riredale

Okay, probably a dumb question, but if I take my Lexus hybrid to an independent shop for an annual oil change, is there any way to know whether they used 0W-20 synthetic oil rather than just throw in regular 5W-20? I think it would be a temptation for the shop to charge for the expensive stuff but use cheap oil instead. And the synthetic would be good for a year, not six months.

I guess I could just buy the synthetic stuff and change it myself, but I'm getting tired of crawling under cars.

SW17LS

Short of seeing where it comes from, not really. What I do is buy my own oil and have the shop who changes the oil use it.

jrmckinley

Don't think so. Kinda like filling up with 93 octane gas. I just trust that's what is going into my cars when I press the button and pay the premium..!

mmarshall

Buy it yourself and give it to the shop when you take your vehicle in for service (and, if possible, watch them pour it in). Or, simply change the oil yourself if you have the time, facilities, and space to do it.

MattyG

Yes, you won't know unless you're watching them from the glass partition, lol.

These guys will find out for you and they'll send you a test kit which you can mail back to them with a sample of your vehicle's oil. They can find out the viscosity but you will have to send them a fresh sample not something that's been in your engine for many, many miles. If you're an oil nerd like me, you'll love this stuff.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/

But you won't actually see them pour it in. They could take your jug of oil and substitute something else. In your case, you probably have a great relationship with the shop and its owners and mechanics, so not a real issue.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

unless you don't change your oil very often, it will make zero difference.

geko29

And even then, the most common reason that 0w20 is specified rather than say, 5w30, has nothing to do with the lubricating properties of the oil. It's all about lowering friction to improve fuel economy.

OP, I wouldn't worry about it. Worst case you got swindled into better protection for your engine.

SW17LS

I trust my shop. At some point you have to, or just decide to do it yourself.

SW17LS

This actually isn't completely accurate. 0W oils are thinner when cold than 5W oils, if you live in a really cold climate, 0W20 will give you better cold start protection than 5W20 because the oil will flow better at startup.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

maybe if you're at the north pole it will make a difference.

Shaummy

This....if you don't trust the shop...you probably shouldn't be taking your car there in the first place.

SW17LS

Eh, if I lived somewhere that we routinely had temps below 0 I'd rather have the 0W.

geko29

Meh, the viscosity index of 0W oil at -40F is exactly the same as 5W oil at -31F. Very minor difference. I do live somewhere where it routinely gets below 0F in the winter, and I'd rather have the extra protection year-round. All my cars get 5W30 or 5W40.

Japanese manufacturers are obsessive about fuel economy, so they were the first to adopt the 0W oils. The Germans care most about engine protection and long oil change intervals and couldn't care less about a 1.2% increase in mpg, so they're last to the party. American manufacturers are in between.

riredale

Thanks to all.

Just so happened that Costco today is starting a $10 discount on Mobil1 0w-20, a 6-pack is now $28. I bought a couple of cases after looking at a YouTube video. Changing oil and filter is just as simple as with my old Vette so I'll just do it myself and save the more-serious service for a shop.

I don't understand why Toyota uses a cartridge-type filter instead of a can. For light aircraft it's useful to cut open the can to see if the engine is throwing metal, but I doubt that's an issue with automotive engines.

UDel

Then they could just recommend 0W30 which would provide the same cold weather start protection but also a little more protection in hot climates/if engines get hotter. The main reason most manufactures went with 20 weight when often the same engine was rated for 30 just a couple years before was to eek out slightly better fuel economy.