0W20 oil, need honest truth.

It may very well be true that nothing bad will come of using 0W20. But as an engineer, I'd be afraid to take the word of some guy at the dealership over what's written in the owner's manual.

 

You think that Ford's recommendations apply to a Toyota engine for what reason, exactly? And how many website weenies or dealer techs are automotive engineers?

If you want to stay within spec and avoid any possible reduction of engine life or wrangling about warranty repairs, don't try to second guess the engine's designers. Use the recommended 5W-30 and 5000 miles/six months interval.

 

As I have already posted, the Prius owner manual from Spain allows a wide range of oils from 5W-30 to 20W-50. The Prius owner manual from Japan has a range of viscosity from 0W-20 to 10W-30

The API has pretty much shoved down our throats this magical idea that *all* motor oils are exactly the same, as all meet the wonderful API SM/ILSAC GF-4 spec.

Remember that the API SM/ILSAC GF-4 will allow an oil to "pass" if it allows: cold stuck rings, cold black sludge, crown land fill, ring land fill, and an oil gellation index the engine maker calls a "warning" level. All at oil change intervals 1/2 to 1/6 in the EU

If you wish, download the pdf I made about 3-4 posts back. This is scans from actual Prius owner manuals from Spain and Japan.

 

Richard

THese same engineers approved a wide range of viscosity - up to 20W-50 - in the EU. They also approved 12 month or 10,000 mile oil change intervals, running EU spec oils.

These same engineers approved a viscosity range from 0W-20 to 10W-30 in Japan. In the rest of the world, an oil change interval as short as 6 months is unheard of, unless they're using our crap oils

As far as Honda's or Ford's, keep in mind that the same Honda or Ford motor that runs a xW-20 here, specs up to a 20W-50 in other markets. Outside of Japan and North America, an xW-20 is unheard of.

 

Richard

THese same engineers approved a wide range of viscosity - up to 20W-50 - in the EU. They also approved 12 month or 10,000 mile oil change intervals, running EU spec oils.

These same engineers approved a viscosity range from 0W-20 to 10W-30 in Japan. In the rest of the world, an oil change interval as short as 6 months is unheard of, unless they're using our crap oils

As far as Honda's or Ford's, keep in mind that the same Honda or Ford motor that runs a xW-20 here, specs up to a 20W-50 in other markets. Outside of Japan and North America, an xW-20 is unheard of.

 

I use Amsoil, signature synthetic

https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/sso.aspx

Signature, Full synthetic.
oil change every 35,000 miles or one year and filter change every 17,500 miles or six months!

Third year doing this with over 140,000 miles. Getting about 42 MPG lifetime. (Absolutely no hypermiling, just normal, to slightly faster than normal driving, with a significant amount, about 75% of the driving at freeway speeds)

 

Maybe I'm missing something, but how do you change the filter without changing the oil? Drain it out and then put it back in?

 

When I buy a Prius in Europe or Japan I'll follow those requirements.

 

Removing the filter on the Prius only causes you to lose around half a litre of oil. Yo lose the oil in the filter and some in the oil lines but not any oil in the pan.

With normal oil buring during the 17,500 miles and the loss at oil change I usually add 1 quart during the filter change.

Its weird, but with this oil you actually change the filter more times than the oil!

 

The "engineers" dont write the manual. I also doubt they all agree with what should be recommended for the oil. I am sure there are plenty of engineers at Toyota that would rather see 5W20 oil recommended for the Prius. Probably some who think 15W40 should be put in too.

In the end, I highly doubt is was a unanimous engineering decision to recommend 5W30 oil for the Prius.

 

Sorry, double post.

 

No heated debate here! Your oil rants are incredible. Your very smart...but ya got a funny accent.

 

How would this go then?
Fuchs TITAN GT1 SAE 5W-30
• Premium synthetic lubricant
• Zinc-free
• Low emission
• High fuel economy
• Designed for all the latest petrol, diesel and gas engines.
• Particularly suitable for vehicles fitted with particulate filters & turbochargers

Meets these standards;
ACEA C3
ACEA A3/B4
MB 229.31
MB 229.51
BMW LONGLIFE 04
RENAULT
From http://www.fuchs.com.au/categories.asp?cID=9
I use their oil in my Crown. My son likes it because it gives him an opportunity to say a naughty word.

 

Fuchs is a highly respected oil brand in the EU. I'm surprised you can buy it in Australia as it's impossible to find here

Again, it's difficult to produce a "universal" viscosity oil that is appropriate for all conditions. Most modern vehicles are well served with a range of oil viscosity from the upper end of a 20 to a light 40.

In bitterly cold climates, and frequent stop and go city driving when the motor rarely warms up, you want the lightest viscosity possible, such as 5W-20 or 0W-20. The prompt lubrication far outweighs any possible compromise in engine protection at extended temps

Heavy loads, extremely hot temps, high speeds, etc, may require a light duty 40. The SAE J300 clearly differentiates heavy duty 40's (15W-40, some 5W-40) from light duty 40's (0W-40, 10W-40, some 5W-40)

Ford has done testing with heavy duty gasoline vehicles and 5W-20/0W-20. Even something heavily loaded like a motorhome (Caravan) running a 6.8 litre V10 motor, the 5W-20 offered fine protection

Note that Ford and Honda have a different qualification process for oils that are rated for use in Ford and Honda here in North America. The primary difference is TEOST (Thermo-oxidation Engine Oil Simulation Test) and testing to approximately twice the interval of the regular API/ILSAC requirement

To meet current emissions requirements, motors are a lot tighter and better built. What will eventually kill any motor is crown land fill and ring land fill, as this will create blowby and oil consumption, with even more deposits. The reason I have such contempt for the API/ILSAC standard is that it purposely ignores any requirement to protect against ring land and crown land fill

The ACEA specs you mentioned have very strict requirements to protect against those sort of deposits, even at extended oil change intervals approaching two years

In the end, only a used oil analysis will provide you with appropriate guidance to determine the appropriate oil viscosity and change interval. My Prius is just fine with Mobil 1 0W-20 year round, our brief summers can approach +42 C during a heatwave. Our winters can dip to -40 C

OTOH my FJ Cruiser was adequate with Mobil 1 5W-20, but tested much better with Mobil 1 0W-40. So I use the 0W-40 year round in the FJ

 

Pronounced "correctly" your son is absolutely right. You have my sympathies

 

I used to sell Aimsoil. Probably the best of the synthetic oils. What you need to consider is how much better the synthetic oil protects your engine than a conventional oil. Synthetic oils do not break down under high heat and stress like a conventional oil will. We were told that if your engine overheats, you have lost all protection and your conventional oil has completely lost it's lubricating properties. Of course under normal driving conditions and changing your oil every 5000 miles, you probably won't have any problems. My dealer, Priority toyota in chesapeake, va will only allow me to skip one oil change using synthetic, so I will stick with the conventional oil. Personally from what I have learned about conventional oil, changing your oil every 3000 miles will offer better protection to your engine.
So, it's not only MPG but protecting your engine that you need to consider.