SuperTech 0w-20 20k mi; 2015 Prius 187k mi

[Insight]

A year ago I promised to do a 20K mile test on SuperTech 20K mile 0w-20 motor oil. These are the Blackstone test results.

The vehicle is a 2015 Toyota Prius C with 187K miles. This car spends about 90% of its time between 45 - 60 mph and with very little stop and go traffic. It's used exclusively for a daily commute that is almost 30 miles one way.

 

[MurkyAsparagus]

Wow, the TBN isn’t even horrible. I’m quite surprised. Those engines are so easy on oil, very nice. Thanks!

What filter did you run?

 

[Insight]

Wow, the TBN isn’t even horrible. I’m quite surprised. Those engines are so easy on oil, very nice. Thanks!

What filter did you run?

The filter was a Wix XP (51394XP).

 

[Plumb Bob]

Nice run! Don't expect too much praise, though, as that's not considered a "cool" oil around here. You're expected to spend 5X to go 20K.

I intend to stretch ESP to 10K in my 2012 Prius.

 

[Zee09]

I have some from the first intro
Thanks to you I'll use it now

 

[JavierH19]

Without tan no solid answer can be given but you do plenty of highway driving. I remember seeing the 10 and 20k pds and they looked identical on the additives and tbn. I tried to look for it a while ago on here but couldn't. I'd lower the interval or upgrade to a better oil like m1 ESP.

 

[WobblyElvis]

Operating conditions make it or break it. Refreshing to see someone step outside of the norms.

 

[Ayrton]

Incredible report! Thanks for doing this!

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

we have another winner! thanks for sharing

 

[fantastic]

I don't usually see a high universal average mileage of 8,400 from BS (Nothing bad & just an observation). You really went well past what many would do. Being a hybrid ought to be mentioned. Highway commutes are great. Results are excellent. Did you happen to open up the WIX XP? Are you running your other Prius 15k? Used ST 20k again?

 

[macarose]

Wow! So it's pretty much a $25 DIY oil change that got you 20,000 miles.

The Prius C is pretty much the optimal vehicle to do that in and your commute is also an excellent fit.

Between 60 miles per gallon and the opportunity for extended maintenance intervals, you may actually have the lowest commuting costs here for those who are putting on higher miles.

Throw in long-term depreciation costs and you're even beating most Tesla owners.

 

[dnewton3]

It's often difficult to know, with a hybrid ICE, just how much the engine really ran as a % of the total miles of the UOA. Certainly, the 20k miles of vehicle use didn't result in 20k miles of engine run time; that's a given.

Even if we assumed the engine ran 50% of the distance (10k miles), it's still not a bad average for Fe, and the other wear metals are low enough to be considered noise.

This is more proof that the TBN/TAN topic is overblown. The TBN being "low" (per BS), as well as not knowing the TAN, didn't affect wear adversely whatsoever.

Si, when the source is an intake tract leak, should be progressive in a fairly linear state. You don't have any other UOA data shown so we can't really understand how bad this may or may not be. Given the universal average of 17ppm @ 8.4k miles, your reported value doesn't seem all that "high" given that you went 2.5x further than the "average" distance.

Next time, perhaps take a UOA every 5k miles to see how the trends develop. Yes - it's expensive. But having more data points helps understand the condition of the oil as it matures, rather than just having a single snapshot in time.

 

[macarose]

It's often difficult to know, with a hybrid ICE, just how much the engine really ran as a % of the total miles of the UOA. Certainly, the 20k miles of vehicle use didn't result in 20k miles of engine run time; that's a given.

Even if we assumed the engine ran 50% of the distance (10k miles), it's still not a bad average for Fe, and the other wear metals are low enough to be considered noise.

This is more proof that the TBN/TAN topic is overblown. The TBN being "low" (per BS), as well as not knowing the TAN, didn't affect wear adversely whatsoever.

Si, when the source is an intake tract leak, should be progressive in a fairly linear state. You don't have any other UOA data shown so we can't really understand how bad this may or may not be. Given the universal average of 17ppm @ 8.4k miles, your reported value doesn't seem all that "high" given that you went 2.5x further than the "average" distance.

Next time, perhaps take a UOA every 5k miles to see how the trends develop. Yes - it's expensive. But having more data points helps understand the condition of the oil as it matures, rather than just having a single snapshot in time.

