I have in the distance future of the 30K service coming up that the dealer keeps telling me about at my next service or the folllowing. My question is how important is this service really? I have the oil changed every 3,000 miles and filters replaced twice now, tires rotated every 5,000. What are they really going to do to it other than inspect belts and fluids? I can do that myself. Just wondering if I really need to pay the $400.00 they are telling me. Just seems so high of a price to pay when the car hits 30K. The car runs great, NO problems at all. Thanks for any advice. I can see taking it in for the 50 or 60K for new brakes and fluid changes.
Why do you change oil so often? The Canadian regular maintenance schedule only rotates tires at every other oil change, oil every 8 Mm and rotate every 16 Mm (10 k miles). I would be less wanting to duck the scheduled stuff than do more often than scheduled.
See the sticky:http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...70-what-services-you-need-what-you-don-t.html But there is absolutely no need for every 3000 mile oil changes, it's wasting oil and diluting some of the environmental benefits. Toyota says every 5k miles and many of us who've had used oil analysis done find that even 10k miles is more often than is truely needed.
I just had this done, and to be honest it was a waste of 400$ They'll check your alignment, clean your brakes, fuel injection cleaner, and check the other fluids, and change the air and cabin filters. You can buy at a store brake cleaner and fuel injection cleaner, and the air filter, when I bought one, was around 12$ at wal-mart. In my opinion, save your money.
You're getting reamed. Open the Scheduled Maintenance Guide to the correct page. What it shows there is all you need. 30K miles service should cost well under $100. To save even more change the engine and cabin air filters yourself. It's very easy. (Just be certain to note the placement of the old ones so that you put the new ones in facing the right way!)
For the 30k service: - Change the engine oil and filter - Rotate the tires and inspect the brakes, suspension and fluid levels - Replace the engine air filter - Replace the cabin air filter - Clean and Adjust the Rear Drum Brakes - Drain and Refill the Transaxle Fluid That's what I'd do...
All of the above are DIY (if you are able) and are reasonable at 30k miles. You could put off the rear brake service till 60k as they are not used much in a Prius and the ATF exchange can thereafter be done at 60k mile intervals with safety as the Transaxel break-in (and rapid build-up of metallic particles) should be done by 30k. JeffD
