Gen 3 170k miles oil viscosity

I switched to 5w20

 

There is zero logic to switching from 0W anything to 5W anything. Experts agree that most engine wear occurs during the first minutes after cold start-up (e.g. 75 degrees F). There is currently no engine oil thin enough to lubricate properly at cold start-up, and 0W is currently the thinnest available. "W" indicates a different cold-weather test standard than regular testing, which is done at 212 degrees F, considered to be normal operating temperature. Mobil 1 0W-20 and 5W-20 have the same viscosity (measured in Centistokes - cS) at 212 degrees F, which if I remember correctly is 8.7.

 

Is the oil level dropping between changes? If so how much? And how frequent are your changes?

 

... and what's the mileage on it now?

 

So, if I understand correctly, it's consuming about 0.9 liter (1.6×60%) per 10,000 miles (or 10,000km?) ? That rate isn't so bad, if it's stable. Before the Prius, I never had a car that consumed that little.

 

@CR94 I took "60%" to mean 60% of the spec quantity of oil: 4.2 liters or 4.5 quarts, about 2.5 liters loss.

By "1.6" I'd assuming you're meaning the quarts between the two dipstick marks, another likely interpretation, and likely the correct one.

@MeGuinness : Can you give a specific oil loss?

 

I agree that that was unclear. Either guess, or neither, could be right.