Synthetic Oil and Mileage - GreenHybrid

H2O Doctor · #1 (**permalink**) 04-07-2007, 04:20 PM

I know this was discussed a number of months ago but I am looking for current information.

For any of you who used dino oil and then switched to synthetic, did you see any increase in FE?

I'm trying to decide whether to move to synthetic when I reach 10,000 miles. My dealer tells me I will see an increase in FE.

JOE540CI · #2 (**permalink**) 04-07-2007, 05:37 PM

We take the camry to the casino every month or so. I use this trip as a test to see how much mpg I can get. Several trips with dino oil netted me 38 too 41. Now with the 0-20w oil my high moved up to 44 and a low of 40mpg. I really dont know if there is too much difference on normal everyday driveing, my wife uses the car for work. JOE

TonyK · #3 (**permalink**) 04-08-2007, 03:51 PM

Ny experience in both the HAH and my o2 classic Prius is that there is no real mpg gain going synthetic.

I will say, using 0-20w sure makes the engine a lot louder at startup time.

My wife has no idea which oil is in the car at any given time. She drives for mpgs and sees no difference. I really dont either.

I dont put put in less oil as some do. I intentionally did once and drove for a few days and saw no increase, I then added the remainder oil to the max mark on the dip stick and did not take a mpg hit.

Perhaps I dont experience what others do simply by living in Florida, where it is usually warmer than most other locations in the winter.

My next test is going to be using 10-30w in my Prius instead of 5-30w. Both cars arent due for an oil change in a real long time so it will be a while for the results.

Best suggestion anyone can give is to do what the owners manual suggests be done.

Tony

stevenvillatoro · #4 (**permalink**) 04-08-2007, 07:37 PM

Note: The TCH owner's manual calls for 0W-20 or 5W-20 only.

nash · #5 (**permalink**) 04-09-2007, 08:53 AM

Just my humble opinion:

I've been running 5w-30 since the first oil change. It's what the dealer stocks, and their service manager has a bulletin from Toyota stating 5w-30 is OK for the TCH. I consistantly exceed the EPA mileage ratings despite running 5w-30. I seriously doubt going to synthetic oil will significantly improve the gas mileage, and any increase will not pay for the extra cost in the oil with 5K oil change intervals.

That said; if I lived in an area with serious cold weather, I would seriously consider running synthetic oil due to it's superior cold weather flow characteristics (pour point and pumping point.) I would also consider running synthetic oil if I was planning on extended oil change intervals, say every 15 to 20K miles. In fact the one vehicle I've used synthetic in is my F150 (~240,000 miles on the original engine). Mostly I did it due to the extream heat encountered from towing in 100 to 110F summer heat where I used to live.

Modern dino engine oils already protect well past 200,000 miles. I've driven several Hondas, and one Ford well past 200K on dino oil without any engine problems. Oil usage was never worse than a quart every 2K miles.

livvie · #6 (**permalink**) 04-09-2007, 12:01 PM

I switched to 0w-20 mobil 1 synthetic at 30K mile mark. I noticed no difference in FE... but I now only change oil and oil filter every 10K miles. On dino oil, i was changing both at 5k mile intervals. I currently have around 90k miles. No issues.

stevenvillatoro · #7 (**permalink**) 04-09-2007, 12:23 PM

No noticeable change here, either, and I've used synthetic from mile 5,000 to 18,000 (current).

jhfarr73 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nash

I've been running 5w-30 since the first oil change. It's what the dealer stocks, and their service manager has a bulletin from Toyota stating 5w-30 is OK for the TCH.

Can you get the TSB number for this? I have not heard this before and at a recent oil change they put in 5w30 (like this was last night)...if it is OK then I will leave it but if not I want them to change it out as with the miles we pack on this thing I don't want to have to deal with any warranty issues due to the use of the wrong oil.

overeager · #9 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007, 09:42 AM

Has anyone seen anything official on what kind of oil these cars came with originally? I recently had my first oil change, and my dealer said the car came with synthetic, Toyota recommended synthetic, so that's what I got at no extra charge. I would have paid an extra fee for synthetic, if they were charging one. If you use synthetic oil and don't get it changed at 5,000-mile intervals, are you voiding the warranty?