Synthetic Oil?

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Ron Guertin - 22 Apr 2006 20:38 GMT

Any advice on using synthetic oil? I have an 06 Prius, coming up to the 5K
mile oil change. My prior experience with synthetic oil has been great ...
saved the engine when my wife tore the oil pan off ...

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richard schumacher - 23 Apr 2006 00:38 GMT

> Any advice on using synthetic oil? I have an 06 Prius, coming up to the 5K
> mile oil change. My prior experience with synthetic oil has been great ...
> saved the engine when my wife tore the oil pan off ...

No reason not to. In any case put in no more than 3.5 US quarts; in
fact 3 quarts even is fine.

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Michael Pardee - 23 Apr 2006 15:45 GMT

> Any advice on using synthetic oil? I have an 06 Prius, coming up to the
> 5K mile oil change. My prior experience with synthetic oil has been great
> ... saved the engine when my wife tore the oil pan off ...

I changed to synthetic at 15K, unsure whether there was still some breaking
in to do that the synthetic might have interfered with. I still don't know,
and would wait until 15K again if I had it to do over. But you're probably
okay at 5K.

Mike

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B. Peg - 24 Apr 2006 01:18 GMT

I put some Mobile 1 (5-30w) in at 1500 miles. I don't like the idea of any
metal shavings from machining being encapsulated and hiding in the oil
channels somewhere to wreak havoc later. Most of the other vehicles I've
owned (motorcycles) had the 600 mile service for that reason along with some
bolt and valve train adjusting.

However, at 5K the dealer did the job and put in Havoline 5-30 (reg. dino
oil). Then they stuck on a sticker to bring it back at 8K miles instead of
10K. I doubt if 3K changes are going to extend the life anymore than I will
own the car before replacement in 7-8 years.

I'm about to roll on the 10K so I may change it myself and go back to Mobil
1. If for anything, just to keep dino oil varnish down as I really dislike
seeing the stuff inside an engine and trying to clean it out.

B~

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richard schumacher - 24 Apr 2006 16:15 GMT

> I put some Mobile 1 (5-30w) in at 1500 miles. I don't like the idea of any
> metal shavings from machining being encapsulated and hiding in the oil
> channels somewhere to wreak havoc later.

If any metal shavings large enough to matter are not getting trapped by
the filter then the filter is defective.

> However, at 5K the dealer did the job and put in Havoline 5-30 (reg. dino
> oil). Then they stuck on a sticker to bring it back at 8K miles instead of
> 10K. I doubt if 3K changes are going to extend the life anymore than I will
> own the car before replacement in 7-8 years.

Ditto that. Follow the schedule given in the maintenance guide that
came with the Prius. Anything more just helps the dealer with his boat
payment.

> I'm about to roll on the 10K so I may change it myself and go back to Mobil
> 1. If for anything, just to keep dino oil varnish down as I really dislike
> seeing the stuff inside an engine and trying to clean it out.

The '04 owner's manual advises not to change back and forth between
fossil and synthetic oils. I buy bottled oil (Mobil 1) and give it to
the tech to use.

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Bill - 24 Apr 2006 20:43 GMT

> The '04 owner's manual advises not to change back and forth between
> fossil and synthetic oils. I buy bottled oil (Mobil 1) and give it to
> the tech to use.

Does your dealer discount the oil change accordingly or do you end up paying
for the dino oil?

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richard schumacher - 26 Apr 2006 04:31 GMT

> > The '04 owner's manual advises not to change back and forth between
> > fossil and synthetic oils. I buy bottled oil (Mobil 1) and give it to
> > the tech to use.
>
> Does your dealer discount the oil change accordingly or do you end up paying
> for the dino oil?

Toyota of RIchardson, bless 'em, does not charge me for the oil. $16.95
to do the work.

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Bill - 26 Apr 2006 04:54 GMT

>> > The '04 owner's manual advises not to change back and forth between
>> > fossil and synthetic oils. I buy bottled oil (Mobil 1) and give it to
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Toyota of RIchardson, bless 'em, does not charge me for the oil. $16.95
> to do the work.

Thanks, Richard, I'll see what my dealer says.

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B. Peg - 25 Apr 2006 03:20 GMT

> If any metal shavings large enough to matter are not getting trapped by
> the filter then the filter is defective.

If you ever pull an engine apart you'll see all kinds of stuff in there the
filter didn't catch. Some engines, trannys, and rear ends even have magnets
on the drain plugs and you see all kinds of metal on them. Toyota was known
for sludge pockets in their engines if you've been around them long enough.

Besides, the input screen to the oil pump filter usually keeps most of the
larger debris from ever hitting the filter. It's just good insurance.

B~

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