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

I just realized that it's possible there could have been a typo in whatever manual you're looking at. There may be revised versions for your model year on the Toyota Owners Online site. Worth checking out

In the meantime, I'm sticking with 0W-20.

Toyota Owners Official Web Site

 

The excerpts I posted in #8 were all downloaded from Toyota Tech Info site yesterday. The only instances of 0W-16 are on page 56 of the 2018 Warranty and Maintenance Booklet, basically every mention of 0W-20 was sub'd with 0W-16, and it's at odds with all the other literature. The rest of the booklet only mentions 0W-20 as the oil of choice, the oil for the 10K mile interval, and so on, as does the Owner's Manual.

 

Padroo asked it in post #7.
But isn't the recommended Oil Weight actually embossed/printed on the oil cap itself?

I would go with that with confidence. I mean...you know that's NOT a typo.

 

JK

 

Now that's REALLY ODD.



on my cap - an AUSTRALIAN delivered car -

BUT which has a handbook which says:

 

In Japan, they did. See pages 563–564 of the owner’s manual (PDF in Japanese), which explains that SAE 0W-16 oil is used in new cars and is best for fuel economy, though SAE 0W-20 or SAE 5W-20 can be used instead. This isn’t a change for 2018; the December 2015 edition of the manual has the same information. None of this applies to cars first sold in the U.S. or other markets, of course.

(The W in SAE 0W-16 is for winter, by the way; see the SAE J300 standard.)

 

Maybe in your case, the cap should say: "See Manual."

 

I'm obviously no expert, but would the 0W-16 and 0W-8 have to be formulated with some kind of super additive package because it's so thin? Perhaps slightly better gas mileage, buy at what cost to the engine over time?

 

I wonder, at least the cynical part of me wonders - if it may have something to do with the expected life-expectancy of cars - which, in Japan, is fairly short, much less than USA or Australia. Alternatively, they're striving to get a better l/100 rating in the home market.

 

As I recall, older cars are taxed at a higher rate in Japan to incentivize the purchase of new cars. Used cars and engines are often exported overseas; cars especially to countries customarily using the same "right hand drive" as Japan.

Left hand drive became the standard in North America due to the adoption of the driver's position in the middle of the left side of the Conestoga wagon.

 

Yes, I believe there also is a very strict roadworthy test at the end of 3 years, or 5 years (2nd inspection) - and most owners simply buy a new car. As you say, many are exported as used cars - I holidayed in Fiji a few years ago, and someone there said that almost all their cars are ex-Japan. I think New Zealand gets them still, they used to come to Australia, but only limited imports here now. I bought an engine ex-Japan many decades ago.

 

When I was a kid, this chart is similar to the one we always used. I wonder if anybody still uses 20W-50?

My dad swore by straight 30 weight. You couldn't convince him to use anything else. He drove a 1984 Camry for 20 years. But during that time he also bought a 1997 Camry, and mostly kept it in the garage. It was their "Sunday Car." He might have changed the oil on those cars every 12-15 months(?), and only got a new oil filter every other change. Never had an engine problem on either Camry. I should have kept that gold '97. It ran perfectly.

 

I think I always bought 10W-40 for my Hondas, and my first '95 Camry. I don't know why, 10w-40 just sounded right.

The owner's manual had that same viscosity chart... choose whatever you wish. Very confusing.

 

It is really 15 weight but named 0W-16 to avoid confusion with 15W oil.

 

Yours is not a 2018 though.

 

3 in 1 sewing machine oil is pretty thin.

 

Could it be to up the gas mileage in winter then ?

 

Got this back from Toyota USA:

Dear Mr. Leisk,

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We appreciate the opportunity to answer your inquiry regarding the correct oil to use within your 2018 Prius, and apologize for any inconvenience regarding the conflicting information. In review of your vehicle information, we can confirm that the Owners Manual is correct advising the usage of 0W-20 engine oil.

Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

 

On many of the short journeys I do, I'd guess the oil won't reach the 20w as it doesn't get hot enough, so effectively I might be running 0 to 16w already. Even so, I don't think I'd be happy with a lower hot weight, it's low enough as it is, IIRC higher = more protection.