Prius 2010 Oil Change Interval Revised? Not yet... (closed)

I think so... I"m just going by memory, but the screen where you see all the maintenance buttons, at the top has a "reminder" button.

Go to Setup ---> vehicle ---> maintenance, see all the icons, at the top is the reminder button you can turn off.

I don't see the point in turning it off.. just set it where you want.

 

Yes, but that triggers a daily reminder that the reminder is off.

 

What?.. a reminder to the reminder?.... thats crazy!

I guess Toyota agrees, no real reason to turn "every" reminder off... just set it where you want instead!
If you don't want to be reminded about any maintenance isssues.... at least put your dental appointments in there "under personal".. maybe that will work.

 

We will continue to go round-and-round on this issue, I suppose.

Alan, you and I have shared a few posts on this one. Because it was so long ago (post 108 in this thread), I think it may be appropriate to re-post my view on this question:

Here is the information directly from your Owner's Manual, page 560:

Engine oil selection

“Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” is used in your Toyota vehicle. Use
Toyota approved “Toyota Genuine Motor Oil” or equivalent to satisfy the following grade and viscosity.

Oil grade: ILSAC multigrade engine oil

Recommended viscosity: SAE 0W-20

SAE 0W-20 is the best choice for good fuel economy and good
starting in cold weather.

If SAE 0W-20 is not available, SAE 5W-20 may be used. However, it must be replaced with SAE 0W-20 at the next oil change.

The 0W portion of the oil viscosity rating indicates the characteristic of the oil which allows cold startability. Oils with a lower value before the W allow for easier starting of the engine in cold weather.

The 20 in 0W-20 indicates the oil viscosity when the oil is at its operating temperature. An oil with a higher viscosity may be better suited if the vehicle is operated at high speeds, or under extreme load conditions.
​

If you read this to say 0W-20 is not required, then you have to present the specific situation where another oil is allowed. Here are the options:

1. "IF SAE 0W-20 is not available." This means that you are in a unique situation where that oil is not available and you must change the oil to protect the engine. The very next statement is that at the next oil change 0W-20 MUST be used. If you find a Toyota dealer or oil change facility that doesn't have 0W-20, that means you are at the wrong place. If you MUST use that facility, then say you'll be back in a few minutes and go to an auto parts store, WalMart or any number of stores that carry oil, and buy the 0W-20 oil yourself and bring it back for those folks to use. If the shop carries a filter that fits the 2010 Prius, they'll carry the required oil.
2. "f the vehicle is operated at high speeds. . ." If this applies to you, then you are allowed to use a different oil. But is it any oil? No, the manual allows an oil with a higher viscosity. That doesn't mean moving the low-end number higher (0W-20 to 5W-20), but the high-end number higher -- going from 0W-20 to 0W-30 or 0W-40. Both of these also are synthetics.
   [*]". . . or under extreme load conditions." As with the high-speed option, this also is solved by going to a higher viscosity.
   

The maintenance schedule is what it is. If the engine needs repair and the required oil wasn't used or wasn't changed according to the schedule, the only out you will have is to present proof that the oil at each time you changed it was in good condition. This may work with 5W-20 or 5W-30, but if 0W-20 is used and the oil is changed according to the maintenance schedule, then the warranty will be honored.

 

I"ve never seen anything that shows the warranty will "not" be honored if you use anything else or don't show proof you checked your oil to prove it was in good condition.. providing the cause of the engine damage is not related to the oil or time interval you used.

This is all a non issue unless you roll in with your engine knocking and they find black peanut brittle inside your engine... there has to be a reason to suspect poor oil etc.... like scored pistons etc.

Remember the term "recommend" does not mean mandatory.

They talk about cold weather starting... it rarely gets too cold here compared to Canada or the northern states, yet on the other hand, it gets to 110 - 115 degrees or better in the summer and the "20W" would be considered thin compared to those same northern areas that would do fine.

My point is, Its really hard to get a perfect oil for all areas.. if there was only one oil that would do it all, we wouldn't have so many different kinds.

Toyota must have to pick a "middle of the road" to act as a catch all.

For the Southern States, I'm thinking I would rather have a 0W - 30W for added protection against heat and to hold larger particles and better wear protection at the expense of a bit of gas mileage "very small".

There has been allot of debate as to whether the 20W is purely to make the Government happy at the expense of a bit of engine wear verses truly the best oil for life and longevity.

While no manufacturer would directly sabatoge the longevity of their product, there are always trade-offs, and there is little incentive to recommend the best oil for the life of the engine when...
A. People will buy less often.
B. The Government is breathing down their necks about gas mileage numbers.

While the Prius already slams other manufacturers in the gas mileage department, this may be a non issue.

What may be even more an issue is the fact that its tough for Toyota to "recommend" an oil that covers all places, all seasons, and all conditions.

People have to pick whats best.... when all else fails, 0 - 20W is not going to ruin your engine if you drive in North Alaska verses the desert of Arizona, however there are others oils that would be better choices.

With that being said, I have not seen any evidence Toyota "demands" oils within their recommendations.

There are clearly better oils out there that cost a tad more and offer longer protection, but Toyota is not going to recommend them yet....
....Heck, they are still in the 5K change interval world, we can't expect them to make "policy" to take advantage of the newer technology out there on the cutting edge that allow up to 35K range?

While many are debating whether to go 10K with Mobil 1, I intend to go 15K with SSO Amsoil 0 - 30W "rated to 35K miles" or 0 - 20W "rated to 25K miles" and if everything looks good, I'll go to 20K next, and then 25K.

Toyota also recommends certain tires, If I put better than recommended its hard to go wrong.

