Wher's the maintenance on this thing?

rickdm · 03-10-2005, 10:00 PM

I got the new Prius yesterday and have been reading the manuals and I am kind of surprised with what I see for maintenance. If I read this correctly I just see oil changes, inspections, a filter, and tire rotations for the first 100,000 miles or ten years. Here are some of the items that I would expect to see;

-Radaitor fluid; even with a long life fluid I would expect to change it out every 2 years. In the Prius you are not required to change it for ten years or 100,000 miles.

-Brake fluid; absorbes moisture and again I would expect a flush and bleed every two years regardless of miles.

-Valve adjust; the Prius does not seem to have self-adjusting valves (since they give a spec for the valve clearance), but there is no mention made of ever adjusting them, just inspecting them.

-Transmission and differential fluid; here at least there is a mention of 60,000 miles for severe service.

I notice some of these items mentioned in the inspections for the major services. Is it assumed that most of this maintenace will be done as the dealer finds necessary? Are you finding the dealer taking care of these items at the major services. Or should I just chill and not worry about it :?

Regards,
rickdm

jeepien · 03-10-2005, 11:16 PM

Well, yeah. If something can be inspected, then you inspect it. If it's fine, you leave it alone. If it's not fine, you correct it.

DanMan32 · 03-11-2005, 11:13 AM

Coolant is long life. Many cars today are using them. My '99 saturn had similar stuff that didn't need changing for 100K. A repair shop that I have come to find reliable suggested I wait on the coolant when I asked to have it changed at 80K.

rickdm · 03-11-2005, 08:20 PM

!0 years and 100,000 miles, that is some pretty good radiator fluid! But It is easy enough to test whether it is still good, so they must know what they are doing.

On the other hand no change of brake fluid is interesting because all the German manufacturers are very particular about this and yet I seldom see it mentioned in the maintenance requirements for any Japanese sedan. I think the expectation of how hard the brakes are used must be very different in those two countries. Perhaps the Autobahn has something to do with this......

Regards,
rickdm

KTPhil · 03-16-2005, 02:35 PM

Most engines now have a cold valve adjustment via shims, but no required adjustment like on old pushrod heads. Unless you work on the heads you needn't pay any attention to it.

Oh, the busted knuckles from setting valves on my VWs every 3,000 miles...

jh90206 · 03-20-2005, 07:12 PM

I am really glad someone brought this up. I was wondering the same thing myself. So the consensus is oil changes and tire rotations is it unless something awry is found? That is a huge savings in maintenance costs assuming nothing breaks. We can add that to fuel savings and smile even bigger.

jh90206

DanMan32 · 03-21-2005, 10:57 AM

How about the PCV valve? When (or if) should it be checked/replaced, and where exactly is it? The repair manual is unclear on where it is, so someone who has had seen it firsthand (like one of our resident Toyota Master Techs) might be able to tell us.

ken1784 · 03-21-2005, 01:38 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KTPhil\";p=\"73001)</div>

Quote:

Most engines now have a cold valve adjustment via shims, but no required adjustment like on old pushrod heads.[/b]

Prius engine does not have even shims.
Toyota replaces the valve lifter if the clearance is out of spec.

Regards,
Ken@Japan

DanMan32 · 03-22-2005, 11:10 AM

I don't know if it is shims, but according to the repair manual, it is adjustable, even though they don't say how to do it.

(

Inspect the valve clearance indicated in the illustration.
(1) Using a feeler gauge, measure the clearance between
the valve lifter and camshaft.
Valve clearance (Cold):
Intake 0.17 to 0.23 mm (0.007 to 0.009 in.)
Exhaust 0.27 to 0.33 mm (0.011 to 0.013 in.)
If the clearance is not as specified, record the out–of–specification
measurement, then adjust the valve clearance.

It does not say "replace valve lifter".

DanMan32 · 03-22-2005, 11:16 AM

My bad, reading further, it has instructions for "adjusting" clearance. Indeed, the lifters are replaced. The lifters are the equivalent of shims, and come in 35 different thicknesses.

