Bump in mpg's.

First engine oil change at 5,000 miles would remove any initial wear debris and material. In our case, we also changed the transaxle oil at the same time.

With over 50,000 miles on our 2010 Prius, recent regression testing has yet to reveal a significant change in mph vs MPG performance from what we measured after driving off the dealer's lot. The problem is normal variations can lead to 5% or less changes in the results. These noise variables take a lot of work to audit and control.

I just wanted to share that initial lubricant changes can also have an effect as well as a long list of independent variables. It might be a little warmer since you got the car and the tires have probably lost a little circumference that changes the odometer accuracy.

Regardless, if the car seems to perform better, GOOD ON YOU!

Bob Wilson

 

I agree with Bob Wilson. Everything I have learned is it takes longer than 5K to break in the Prius. But the MPG really won't change much in the beginning. You might see a little uptick, but chances are you just learning how to drive the Prius more efficiently. For some reason, most Prius drivers do just that. Now as the traction battery ages, you may begin to notice the MPG dropping off. This seems to be normal as the ICE has to work a little harder to keep the pack charged up. Such is the nature of the NIMH battery. All batteries have a certain amount of cycles before they begin to deteriorate. The traction battery in the Prius can be subject to that over time depending upon the conditions that the Prius is being operated in. It seems that heat is it's worst enemy. But don't worry about that battery either. According to Toyota, all of the Pri that are on the road today from the inception of the Prius has a traction battery failure rate of 2 to 3 %. The odds of your battery failing is miniscule.

Enjoy your Prius and smile every time you pass by the gas station rather than turning in and spending $60 or more.

Peace,
Ron (dorunron)

 

Yes, but lots like too waste oil I'm afraid. Many of us cannot change our ways! H

 

As long as the used oil get recycled, no problem!

Bob Wilson

 

Read the owner's manual. Unless you are driving 100% highway, you should change the oil every 5000 miles.

Any short trips or operation in dusty environments is known as severe service. With that usage, the oil and filter should be changed every 5000 miles. It's all in the owner's manual.

Ron (dorunron)

 

All the poop I have read about oil changes and life of oil seems to revolve around not so much about the oil itself, but rather the additives that are blended in with the stock petroleum. Over time the additives tend to diminish thus the quality of the lubrication is lessened to a certain extent. I do know that folks who use products like Amsoil go something like 20 to 30 K before oil changes. They usually have over size filters and change the filters on it's own schedule. I think it is reasonable to conclude that the oil itself does not break down, but rather the contaminants which get in the oil over time and the breaking down of the additives is why the oil needs to be changed on a regular basis.

I do know this for a fact. If you don't change your oil, eventually you will damage the engine. I am speaking from personal experience. I destroyed a engine in a car we bought brand new. 1980 Pontiac Phoenix. First front wheel drive offered by GM - known as the X models. Chevy Citation fell into the same class. Only changed the oil once, and that was at 30K. Engine blew around 55K. Upon disassembly a piston was found to have a big hole in the top and evidently a valve had seized which broke the piston. Beautiful car in great shape, but had a blown engine. Sold it to a cousin in law. They fixed the engine and then sold the car. Custom ordered from Detroit

I honestly believe if you fall under the "severe service" category, you really should consider the 5K OCI.

Best of luck to you.

Ron

 

Ron,

Just curious, what is your definition of "severe service"? Can I assume the free scheduled maintenance contract is only going to cover the 10k OCI?

 

Hi DoubleDaz,

You asked two questions so I will give two separate answers.

1. You asked if the "free scheduled maintenance" only covers the 10K OCI. The answer is "Yes, it only covers the OCI every 10K and or 12 months intervals for the life of the contract". Any additional work being done such as "oil and filter changes in between the 10K interval (every other 5K)" would be paid for the owner of said Prius.

2. Now in reference to what the definition of what "severe service" would be. The term "severe service" is used in many maintenance booklets, however Toyota does not use that term in the "maintenance log book" that I have on our 2013 Prius. Rather the booklet says "Special Operating Conditions". The Owner's manual states to refer to the "Warranty and Maintenance Guide" for specific information as far as actual maintenance intervals and what needs to be done.

As per page 40 of the "guide" for the 2013 Prius the following is written.

