0w-20 or 0w-16 oil? manual conflicts

That's interesting - the 2016 Manual is different:


NOTE - that is 2016.

My dealer puts an advice of when the next one is due both on a sticker on the windscreen and on the invoice. If they haven't, contact them and clarify.

 

There's a lot of controversy about oil weight selection for cars in the U.S. Some say it is solely based on "CARB" and "CAFE" rules made by politicians. Especially in California.

I'm fat, heavy, big, tall (and ugly!)... and I drive faster in some very hot areas. Plus a ton of short, stop & go trips in city traffic. Those are "extreme load" conditions. "An oil with a higher viscosity may be better suited."

So I switched to 5W-30 Mobil 1. Extended Performance. (15,000 miles.) Hasn't hurt the gas mileage one bit, and the engine sounds and runs better. I might only change the oil once a year.

I'm a rebel.

 

The difference between 0W20 and 0W16 in MINISCULE......except probably for the price.

 

I can't believe they went to 0 Weight 16. They might as well just pour water in the engine.

We need another good oil thread. Let the battle begin!

 

I think that may be a misprint; the 2018 Prius models for which I found information in the EPA’s database were certified with 0W-20 engine oil. On your car, what is the Test Group number shown on the Vehicle Emission Control Information label on the underside of the hood?

 

What is written on the oil cap?

 

Yes, it looks like they screwed up. Excerpt from the Owner's Manual:



nothing but 0W20.

Excerpt from pretty much any page in the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet schedule:



But then, on page 56 of the same booklet:



I would contact the service manager, point out this contradiction. Maybe link this thread, if you email him.

Toyota 0W20 is all I've ever used, doing DIY oil changes on our 2010, since purchasing it new. For maybe the last 2 years I've been purchasing their bulk oil, it's the same stuff, just that you're not putting empty oil bottles in the recycle stream.

FWIW, the Canadian 3rd gen schedule says to change it every 6 months or 8000 kms (5000 miles). I would likely continue with that interval even if Toyota changed the interval to 12 months or 16K kms (10K miles).

For 4th gen the Canadian Schedule was revised to 12 months or 16K kms, mirroring the US schedule, but I would stick with the old schedule.

 

I tried for about 15 minutes to send an email to Toyota USA, with a question about this and link to this thread. You're required to "select a state", and that field appears to be broken, doesn't show any states when I click it. Maybe the website can detect my location being outside of the States?

Anyway, if anyone cares to try, this is what I was thinking to send:

+++++++++++++++++++

Page 56 of the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet makes statements about 0W-16 motor oil, in conflict with the rest of the booklet and the Owner's Manual, which only mentions 0W-20.

More info:

0w-20 or 0w-16 oil? manual conflicts | PriusChat

++++++++++++++++++++

The Toyota USA contact page:

Toyota FAQs | Send Questions to Toyota Customer Service

 

When that happens to me, I have to turn on the "allow cookies" on my iPad, and then the drop-down box appears.

 

Good suggestion. I tried Windows Internet Explorer (instead of my usual FireFox), and the email went through. Will post if I get any response.

 

I imagine it to be another way to lighten one's wallet.

It's like refrigerant 1234yf and 600a which are both flammable. I'll keep my car with R134a as long as possible.

Because 134a is regulated, the amount use in all new cars had diminished. I believe in environmentalism. But, there are extremes.

The only way to really save the environment?; the extinction of human life.

 

No mention of 0W-16 in either my 2017 Owner's Manual or Warranty and Maintenance Guide.
0W-20 everywhere.

 

Hmmmmmmmmm - Another variation based on country of purchase.

I looked in the 2016 Aussie Manual - it gives a choice of 5 oils - with a graph against ambient temperature range ( + 15W-40.). The EU Manual is similar - but omits one of them. I don't have access to a 2018 Aussie manual.

But neither mention "0W-16".

My last invoice from the dealer shows VPS 10W-30 (which I think is Valvoline) was supplied. And - my Warranty and Maintenance Booklet makes no mention of oil grade.

 

I heard that the Japanese are working on 0w8.

 

Yes, GOOGLE says "The new specification, which includes SAE 0W-8, is targeted for an April 2019 launch, says Satoshi Hirano of Toyota Motor Corporation".

WIKI says "In line with car manufacturers push towards these lower viscosities in search of better fuel economy, on April 2, 2013 the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) introduced a SAE 16 viscosity rating, a break from its traditional "divisible by 10" numbering system for its high-temperature viscosity ratings that spanned from low-viscosity SAE 20 to high-viscosity SAE 60."

It used to always be the nearest 10, then to 5 in the '80s.

 

I think I would ignore them, stick with 0W20, and 5K miles or 6 months. Not because I know better, I'm just cautious. And other brave souls can forge ahead, do the 0W16 and 0W08 for 10K miles or 12 months, for 50~60K miles, see what shakes out.

 

I want to make my Prius more efficient. What's the thinnest oil I can buy

 

That sure is some "skinny" oil.

Better fuel economy, but at the expense of more rapid engine wear? Only Toyota engineers know.

Man, that is some skinny oil. We need Bob's the Oil Guy" to help explain this. Toyota is going skinnier, and I'm going thicker. What's wrong with that picture?

 

I would have thought you want the "best" oil, not the thinnest - oils are matched to an engine. Putting the "thinnest" oil could destroy it.