Oil changes

[deman1134]

Okay, i got my prius Feb 11 and love it, great car. I have a 05 solara conv. too and when i brought it in for service i asked one of the guys how often i should bring it in because to me 6 months seems long even tho half the time the engines off anyway and he said 4 months or so and then i told him i was going on vication, 400 miles to michigan and he said i should bring it in at 4 months or right before i go on vication just to be sure i trust the toyota guys becasue i know them and talk to them alot altho they could just want to make more money. But to be sure i wanted to check on PriusChat with allthe experience Prii owners. so i was wondering how often do any of you go for oil changes and did you have anything else done/checked the first time you brought your prius in. Thanks in advance.

[hdrygas]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deman1134 @ Apr 18 2006, 08:12 PM) [snapback]241894[/snapback]</div>

Okay, i got my prius Feb 11 and love it, great car. I have a 05 solara conv. too and when i brought it in for service i asked one of the guys how often i should bring it in because to me 6 months seems long even tho half the time the engines off anyway and he said 4 months or so and then i told him i was going on vication, 400 miles to michigan and he said i should bring it in at 4 months or right before i go on vication just to be sure i trust the toyota guys becasue i know them and talk to them alot altho they could just want to make more money. But to be sure i wanted to check on PriusChat with allthe experience Prii owners. so i was wondering how often do any of you go for oil changes and did you have anything else done/checked the first time you brought your prius in. Thanks in advance.
[/b]

I am doing 5K with Mobile 1, I suspect that may be overkill. I can not go more than 3 months with out going 5K miles. I have an old Ford Explorer with 100k+ on it and my mechanic tells me to bring it in every 4 months. It is getting less than 500 miles during that time. Call the Car Guys, Click and Clack at 1800 CAR TALK. Ask them they will give you the straight poop.

[p626808]

I use the new Mobil 1 enhanced.. I have done 12K and 10K with that oil.. Had an oil analysis done on the 12K oil.. and it was fine.. TPN still at 3.0..
Still could have gone more..

But I also do 4K miles a month... mostly highway..

Scott

[seasalsa]

I just follow the owners manual to comply with the warranty.

[richard schumacher]

Just like seasalsa wrote: follow the maintenance schedule from *Toyota*, not what some guy in some service department said. In the US that means change the oil every six months or 5,000 miles, which ever comes first. Doing it more often just helps somebody else with his boat payments.

[mrv states this better below.

It may be useful to remember that in the US, car dealers are businesses completely independent of car manufacturers. Car dealers do things to maximize their income, and not for the benefit of the manufacturers or of us buyers.]

[jayman]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deman1134 @ Apr 18 2006, 10:12 PM) [snapback]241894[/snapback]</div>

when i brought it in for service i asked one of the guys how often i should bring it in because to me 6 months seems long even tho half the time the engines off anyway and he said 4 months or so and then i told him i was going on vication, 400 miles to michigan and he said i should bring it in at 4 months or right before i go on vication just to be sure [/b]

I've posted used oil analysis of my 2004 Prius running Mobil 1 0W-30 and Mobil 1 0W-20. Overall, at least with Mobil 1, the motor is *very* easy on oil and generates very low wear metals, compared to other cars.

I'm not sure what type of oil you're using though.

I had an issue with a bad used oil analysis as my Prius had the first 3 oil changes done at my dealer. I got a virgin sample of their mystery bulk 5W-30 and it was really nasty stuff. Perhaps that explains the sludging issue with some 3.0 V6 in Sienna vans: crap dealer oil.

With Mobil 1, go the full maximum of 5,000 miles or 6 months and don't even think about it. Running Mobil 1 0W-20 I went 6,000 miles over winter and my used oil analysis was almost identical to the 0W-30 running 5,000 miles.

[mrv]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Apr 19 2006, 10:23 AM) [snapback]242046[/snapback]</div>

Just like seasalsa wrote: follow the maintenance schedule from *Toyota*, not what some guy in some service department said. In the US that means change the oil every six months or 5,000 miles, which ever comes first. Doing it more often just helps somebody else with his boat payments.
[/b]

And make sure that it is the Prius-specific Toyota Passport to Performance (scheduled maintenance guide), and not the one that is generic to all Toyotas.

You can download the US scheduled maintenance guides here:
http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/

and note that it is an oil/filter change AND tire rotation. In the US, that's every 6 months, OR by mileage (5000 miles for 2004-current, 7500 miles for 2001-2003).

[deman1134]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mrv @ Apr 19 2006, 03:22 PM) [snapback]242252[/snapback]</div>

And make sure that it is the Prius-specific Toyota Passport to Performance (scheduled maintenance guide), and not the one that is generic to all Toyotas.

You can download the US scheduled maintenance guides here:
http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/

and note that it is an oil/filter change AND tire rotation. In the US, that's every 6 months, OR by mileage (5000 miles for 2004-current, 7500 miles for 2001-2003).
[/b]

Ok thanks everyone that replied, i like being able to count on everyone on this site when i need some help, its great. Yeah i think 6 months should be fine and i dont no wat i oil i have right now il ask the dealer wat they use.