I really don't need an oil change until 10K??

yes, it's amazing how clear it stays. but i doubt you can tell much from observation. i think you're fine with 8500 hv miles.

 

I plan to do 9-10k hv miles before my next oil change.

 

i'm thinking the same way, now that i have to pay for it.

 

For synthetic oil, 10K miles, non-severe use.

 

I paid a little over $60 for the oil change and tire rotation. Hopefully I didn't get taken too bad.

 

I know this is a PiP thread about oil change anxiety, but I just got my 2nd oil change at 96,000 miles.

I had planned to do it before leaving on my epic road trip from San Francisco to Ohio and back but ran out of time and ended up doing it in Indianapolis. I pulled the dipstick before leaving on the trip and the oil was a nice looking amber brown. The dealer said the engine air filter looked fine so I'm still running with the original. Total cost of both oil changes is under $100.

With this trip almost over I'm down to a 62% EV ratio so I've driven a total of about 36,000 miles on the gas engine. I did the 1st change at the 2 year maximum interval. This time it's been 22 months and the Volt's computer indicated I had 1% oil life remaining.

 

That's one of the most sensible posts in this thread. Endlessly erring on the side of spending money is very wasteful, and exactly what the industry wants.

 

I think you did okay. You only have to do it every 10,000 miles. I have a new Avalon and I still have the 2 year free service. I usually buy the lifetime balancing and tire rotation, for the life of the tires that are on your car, from Discount Tire and just have the oil changes done at Toyota. I don't intend to take my car back to Toyota every 5,000 miles when the free stuff ends. That way I just go back to Toyota every 10,000 miles.

 

Would be nice if there were an affordable home kit to check the oil status (including moisture). Could save a lot of unnecessary oil changes. Still would make a lot of people nervous because of warranty stipulations.

 

Some say there is no harm doing oil changes at 5000 miles....

Well, there is...you put an additional strain on the environment by having to recycle and reuse that oil.

On top of that, you could be spending your time taking care of your health or other people.

You guys owning PIP's are advent guard technology adopters...trust the engineers or do your own engineering...

 

And why stop at every 5,000 miles? Why not turn the clock back further and do them every 3,000 or maybe turn it back further still and change the oil every 1,500 miles?

Or maybe like you suggest, they could trust the very people who designed their car.

 

The Prius engine holds a little over four quarts or four liters of oil.

Toyota states that 1.1 liter for every 600 miles is within limits and is acceptable.

At 2k miles, your engine could be down to one quart in the crankcase.

If you don't change until 10k and don't check the level in the crankcase, you could be needing a NEW engine.

Think the Toyota warranty will cover it? Don't think so.

I'll keep on changing oil and 5k.

 

Well, Toyota Canada is telling me to change the oil every 8000 km or 6 months. The intervals, and the oil grades, seem to me to be somewhat arbitrary, going around the world. 8000 km's likely IS overkill, but a DIY oil change costs me about $25, the used oil is recycled, and most importantly, I need the hobby.

 

Isn't that why they want you to come in every 5K miles/6 months? "Check fluid levels." Of course, you can check the level yourself, but the point is not letting it get too low, not changing it that often.

I would think that a car that losing one liter of oil every 600 miles has a problem.

 

There's a big difference between an oil change and your own regular maintenance check.

I agree with you, the owner should check their fluid levels. Can't believe the person you responded to thinks that it's Toyotas problem that people don't look after their own car. Always someone else's fault.

 

funny thing is, none of my 3 pro have ever burnt any oil. granted, i haven't had one for more than 100,000 miles.

 

so the question becomes, what if you don't put 10,000 miles per year?

 

When I went to the new owners open night at our local dealership, the service manager lead us around the service department, mentioned at one point: "you never need to pop the hood". Grrh.

 

ROADTRIP!!!!!!!

 

that's what the hycam's for.