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

Chart on POST #25 is Australia.

 

Then use the recommended weight in a FULL synthetic.
Your theory is all wrong.
Thicker oil does NOT necessarily give "better protection" in most normal situations.

 

I'm taking my 2020 LE in today for the 5000 mile maintenance, and I'm still quite confused if I should ask for 0W-16 or 0W-20.
The documentation says both, as noted above, but the maintenance guide seems to prefer 0W-16 if available.
It'll be for the winter months & about 1 to 1.5 miles in elevation, if that makes any difference.

 

They'll likely argue with you, that oil change isn't due till 10K.

 

I was wondering about that as well. I had a roof box on for the majority of the miles, plus it was a lot of mountain roads, so I definitely want one either way. If they end up charging me too much for it, I'll probably just let them rotate the tires & take it elsewhere.

 

What does it say on the Oil Filler on top of the engine?

 

0W-16 on the cap, so I'm hoping that's what is actually in there. With Toyota though, one never knows.

 

My local dealer could not even do the 5K maintenance properly on my 2017. They claimed they under inflated the tires after rotation. No way would I trust them with an oil change. I do my own now.

 

Don't obsess.
Neither you nor the engine will actually notice any significant difference.

 

I'm confused, why would they claim that? I'm reading wrong? Typo?

 

You could go to the parts counter and ask for a quart. Hopefully you see this before they do.
I'm going to check the web and see if I can find some and who makes it. thanks

 

0w-16 will be the new standard on Toyota’s and lexus until they baseline 0w-14, then 0w-12, then 0w-10. Using 0w-20 will be just fine since the difference is so minor. Toyota is trying to get right to the edge, until engine longevity is at risk.

As of 2019, the dealership I went to was using 0w-20 but I feel many of them will probably have both 0w-20 and 0w-16 by now.

 

No oil change included in the 5000 mile service (still wondering if I should have it done elsewhere), but to confuse matters more they added this sticker:

 

That is less than the 10K number from Toyota.

 

Don't forget that the ICE doesn't run all the time - could have a break of up to 30-40% depending on conditions.

 

Had the first oil change after 1 year, and the Toyota dealer merrily put in 0W-20 in my 2022 Prime. The oil cap says 0W-16, as well as the manual. When I made them notice that, the service rep almost argued with me that 0W-20 is "perfectly fine". Toyota warranty if the ICE melts down.
Next oil change is in Feb. 2023, let's see what they put in.
Why they don't follow Toyota's own specs on a free service they get full refund from Toyota, I will never understand.
When I had the Gen3 and Gen4 in Germany, same thing - I always had to be specific in making sure they put the right oil in.
When the 2 year free service is over, I will bring my own oil and have them put the one I bring them.

 

0W16 is more expensive and is in short supply. Most owners apparently don't care.

 

I had to pay through the nose for bulk 0W20 through dealership last time ($9.99 CDN per liter, more than their bottled bottled liters), may (sadly) resort to this next time:



(Amazon.ca, price in CDN $'s)

Regarding 0W16 vs 0W20: I'm getting weight drift fatigue. Toyota keeps dropping the weight with each successive generation, and each time the language is the same: use this (ultra-thin) oil, and you "may" use one weight heavier, but cut interval in half. I really think it's all just to garner crumbs more mpg, gain them some $'s.

 

I just got a recent flyer from my Toyota dealer. It's a coupon for a 5 quart oil change for $59.99.

I stll have two 12 quart cartons of boxed 0W20 Mobil 1 that I paid $30 each at Walmart during the COVID onset period in early 2020.

 

When the Prius Prime first came out the car sold in Japan, Prius PHV, required the 0W16. The same car sold in the US in 2017, Prius Prime, required 0W20. No mentioning of 0W16 as an option then. 5 years later, now North American PP requires 0W16. There might have been a slight modification, but AFAIK the engine 2ZR-FXE has not changed. This may be true for the Gen4 Prius (XW50) as well.

My 2021 PP which calls for 0W-16 is up for the very first oil change at 1 year/10Kmiles. It is 1 year, but the car has only 9K miles on it, of which 60% was EV, so the actual miles on the engine is only ~3600miles. I will use the free Toyota Care service. The dealer is very busy even though they have absolutely no new cars in their lot. LOO. I called them but have to wait till the end of this month for the first available appointment. I am going to make sure they use 0W16 oil.

Don't know if I will keep the car beyond the second oil change next summer. But if I still have this car for the third oil change in the summer of 2024, I will probably DIY with 0W16. That being said, it can be cheaper at a dealer with a special coupon they often give away. I have had synthetic oil 0W20 oil change at a dealer for $39.99. That's cheaper than buying oil and filter and DIY. The current price difference for 0W20 vs 0W16 is negligible. Although, it seems it is harder to find 0W16 oil in stock.