Gen Iii Oil Saga Keeps On Running

[Dave R.]

OH dear, the Oil saga still runs on....

After finally getting my Gen III prius oil replaced with 0W20 (as per Toyota recommendations) I was in Halfords today, & decided to look at the relative cost and availability of the recommended 0W20 oil. Imagine my surprise when I looked in Halfords' guide to recommended oils....

For the Toyota Prius, I found

1.8 Prius 2009 on: Manufacturer's Recommended oil: 5W30 Part Synthetic Ford; Ultimate Protection = 5W30 fully Synthetic Vauxhall/opel; Mobil = Mobil Super 3000 Formula Fe 5W30

Does beg the question, where did Halfords get the list of "Manufacturer Recommended Oils" from! Why do I think that there has been a case of left-hand not knowing what the right-hand has been doing within Toyota.

Interestingly, 5W30, 0W20 etc. oils were all roughly the same price at around £16 a bottle.... so much for the fully synthetic 0W20 costing significantly more than 5W30!

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Well seeing as they appear to still use the Gen2 Prius service sheet for services, even though there are differences, I would think you're probably right.

The engineers in Japan design a super modern, super efficient car, but the special requirements of this car appear to be taking a long time to work their way all the way through Toyota UK.

[Ancient Nerd]

Well seeing as they appear to still use the Gen2 Prius service sheet for services, even though there are differences, I would think you're probably right.

The engineers in Japan design a super modern, super efficient car, but the special requirements of this car appear to be taking a long time to work their way all the way through Toyota UK.

At least you're getting a Gen II service sheet. My dealer is using a Gen I version, and can't find the Gen II sheet on the Toyota system. Even though I showed them a Gen II sheet with the part number on it.

I'm assured there is no difference (by dealer and Toyota Customer Services). I just wish I believed them. I think that if Toyota Head Office found out how Toyota UK is running things, UK management might have to attend seppuku courses. It really can't get much worse. Can it!

[Ancient Nerd]

Well seeing as they appear to still use the Gen2 Prius service sheet for services, even though there are differences, I would think you're probably right.

The engineers in Japan design a super modern, super efficient car, but the special requirements of this car appear to be taking a long time to work their way all the way through Toyota UK.

At least you're getting a Gen II service sheet. My dealer is using a Gen I version, and can't find the Gen II sheet on the Toyota system. Even though I showed them a Gen II sheet with the part number on it.

I'm assured there is no difference (by dealer and Toyota Customer Services). I just wish I believed them. I think that if Toyota Head Office found out how Toyota UK is running things, UK management might have to attend seppuku courses. It really can't get much worse. Can it!

It can get worse. I've just noticed that my signature has been modified since yesterday, not by me. My summary of the Toyota weasel warranty for the early Gen III Prius has been deleted. I am somewhat offended, as it was strictly factual. Worse still, is that whoever removed it didn't know what they were doing, and left some of the closing tags behind.

[Seamaster73]

I've just noticed that my signature has been modified since yesterday, not by me. My summary of the Toyota weasel warranty for the early Gen III Prius has been deleted. I am somewhat offended, as it was strictly factual. Worse still, is that whoever removed it didn't know what they were doing, and left some of the closing tags behind.

That's a pretty shabby business.

[Red Yaris 54]

Your signature was possibly modified as part of a forum tidy up as it was oversize.

Signatures must not be more than 6 lines of text. 3 lines of text will be allowed with one picture no taller than 60 Pixels high

So that's 6 lines OR 3 lines and a 60 pixel picture.

You would normally be sent a PM ..........If this was not sent please accept the apologies from the moderating team :)

[Jan&tone]

Dave, did you tell Halfords they had it wrong?

[Ancient Nerd]

Your signature was possibly modified as part of a forum tidy up as it was oversize.

Signatures must not be more than 6 lines of text. 3 lines of text will be allowed with one picture no taller than 60 Pixels high

So that's 6 lines OR 3 lines and a 60 pixel picture.

You would normally be sent a PM ..........If this was not sent please accept the apologies from the moderating team :)

No messages were received.

The bottom of the edit signature page contains the following, which I read before creating the signature.

Signature Restrictions

Your signature may contain:

* Any number images

* Images of any size

* Any number of URLs

* Any number of lines

I have no idea where your limits are defined. I haven't seen them anywhere.

Are you sure that you haven't been got at by Toyota UK?

[Ancient Nerd]

Back on the original topic, I noticed that the Shell website also recommends 5W-30 for the Gen III Prius. It is just about understandable, as Shell don't sell a 0W-20 (except for racing) so I guess that is the closest that is acceptable to Toyota.

A great shame, as I would use a Shell 0W-20 if it was available, because I know they do serious testing on real engines.

[johalareewi]

Back on the original topic, I noticed that the Shell website also recommends 5W-30 for the Gen II Prius.

But 5W30 is the recommended oil for the gen2.

