So I have a fairly simple after hearing conflicting comments: -- Oil changes need to be done every 10k miles with full synthetic oil (per owners manual) -- Oil changes need to be done every 3-5k miles with conventional oil (per Panama City Toyota dealership when taken in when the "maintenance required" light was on while on vacation from Chicago) -- Oil changes need to be done every 5k miles with full synthetic oil (per my regular local mechanic who argues it's because that's when the light comes on and 10k is stated in the manual so the engine goes bad quicker) Please clarify.
Follow your owners manual, 10k mile changes with synthetic motor oil. The light comes on at 5k for tire rotations and for you to check all your fluid levels.
I like the last option, it's the Toyota spec. in Canada. It's really up to you, your comfort level. The US interval likely IS ok, but more frequent doesn't hurt. Personally, DIY'ing my oil changes, it's a trivial chore (and cost) every 6 months, just over $30 for supplies.
- The first bullet is correct. Of course, you are free to change it more frequently if you like. Some use supposedly better synthetic oil and extend the interval to 15,000 miles. - The second bullet is also correct IF you use conventional oil and not synthetic. However, I believe the manual says something to the effect that you can use conventional oil, but you should switch back to synthetic after 5,000 miles. - The third bullet suggests you look for a new local mechanic or educate him on the Prius. All it should take is reviewing the maintenance schedule with him. He's probably used to cars where the light coming on DOES mean the oil needs to be changed and doesn't realize that's not the case with the Prius. Oh, and the 10,000 mile interval is only for the general operating conditions mentioned. There are two intervals in the manual depending on conditions.
Toyota has never changed the maintenance interval light .. it's a bit annoying. It's only a counter and I think they just never bothered to change it -- hay ......people think it equates to something ...maybe the dealers get more service out of it. We are at 4 years and 130k -- the car uses maybe 1/2 quart of oil in 10k miles. I buy the 5 quart 0W-20 in the big jug when it's on sale -- so I have the little extra I need. The oil is so clean at 7500 -- I would never change it. Frankly -- is really clean at 10k ... I don't think it really needs changing.
there are two schools of thought, neither proven. 1) the engine doesn't run the whole time, thus, less wear than a gasser. 2) the engine starts and stops a lot, thus, more wear than a gasser.
well, there is some support for this here: oil consumption vs length of oil change interval | PriusChat neither proven? how about this: interesting oil study by Infineum | PriusChat
If you read Toyota's service schedule, you'll see they recommend tire rotations and other inspections at 5K mile intervals. That's the reason the 5K mile maintenance reminder pops up.
Read the manual, quite a few will be making short trips. Those who do should do 5K OCI. Old school refers to that type of driving as "severe service".