Recommendations are to set a standard to go by... theres nothing wrong with breaking the standard and going better based on your use and environment.

If you put 10W - 40W Pennzoil regular Motor oil, then you may have a problem.... thats what the "recommendations" are for.

 

How in the world you are going to do that if the oil filter for the Amsoil 0 - 20W is not yet available for the 2010 Prius?

 

I have a document that I printed from the Toyota TIS web site that is titled
2ZR-FXE LUBRICATION: OIL AND OIL FILTER: REPLACEMENT (2010 Prius).
On page 3 of this document it lists the oil grades to use for USA and Canada (these are the only two countries covered by the document).

For the USA it lists only ILSAC multigrade 0W20.

For Canada it lists both ILSAC multigrade 0W20 or 5W20 with none of the nonsense about using 5W20 only if 0W20 is unavailable and then switching back to 0W20 on the next oil change. It is indicated that in Canada you can use either one, your choice. It does have a statement that says 0W20 is better for fuel economy and cold starting.

(Note: I realize the Owner's Manual has slightly different information, what I listed above is from the document that is intended for the technician at the dealership.)

So why would 0W20 oil be the only choice in the warmer country, think Phoenix in the summer? Why would it be OK to use 5W20 full time in the country that frequently gets temperatures of -40 in the winter?

Could it be the only reason USA cars are stuck using 0W20 oil is because of the CAFE standards?

I have no documentation to back it up but I understand from other web sites that the European recommendation is for 5W30 with a 15,000 Kilometer change interval. Since all of these cars use the same engine how could Toyota possibly justify denying warranty coverage because someone in the USA used 0W30 oil and changed it at 10K miles? Why is Toyota remaining completely silent on the subject? I'm sure they are aware of the confusion, why don't they give their reasons for the different standards?

 

I believe that Toyota mentioned that it's requiring 0W20 oil in order to get the highest possible fuel economy rating from the EPA. That '50' number is important. This of course pertains only to the G3 Prius.

However more and more new Toyota models now must use 0w20 oil...
2.5L Camry
2.5L RAV
1.8L Scion xD
2.7L Venza
4.6L Tundra
2.7L 4Runner
4.0L 4Runner

 

I wasn't aware they had actually said that but I do believe it was a marketing decision not and engineering decision. Makes sense to include the others because CAFE includes all the cars sold by the company. But it may not be what is best for the engine over the long run.

 

I think you present an extremely strong case.... plus they are stretching everything they have to make sure the GenIII gets 5mph better than the GenII.

I agree, politics and lawyers write many of the recommendations.... not based on sound engineering at all in some cases.

I'm thinking what comes out of Europe makes the most sense for longevity of the engine.

 

I'm still confused: did or did not Toyota change the interval to 10k or not?
Though I'd be interested to hear from Toyota their engineering reasons for the intervals, and if that European interval rumor is true or not.
As to the 35k oils, what is the guarantee from the manufacturer?

 

49 pages later ...

YES


.

 

They did not. And they will not.

But they probably will for the 2011 models.

 

Me don't care..... its quite obvious we are dealing with political powers that be when in Europe, Canada and the US, the standards are all different, yet the same engine, same hemisphere.

I'm not going to repeat myself again... "at least not this time"

Make sure you read the whole thread if you want to know the scoop..... seems this thread keeps starting over all over again because concerns that were in the beginning of the thread keep cropping up over and over again and they keep getting answered... that means.....

People either aren't reading the thread or they just refuse to get it.

There are only 494 posts..... whats the problem?

 

Uh, 495 posts.

I got my Amsoil 0W30 today.

And the dealer where I bought my car sent me a free oil change and service inspection for my first oil change at 3K. 3K? Beats me, I guess they havent read the manual.

So I will let them change the oil after they prove to me they are using 0W20 and I will put the Amsoil in at 5k

 

I may be missing something obvious here, but as far as I know the Amsoil oils 0W20 and 0W30 require specific oil filters and they are NOT available for the 2010 Prius yet and it appears that they won't be available anytime soon. You do know that you cannot use the high-mileage Amsioil oils with the regular filters Toyota dealers use for synthetic oils, don''t you? So, what is the point of buying the Amsoil oils if they cannot be used in the new Prius yet?

 

From what I have read they do not require specific filters. Where do you find that information?

 

AMSOIL - AMSOIL Ea Oil Filter (EaO)

The extend mileage of the Amsoil oil is guaranteed only with their specic filters. If you get the Amsoil oil and don't use their filter, you will likely void the Amsoil warrant.

 

Where on their web site do they say that? Not on the web page you site above?

Here are two quotes from this page:

AMSOIL - Signature Series 0W-30 100% Synthetic Motor Oil (SSO)

"Service Life
AMSOIL Signature Series 0W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil is recommended for extended drain intervals in unmodified(1), mechanically sound(2) gasoline fueled vehicles as follows:

• Normal Service(3) – Up to 35,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first.
• Severe Service(4) – Up to 17,500 miles or one year, whichever comes first.
• Replace AMSOIL Ea oil filter at the time of oil change up to 25,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first (other brands at standard OEM* intervals).
• In all non-gasoline fueled vehicle applications, extend the oil change interval according to oil analysis or follow the OEM* drain interval.
​

*OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer"

"AMSOIL Ea full-flow oil filters are designed for extended drain intervals. They stop smaller particles, flow more oil and last longer than regular filters. For best performance, use AMSOIL Ea full-flow oil filters."

 

the Amsoil filters for all Toyota applications have been pulled

how do you extend OCI on Amsoil without an Amsoil filter?

you change the filter at the appropriate time, and top off the oil :thumb: