10,000-mile oil change?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by mjones12, Jun 18, 2012.

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  1. mjones12

    mjones12 Member

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    Got my ToyotaCare packet today which entitles me to 2 years or 25,000 miles of routine service. I was surprised to learn that although my first servicing is due at 5,000 miles, the first oil change is not recommended until 10,000 miles, with the second oil change at 20,000. Does this sound right? Sounds like a little too much time between oil changes to me. Is this because the electric motor is taking the load off the gas engine?
     
    #1 mjones12, Jun 18, 2012
  2. ksstathead

    ksstathead Active Member

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    Yes, along with the fact that the ICE is either stopped or spinning with no fuel whenever no power is expected from it, along with the fact that it generally does not have to idle, along with the fact it uses 0W-20 synthetic oil.
     
    #2 ksstathead, Jun 18, 2012
  3. Matt M.

    Matt M. Member

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    Like mjones12, I was a little surprised. When I was getting ready to take my 2012 Four in for its first service at 5k miles I assumed it must include an oil change, but then I looked it up and saw it was just tire rotation and check a bunch of things. I'm sure I would have skipped that service if it weren't free ("Toyota Care"). ;-)
     
    #3 Matt M., Jun 18, 2012
  4. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    Extend changes are the norm today when using synthetic oil -- you will be surprised how clean the oil will remain throughout. Still check it!
     
    #4 yeldogt, Jun 18, 2012
  5. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    People !!!!

    Please read the manual it was changed EARLY 2010 !!!! IF you use synthetic 0W-20 toyota recommneds (and pay for in the care packages) 10,000 miles OR 1 year oil change ... I had 2 oil analyzed and both had life in them ... this is actually good for the vallet and the environment ....
     
    #5 szgabor, Jun 18, 2012
  6. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    10,000 miles was adequate per my oil analysis for the 95% highway driving I do. However, every trip of mine was greater than 10 miles and even then, the TBN remaining (2.7) was getting on the lower side.

    If I was doing mostly short trips, I would not follow the 10k recommendation; I would change the oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles to be safe.
     
    #6 The Critic, Jun 19, 2012
  7. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    With a brand new car, personally, I'd ignore the 10,000 and get an oil change done a couple times before 10K, mostly to help remove any metal particles left over from the wear-in period. But after that, yes, 10K if you're using 0W20. That said, if you drive in really horrible weather conditions a lot of the time, then perhaps drop down from the 10K a bit and have it done earlier.
     
    #7 DavidA, Jun 19, 2012
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  8. nedear88

    nedear88 My 1st Prius.

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    I changed my own oil since day one I have the Prius, I changed it at the 1st 5K miles, then repeat it at 10k miles. The 3rd oil change I used a K&N oil filter and changed oil at 20k miles, I don't like it the oil is too dark and notice about 1/4 quart of oil is missing, when I change it at 5k miles it seems no oil missing.

    I am now changing oil and filter at 7500 miles and rotate tires, I never take advantage of the FREE oil change from Toyota, I rather change it myself.
     
    #8 nedear88, Jun 19, 2012
  9. Tim Bender

    Tim Bender Member

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    I owned a 1979 Cadillac Coupe deVille that had a 12,500 mile interval between oil changes - stated clearly in the owner's manual. That car had 200,000 miles on it when I sold it. Trust the engineers.
     
    #9 Tim Bender, Jun 25, 2012
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  10. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    Does Toyota have any special formula factory fill to facilitate break-in? UOAs seem to show tons of Moly in the FF.

    Well I know break-in with modern engines is more of a thing in the owner's head than anything else. Question is, can it do more harm than good, to dump the factory fill prematurely?
     
    #10 Jonny Zero, Jun 25, 2012
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  11. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    I don't know about that. Remember the GM Dex-Cool LIM gasket FUBAR?
     
    #11 Jonny Zero, Jun 25, 2012
  12. SoCalBPrius

    SoCalBPrius Active Member

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    I changed it at 5k miles as well but had the nearest dealer change it for me at 10k only to have them overfill it w/ 5 quarts of oil. I won't take it back there(n) . I may just do it myself again or try another dealer. I check my oil regularly & have yet to see it go low or dark as it looks almost new still:D. Just curious, I know our G3 prius uses an oil filter element (non-metal cartridge). Isn't the K&N oil filter metal & it fits fine?
     
    #12 SoCalBPrius, Jun 27, 2012
  13. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    K&N sells cartridge versions too.
     
    #13 Jonny Zero, Jun 27, 2012
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  14. nickb

    nickb Junior Member

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    Do the dealers use a 100% synthetic at the 10k interval or is it extra? Always changed the 2005 Prius at 5k intervals from the dealer with oil that was not 100% synthetic. When I had the time, I did my own oil and filter and used Mobil 1; when I did this I changed at 10k.
     
    #14 nickb, Dec 23, 2012
  15. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    well the 100% synthetic is always a question :mad: ... (it is mostly synthetic) ... but 0W20 is almost always "synthetic" (or whatever they call it)....
     
    #15 szgabor, Dec 23, 2012
  16. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    I am holding out for the 10K first oil change. I am at almost 9K now and it used no oil to be shown on the dip stick. I think the 10K OCI will do just fine.
     
    #16 Jonny Zero, Dec 23, 2012
  17. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Are you going to have the oil analyzed? I don't think anyone here has done that yet...
     
    #17 spiderman, Dec 23, 2012
  18. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    Thinking about it. There is a 10K UOA, but not a factory-fill.
     
    #18 Jonny Zero, Dec 23, 2012
  19. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    it worth to do it at 5K even if you pay for it ... 40-60 dollar .... and another 25 UOA ... I will do it that way
     
    #19 szgabor, Dec 23, 2012
  20. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    I am saving that money to pay for my car wash supplies. ;)
     
    #20 Jonny Zero, Dec 23, 2012
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