5K or 6 months

• Check installation of driver's floor mat
• Inspect and adjust all fluid levels
• Rotate Tires

Visually inspect brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs

Additional Maintenance Items for Special Operating Conditions

Driving on dirt roads or dusty roads:

• Inspect ball joints and dust covers
• Inspect drive shaft boots
• Inspect engine air filter
• Inspect steering linkage and boots
• Replace engine oil and oil filter
• Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis and body

Driving while towing, using a car-top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading:

• Replace engine oil and oil filter
• Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis and body

Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below 32 degrees F/0 degrees C:

• Replace engine oil and oil filter

Extensive idling and/or low speed driving for a long distance such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery use:

• Replace engine oil and oil filter

 

Just checking Ron because I thought I saw someone say they thought anything that isn't all highway driving constituted severe/special service. I'm not against changing the oil more frequently, just wondering if that's just "old school" thinking or really needed. I always thought synthetics extended the interval and I don't think the ICE is a high revving engine, etc. FWIW, 70% of my first 10k is going to be highway cruising.

 

I hear ya DoubleDAZ, I too feel that with the higher quality oils we have today, that 10K should be achievable. But alas when you consider all of the parameters spelled out above, just about everyone of us at some point during the 10K will fall under that category which defines a 5K OCI. A lot of my trips are short. Short trips are taboo in more ways than one. Since the ICE doesn't get heated up well until after the first ten to fifteen minutes, the oil in the ICE never really gets hot enough for the moisture from condensation to evaporate. I think that is the theory behind it. I do know this, old school wanted you to change the oil if you went through a dust storm and not wait for the 3K interval. Same thing if you drove through water. Then it also included changing fluids in rear axle, as well as the transmission. I realize you should not drive through water, but at times there is no choice in a real emergency. One thing is for certain, a motor vehicle is NOT a boat. I learned that the hard way several years ago. Totaled out a 1992 Nissan King Cab V-6 Frontier. It was a special edition that was a beautiful red color. Had SE-V6 logo's on the side and on the tail gate. Got caught in a tropical storm driving through flooded streets. Saw a regular Frontier ahead of me flooded out. Thought I could make it since the Frontier I had sat higher than the normal Frontier. I was doing good until I felt water rushing in from under the doors. After that it was all over. The water hit the computers mounted on the floor under the passenger seat. ICE shut down and never restarted after that. Allstate paid me a little over $5K for the truck. Went and bought another Frontier and learned a valuable lesson.

IMO, 5K OCI is cheap insurance. Even though 10K OCI is being pushed now, the extra protection is worth it in my book. Why take chances in life? That little bit of oil and that extra filter should not break the bank. Or look at it another way. Cheap insurance towards a well lubed ICE that will probably last longer than those whose OCI were 10K. Several stories here on PC of the Gen III Prius using oil kind of early on that are doing the 10K OCI.

Ron (dorunron)

 

^ That would put pretty much everyone in severe service, and I can't see that being Toyota's intent. A snapshot from the US Warranty and Maintenance Guide (2010 edition, page 38):




That said, in Canada the oil change interval is still 8000 km (roughly 5000 miles). And even if they went over to the US interval, I'd likely stay with 8000 km (or 6 months).

That said, when I do Canadian schedule oil drains on our Prius, and it's typically 6 months that governs, it's the cleanest "dirty" oil I've ever seen. I'm also changing oil on a Civic hybrid, and with slightly longer stretch between changes, it looks completely knackered, lol.

 

Come-on Mendel, that is backward thinking. With today's oil we are good for 15000 kilometers at ease. Look at your old hch2. It went 14,000 k's and you only had too change the filter every second change. So Honda knows something toyota does not. H

 

Our change interval with our HCH2 (doing the change when the 15% warning came up) averaged around 8500 km. Yeah, Honda's doing the oil filter at alternate changes was a good policy (try to convince the dealerships tho...), and I used your trick at the oil only changes, to dump out and re-install the filter.

Hey, the oil is recycled. I know it's a bit over kill, but for now:

1. It's Toyota's policy in Canada.
2. It's my baby, lol.

 

Yes, but why change at 15%. A waste! My opinion only. H

 

Yeah my son concurs. His car now, he's a 0% guy.

 

We all should be. Conservation you know. H