Just got back from the dealer yesterday in our new 2009 Silver Pine Mica Touring #6. Averaged 48 MPG over the first 100 miles, but I was trying. I check the tire pressure this morning and the the fronts were 31 and the rears were 29. I have 4 gauges including a snap-on and they're all within 1/2 psi of each other. Figuring there were probably other things they didn't check during the PDS, I checked the engine oil(parked on a flat level surface in my garage), and the dipstick shows 1/3 of an inch over the max fill point. This is an easy fix with my marine pump, but is it really necessary? I know on some cars, if the level is high enough, the crankshaft is sitting in the oil and it increases resistance quite a bit. Aren't these items they're supposed to check in the PDS?
When you finish setting your tire pressure where you want it, re-initialize the tire pressure monitoring system. I'm becoming convinced that Toyota overfills the oil on all new Prius. Toyota miscalculated the fill quantity by about 1/4 quart for dry fill, oil change, and oil & filter change and have not adjusted for the miscalculation. To your question: I doubt that you need to remove the extra oil. I did not and instead waited until the dealer's first 1,000 mile "free" oil change to correct the error. I stipulated 3.5 qts. on the refill, provided the oil (synthetic), and let them know I would check before leaving the dealership. They did just as instructed and the oil level was about 1/4" below the full mark when I left.
Well, I checked my tire pressure again and the dealer apparently left me with 32/30. I inflated them to 40/38 yesterday (42/40 scares me for some reason). Hopefully I'll see a modest gain on my next tank.
The tp will help but it is cool enough to have the top grill blocked all day & the bottom blocked at least in the AM. For the record, the bottoms definitely come out at 90F, usually out in the 80s.
I ended up putting 41/39 in. I had to remove 1/2 qt of oil to get below the full line. I suspect those that say mileage improves after 5K miles of breakin area really experiencing the correct oil level after the first oil change.
Hi Sorka, No, its not only oil overfills. My Prius was right on the max mark when it was delivered to me, and it consistantly improved mileage gradually through-out the first 5000 miles. Its mostly the tire break in , I think. Because at 5K miles, I replaced the integrities with Michelin Hydroedges, and dropped from 52 to 46 mpg. In a few months, the car was back over 52 mpg. A 1/3 inch overfill is outrageous however. It states plainly that the mark is a MAXIMUM level.