The fact that TBN isn't linear makes me think that this vehicle would be better off having a buffer of sorts.

If he coupled a 15k OCI with the usual maintenance items, it would be a pretty easy schedule to keep.

I don't like 20k OCIs on even the most mild of engines just because I usually encourage every 15k tire rotations, 30k air filter, brake and power steering flushes, 60k transmission fluid, cabin air filter and differential servicing (on non-CVT vehicles), and 90k coolant flushes and tune-ups.

That usually gurantees a few extra years of longevity and a better powertrain. Plus you can sell a car maintained this way for more money. It's usually a win/win.

To each their own.

 

[wemay]

Excellent results for both, engine and oil. Thanks for doing this test and sharing.

 

[Insight]

I don't usually see a high universal average mileage of 8,400 from BS (Nothing bad & just an observation). You really went well past what many would do. Being a hybrid ought to be mentioned. Highway commutes are great. Results are excellent. Did you happen to open up the WIX XP? Are you running your other Prius 15k? Used ST 20k again?

I did buy the tool to open up oil filters but unfortunately I had emptied the garage trash can the week earlier so the oil filter was gone

My other car is a 2019 Honda Insight, which is used only during weekends and road trips.

Both cars are getting a round of Valvoline Restore and Protect. After that it'll be the Kirkland 0w-20 synthetic, that is currently on sale for the screaming deal of $30 for (2) 5 gallon jugs (bought 4 cases).

For the next test, I think I'll do 15K on the Kirkland oil in the Prius C.

 

[Insight]

It's often difficult to know, with a hybrid ICE, just how much the engine really ran as a % of the total miles of the UOA. Certainly, the 20k miles of vehicle use didn't result in 20k miles of engine run time; that's a given.

Even if we assumed the engine ran 50% of the distance (10k miles), it's still not a bad average for Fe, and the other wear metals are low enough to be considered noise.

This is more proof that the TBN/TAN topic is overblown. The TBN being "low" (per BS), as well as not knowing the TAN, didn't affect wear adversely whatsoever.

Si, when the source is an intake tract leak, should be progressive in a fairly linear state. You don't have any other UOA data shown so we can't really understand how bad this may or may not be. Given the universal average of 17ppm @ 8.4k miles, your reported value doesn't seem all that "high" given that you went 2.5x further than the "average" distance.

Next time, perhaps take a UOA every 5k miles to see how the trends develop. Yes - it's expensive. But having more data points helps understand the condition of the oil as it matures, rather than just having a single snapshot in time.

Because the drive is steady with very little stop and go and almost no hills, the engine is running most of the time. I generally see an EV percentage of 5% or less. Hybrids are best for city driving, although they do provide some better fuel efficiency in rural driving.

 

[FZ1]

Different strokes. The oil "worked" fine. I would prefer to get the iron and silicon outta there sooner. 10k oci and 1 year AF review. Save your uoa money, .02

 

[53' Stude]

The filter was a Wix XP (51394XP).

Nice report. I want to see that filter cut open. Thank You

 

[Sienna dude]

Wow!!! Pushing it all the way down to 2.0 TBN and yet things look perfectly normal. Now I am questioning my 6k mile oil changes when I am stopping at 5.0 TBN.
I really want to see how your oil filter did.

 

[Sienna dude]

It's often difficult to know, with a hybrid ICE, just how much the engine really ran as a % of the total miles of the UOA. Certainly, the 20k miles of vehicle use didn't result in 20k miles of engine run time; that's a given.

Even if we assumed the engine ran 50% of the distance (10k miles), it's still not a bad average for Fe, and the other wear metals are low enough to be considered noise.

This is more proof that the TBN/TAN topic is overblown. The TBN being "low" (per BS), as well as not knowing the TAN, didn't affect wear adversely whatsoever.

Si, when the source is an intake tract leak, should be progressive in a fairly linear state. You don't have any other UOA data shown so we can't really understand how bad this may or may not be. Given the universal average of 17ppm @ 8.4k miles, your reported value doesn't seem all that "high" given that you went 2.5x further than the "average" distance.

Next time, perhaps take a UOA every 5k miles to see how the trends develop. Yes - it's expensive. But having more data points helps understand the condition of the oil as it matures, rather than just having a single snapshot in time.

Yeah, my hybrid shuts the engine off even at 70 mph. At those speeds you cover quite some distance that is added to the odometer.