of the new CAFE standards that USA cars must meet. Toyota's Manual of the Prius states that you should use 0W-20 oil and this should be followed if you are under warranty with Toyota. However, note that 0W-20 oil is used by Toyota to meet CAFE requirements in the USA. Only USA cars are required to use 0W-20 oil. Other countries have a much wider range of oils that can be used in the Prius. The use of thin oil is only going to get worse with this weeks announcement of new CAFE standards. Oil is getting thinner and it will get even thinner. I have switched to 0W-30 oil, and will cross my fingers that this makes a difference in not having oil burning in the future (car does not burn oil now). Now another issue in the USA is that the oil rating API is not the same as in Europe. The European oil testing is much more difficult, so oil sold in the USA may not be as good as a Euro oil. I am currenty using Mobil 1 0W-30, but may switch to a Castro Euro formual 0W-30 oil as it tends to be thicker. Another issue is with the long oil changes of 10K miles, this will cause more harm as well. You should change your oil at least every 5K miles.
     
    #1 orenji, Sep 5, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2016
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Or 5W30? That's the second gen spec isn't it?

    ^ I'm all over that. Canadian spec is 6 months or 8000 km's, which I follow. Oh but guess what: that's for third gen, but fourth gen, they've adopted the US schedule. Anyway, especially if you're DIY, it's the proverbial "cheap insurance", to double up the interval.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Sep 5, 2016
  3. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    5W-30 depending on climate, 0W-30 oil gives you a wider climate zone coverage, plus you want the thinnest oil at start up.
     
    #3 orenji, Sep 5, 2016
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  4. Piotrus Pan

    Piotrus Pan Member

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    Mine does not burn oil. I was surprised but I can't see the loss of oil on the oil dipping stick.
    I use 0w20. Once I got the 5w30 and my petrol consumption went up a bit too much for my taste. Petrol consumption goes down after the car gets warmed up but by that time I'm already where I needed to be.
     
    #4 Piotrus Pan, Sep 5, 2016
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  5. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    How many miles, (KLM) on your car? What brand of oil?
     
    #5 orenji, Sep 5, 2016
  6. Piotrus Pan

    Piotrus Pan Member

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    140'000km ~ 87'000miles
    Brand is Liqui Moly:
    Link
     
    #6 Piotrus Pan, Sep 5, 2016
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    116,000km and no oil usage yet. I've used 0W-20 except on 3 occasions where 5W-20 was used. (the alternative option for 2010. 2011MY and onwards "required" 0W-20).

    My car also experiences bitter cold temp so, thinner oil at those temps would be appreciated.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Sep 5, 2016
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe that 5 number is the trouble maker then... Food for thought. Maybe @orenji nailed it: 0W30.

    No oil consumption here as yet, only at 63,000 km though. Used nothing but Toyota 0W20, changed every 6 months.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Sep 5, 2016
  9. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Your miles are still low, and you are using great oil!! European oil has a better rating then USA oil, so this may play a roll in no oil use as well. European oil is thicker even when rated at 0W-20.
     
    #9 orenji, Sep 5, 2016
  10. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    My 2010 3gen uses 0W20 one out of two oil changes (5W30) . Now at 85k miles, burns less than 200ml between services (10k).
    0W20 is recommended in Europe for HSDs, too, and every gasoline new Toyota comes with when delivered.
     
    #10 telmo744, Sep 5, 2016
  11. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Because of CAFE standards, the factory has to fill with 0W-20, so maybe its easier and cheaper for Toyota to just use this grade for all new Prius. Just note that in South East Asia and Austraila the use of much thicker oils are noted in the manual, and 0W-20 oil is not easy to find at the dealers if at all.
     
    #11 orenji, Sep 5, 2016
  12. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    orenji, How is your gas mileage since switching to 0W-30? And what kind of temperatures do you drive in?

    I would gladly give up a few MPG's if it meant better engine protection and longevity.
     
    #12 Coast Cruiser, Sep 5, 2016
  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I have been running Mobil one 5W-30 for 20 k miles and not seen a drop in mpg. I drive the roads of the east Bay Area at 70-75 mph and averaged 45 mpg. I threw a can of BG Products 44K in 4 tanks ago and have seen an improvement in mpg ( up to 47.5 mpg now at same driving speeds).

    I also this weekend put some BG Products EPR prior to changing the oil which should dissolve carbon deposits in the engine. The oil came out jet black, so I think I got some deposits out:). Time will tell on oil consumption, but I was at a quart every 6500 miles. Probably going to high mileage Mobil one if consumption levels stay the same or increase as the rubber components might need some additives to swell up.
     
    #13 Raytheeagle, Sep 5, 2016
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are any c's burning oil?
     
    #14 bisco, Sep 5, 2016
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    From years with Honda, I wouldn't get too excited over a little consumption, especially if it's more-or-less stabile. A pint top up, halfway through an oil change's life, was the norm for me. Our Prius is the first car we've had with eerily absent oil consumption. So far. Knock on wood.
     
    #15 Mendel Leisk, Sep 5, 2016
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  16. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    I have not seen any significant drop in MPG. I am in Southern California, so summers are in the 90-100 degrees and winters are 50-80 degrees.
     
    #16 orenji, Sep 5, 2016
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  17. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Not that I have heard of, but the C motor is basically a GEN II motors which does not have issues like the GEN III.
     
    #17 orenji, Sep 5, 2016
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  18. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    Quite the contrary, IMPOV genII has a higher oil consumption record, but the official oil change (USA) was shorter back then and less drivers noticed.
     
    #18 telmo744, Sep 5, 2016
  19. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    that's from this morning/
    mpg: 63.7
    (l/100km: 3.69)
    speed average:
    55.3770 mph
    (89.1207 km/h)

    oil: mobil1 0w-40

    I wonder how high my mileage would be with 0w-20 .... ;) :D

    [​IMG]
     
    #19 StarCaller, Sep 5, 2016
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  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah but SE Asia and Australia don't have to deal with -40 temperatures in the winter. Remember that the US is a big country and you have to go with the lowest common denominator.
     
    #20 Tideland Prius, Sep 5, 2016
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