Oil Filter & Draining

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Hybrid Hobo, Jun 3, 2025 at 6:29 AM.

  1. Hybrid Hobo

    Hybrid Hobo Member

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    Oil question. Some of you might remember my previous post. But if not, to recap...

    I'm pretty sure that my Prius is burning oil. So I check my oil level every 4-5 days to be safe. Thus far, it seems to need a top-off (oil halfway down between the 2 dipstick dots) every 3-4 weeks, sometimes a bit longer.

    I have no problem doing this regularly to circumvent any future problems as it's only a minor inconvenience. However...

    I usually go to Valvoline every 3-4 months and have them do the oil change, which includes draining the oil and putting in a new oil filter.

    As I'm disabled, getting under the car to put in a new oil filter myself is impossible. So my question is, how often should I take the car in to have the oil drained and the filter changed between my sporadic oil top-offs?

    As long as the oil is topped off, do I really need a draining & new filter every 3 months? Or is 6 months or longer adequate?

    TYIA
     
    #1 Hybrid Hobo, Jun 3, 2025 at 6:29 AM
  2. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Every six months will be more than adequate.
     
    #2 dolj, Jun 3, 2025 at 6:32 AM
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It’d be good to nail down the rate of oil consumption. The distance between the two marks represents 1.5 litres (1.6 US quarts), according to owner’s manual. So half that distance, 0.8 US quarts, is disappearing every 3-4 weeks. Can you estimate average distance travelled in that time?
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Jun 3, 2025 at 7:44 AM
    Brian1954 likes this.
  4. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    As mentioned above....
    If you have a G2 these days?
    It IS burning oil.
    The thing you have to determine is the rate at which oil is being burned.


    hmmmm......Hybrid Hobo.....
    Does this mean that you're living IN your Prius and idling for hours and hours while you run the HVAC and sleep off the vodka?
    If so then mileage may not be the end-all be-all thing.

    I'd use three-six months as a 'wag' for replacing the filter as you're already keeping it topped off.
    If you're 'food insecure' as many hobos are?
    Buy cheeseburgers and lean towards six months.
    If you're more nomadic?
    Use three months.
     
    #4 ETC(SS), Jun 3, 2025 at 8:20 AM
  5. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    How many miles are you driving the car between the 3 to 4 month oil changes?
     
    #5 Brian1954, Jun 3, 2025 at 9:12 AM
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