Or did you mean to type gen III ?

[Dave R.]

Dave, did you tell Halfords they had it wrong?

Tweeted to both ToytaGB and Halfords yesterday - had a response from Halfords so have e-mailed them the background details - they are investigating.

[Jan&tone]

Dave, did you tell Halfords they had it wrong?

Tweeted to both ToytaGB and Halfords yesterday - had a response from Halfords so have e-mailed them the background details - they are investigating.

T'will be interesting to see the replies

[Ancient Nerd]

Back on the original topic, I noticed that the Shell website also recommends 5W-30 for the Gen II Prius.

But 5W30 is the recommended oil for the gen2.

Or did you mean to type gen III ?

Whoops, I meant Gen III. It's now corrected. My excuse is that I am ancient and I do drool a bit on occasion.

[Jan&tone]

Back on the original topic, I noticed that the Shell website also recommends 5W-30 for the Gen II Prius.

But 5W30 is the recommended oil for the gen2.

Or did you mean to type gen III ?

Whoops, I meant Gen III. It's now corrected. My excuse is that I am ancient and I do drool a bit on occasion.

Ancient, we all drool on occasion. It's either age, cars or women that causes it so don't worry pal, it's acceptable!

[Dave R.]

Dave, did you tell Halfords they had it wrong?

Told Halfords about the sagas in this forum and on the official Toyota Prius blog.... noting that the unequivocal recommendation from Toyota is that the Prius should have 0W20 oil..... here is the response from Halfords....

Our recommendations are always based on information supplied to us by the

manufacturer and for the latest generation Prius Toyota specify more than

one product as being suitable. This includes a 0W/20 grade which would most

likely be the best choice for fuel economy because of its low viscosity

making this a favourable recommendation for a hybrid vehicle such as this.

However, Toyota also allow for a 5W/30 grade of the same specification

which is likely to be both a more accessible and a more cost effective

alternative to the 0W/20 without substantially compromising the fuel

economy benefits. Its for this reason that we recommend the 5W/30 Fully

Synthetic product for this vehicle and not a 0W/20.

I have confirmed with Toyota that the data we have for the latest

generation Prius is current and correct - they definitely do allow for both

a 0W/20 and a 5W/30 amongst other similar grades.

I've passed this on to Toyota Customer Service. Something isn't quite right here - surely the advice from Toyota is 0W20! Either Halfords got it wrong, of different parts of Toyota have been giving out different advice! Either way, Toyota ought to do something to get a consistent message out there!

[Sagitar]

Told Halfords about the sagas in this forum and on the official Toyota Prius blog.... noting that the unequivocal recommendation from Toyota is that the Prius should have 0W20 oil..... here is the response from Halfords....

I have confirmed with Toyota that the data we have for the latest

generation Prius is current and correct - they definitely do allow for both

a 0W/20 and a 5W/30 amongst other similar grades.

Halfords appear to be (deliberately?) misinterpreting what Toyota say. The requirement is set out on page 546 of the handbook supplied with my Gen3 Prius. It says:

"If SAE 0W-20 oil is not available, SAE 5W-30 oil may be used. However, it should be replaced with SAE 0W-20 at the next oil change".

It seems to me to be pretty obvious from the context that Toyota is introducing a degree of flexibility that recognises that the owner may have difficulty in obtaining 0W-20 for topping up and in those circumstances may use 5W-30, with the proviso that the prefered 0W-20 is used at the next oil change. If Halfords are doing a full oil change they should clearly be using the oil specified for a full oil change i.e. 0W-20.

Ultimately, the answer is in our own hands. If Halfords insist that it is OK to put in 5W-30 at a full oil change, then do not take the car to Halfords.

If it is just a question of buying oil for top-up purposes, then why should I take notice of what Halfords say, when my Toyota supplied handbook tells me clearly what to buy?

[Jan&tone]

How many people actually have to top up a Prius between services?? I check the oil regularly and have never had to put any extra in....

[Seamaster73]

I find it hard to believe that people smart enough to buy a Prius are dumb enough to let Halfrauds anywhere near it.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I find it hard to believe that people smart enough to buy a Prius are dumb enough to let Halfrauds anywhere near it.

I'm amazed ANYONE would let Halfords near their car. In fact I'm amazed they're still in business.

[Chris Dance]

I agree with Grumpie Cabbie. I would not let Halfords near my car.

[Dave R.]

I must point out here that I wasn't contemplating letting Halfords near my car - just curious to see what oil they were recommending.

What I find a bit odd is that Toyota's advice to Halfords has not emphasised that 0W20 is the recommended oil for the Gen III Prius. There's a difference between "ok to use" and "recommended to use".

[Jan&tone]

Our local Halfords stopped doing servicing some years ago. They're good for screen wash, polish, shampoo, doorstoppers (rhinos on the edge of doors to stop knocking walls etc) and puncture kits for my bike!

Oh yes, the girls on the till ain't bad either