Gen 3 Oil

[henry#]

Does anyone know if 0w/30 oil would make a lot of diffrence in fuel consumption on the generation 3 prius? I found that my fuel consumption had not been as high as last year, only getting high 50s. Last year before its first service i was getting high 60s per gallon.I have only found that people had been having 5w/30 on the blog.

[Jan&tone]

Henry. If a thicker oil is used in the two related Hybrids then there will be a noticeable reduction in fuel consumption and responsiveness.

The ONLY oil that should be put in a Gen3 Prius and the Hybrid Auris is 0w-20

Nothing else should be accepted.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Nothing else should be accepted.

Toyota recommend 0w20 for a reason, not 0w30, not 5w30, but 0w20. The gen3 Prius is very sensitive to using only 0w20. Sure you can use others BUT (and its a big but hence in capitals) you will not get the same economy and/or responsiveness and it appears you have noticed a loss in economy. Insist they use 0w20 and tell them you want to watch them do it and then you'll notice an increase in mpg's back to high 60's and maybe low 70's. Ages ago when the wrong oil was put in mine at the 10k service I just couldn't get 60 mpg however hard I tried. With 0w20 I can get over 70 mpg on the same route.

Report your problems to Toyota UK, fill in the after service survey to reflect your happyness/unhappyness and tell it as it is. That way things might change.

[henry#]

Thanks for your replies, Will get this sorted out, I cant believe Toyota cant get this correct.

[Seamaster73]

Don't blame Toyota, blame your dealer.

[Chris Dance]

My dealer told me they only use OW20 in the Gen3 Prius and they had received an instruction on this from Toyota. Why some dealers still insist on using 0w30 I do not know. I suggest you should inform Toyota about your dealer perhaps that dealer may get it right for other Gen 3 owners.

[MichaelM]

The invoice for the first service on my Gen 3 Prius simply listed the oil as "Optimal Drive Oil / ZOPTD Oil".

No mention of the grade. I presume this was the right 0W20 oil.

Whatever it was, it was expensive as the oil alone made up nearly 50% of the total invoice.

Has anyone else come across the oil being listed in this way and can they confirm it is the right stuff?

[Grumpy Cabbie]

The invoice for the first service on my Gen 3 Prius simply listed the oil as "Optimal Drive Oil / ZOPTD Oil".

No mention of the grade. I presume this was the right 0W20 oil.

Whatever it was, it was expensive as the oil alone made up nearly 50% of the total invoice.

Has anyone else come across the oil being listed in this way and can they confirm it is the right stuff?

Not heard it called that before though it does sound about right. The optimal drive oil is for the start stop new Toyotas such as the IQ. Also, 0w20 is about £50 so if it's priced at that you know it's the right one. I have a feeling the cost of this oil is what is putting some dealers off using it.

[acetip]

The invoice for the first service on my Gen 3 Prius simply listed the oil as "Optimal Drive Oil / ZOPTD Oil".

No mention of the grade. I presume this was the right 0W20 oil.

Whatever it was, it was expensive as the oil alone made up nearly 50% of the total invoice.

Has anyone else come across the oil being listed in this way and can they confirm it is the right stuff?

Not heard it called that before though it does sound about right. The optimal drive oil is for the start stop new Toyotas such as the IQ. Also, 0w20 is about £50 so if it's priced at that you know it's the right one. I have a feeling the cost of this oil is what is putting some dealers off using it.

Hi Grumpy,should be no excuse as they pass the cost on to the customer anyway.

more worrying is them using wrong oil and charging for the correct one.

you may notice difference through fuel consumption but can you prove it if they deny it.

with my old pasat,no one but me changed the oil in the 15 years i had it .this included the warranty period.had an agreement with dealer they could do the services if i could do the oil and filter changes.i like to know its done and what goes in.

[johalareewi]

The invoice for the first service on my Gen 3 Prius simply listed the oil as "Optimal Drive Oil / ZOPTD Oil".

No mention of the grade. I presume this was the right 0W20 oil.

Whatever it was, it was expensive as the oil alone made up nearly 50% of the total invoice.

Has anyone else come across the oil being listed in this way and can they confirm it is the right stuff?

My dealer also lists the oil as that on the invoice and the price is the same. I guess it is the correct stuff because the mpgs stay the same and the car runs just as it did before. When I asked the service guy which oil they used for the gen3 prius he said 0W20 without having to look it up or anything.

[igormus]

Don't blame Toyota, blame your dealer.

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