03-10-2005, 10:00 PM	#1
rickdm Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 16 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Wher's the maintenance on this thing? I got the new Prius yesterday and have been reading the manuals and I am kind of surprised with what I see for maintenance. If I read this correctly I just see oil changes, inspections, a filter, and tire rotations for the first 100,000 miles or ten years. Here are some of the items that I would expect to see; -Radaitor fluid; even with a long life fluid I would expect to change it out every 2 years. In the Prius you are not required to change it for ten years or 100,000 miles. -Brake fluid; absorbes moisture and again I would expect a flush and bleed every two years regardless of miles. -Valve adjust; the Prius does not seem to have self-adjusting valves (since they give a spec for the valve clearance), but there is no mention made of ever adjusting them, just inspecting them. -Transmission and differential fluid; here at least there is a mention of 60,000 miles for severe service. I notice some of these items mentioned in the inspections for the major services. Is it assumed that most of this maintenace will be done as the dealer finds necessary? Are you finding the dealer taking care of these items at the major services. Or should I just chill and not worry about it :? Regards, rickdm

03-11-2005, 08:20 PM	#4
rickdm Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 16 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Wher's the maintenance on this thing? !0 years and 100,000 miles, that is some pretty good radiator fluid! But It is easy enough to test whether it is still good, so they must know what they are doing. On the other hand no change of brake fluid is interesting because all the German manufacturers are very particular about this and yet I seldom see it mentioned in the maintenance requirements for any Japanese sedan. I think the expectation of how hard the brakes are used must be very different in those two countries. Perhaps the Autobahn has something to do with this...... Regards, rickdm

03-20-2005, 07:12 PM	#6
jh90206 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangor, Me Posts: 12 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Wher's the maintenance on this thing? I am really glad someone brought this up. I was wondering the same thing myself. So the consensus is oil changes and tire rotations is it unless something awry is found? That is a huge savings in maintenance costs assuming nothing breaks. We can add that to fuel savings and smile even bigger. jh90206

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
It's a Prius Thing	atclark15	Gen II Prius Main Forum	22	04-12-2007 09:14 AM
Thing I hate the most...	icharry	Gen II Prius Main Forum	4	12-25-2006 01:42 AM
The Best Thing About this Election	Alnilam	Fred's House of Pancakes	38	11-22-2006 01:44 AM
How do I turn this thing off?	rwlade	Gen II Prius Main Forum	10	05-05-2005 08:50 AM

03-10-2005, 11:16 PM	#2
jeepien Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 165 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Well, yeah. If something can be inspected, then you inspect it. If it's fine, you leave it alone. If it's not fine, you correct it.

03-11-2005, 11:13 AM	#3
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Coolant is long life. Many cars today are using them. My '99 saturn had similar stuff that didn't need changing for 100K. A repair shop that I have come to find reliable suggested I wait on the coolant when I asked to have it changed at 80K.

03-16-2005, 02:35 PM	#5
KTPhil Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,313 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Most engines now have a cold valve adjustment via shims, but no required adjustment like on old pushrod heads. Unless you work on the heads you needn't pay any attention to it. Oh, the busted knuckles from setting valves on my VWs every 3,000 miles...

03-21-2005, 10:57 AM	#7
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	How about the PCV valve? When (or if) should it be checked/replaced, and where exactly is it? The repair manual is unclear on where it is, so someone who has had seen it firsthand (like one of our resident Toyota Master Techs) might be able to tell us.

03-22-2005, 11:10 AM	#9
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I don't know if it is shims, but according to the repair manual, it is adjustable, even though they don't say how to do it. ( Inspect the valve clearance indicated in the illustration. (1) Using a feeler gauge, measure the clearance between the valve lifter and camshaft. Valve clearance (Cold): Intake 0.17 to 0.23 mm (0.007 to 0.009 in.) Exhaust 0.27 to 0.33 mm (0.011 to 0.013 in.) If the clearance is not as specified, record the out–of–specification measurement, then adjust the valve clearance. It does not say "replace valve lifter".

03-22-2005, 11:16 AM	#10
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My bad, reading further, it has instructions for "adjusting" clearance. Indeed, the lifters are replaced. The lifters are the equivalent of shims, and come in 35 different thicknesses.