I'm curious; if the engine runs out of oil, will it shut off automatically?

It is up to you to turn off the engine as fast as you can or the engine will be damaged.

Would you prefer to own a car whose engine actually leaks and drips oil onto the ground?

It is up to you if you want to sell your car just because of this issue, but personally I don't think it is a big deal to check the oil dipstick at every other gas station visit, and add a $3 or $4 quart of oil when needed.

 

Checking the oil periodically is worth doing with every car, doubly so if you're consuming oil. I'd suspect by the time the car lets you know there's a problem, it's an expensive problem.

 

the correct answer is yes.

 

But it may not start again afterwards

 

The engine will shut off automatically, (and it will let you know with a bang or smoke) but will never start again....

 

Yes, it will shut off automatically, while magically transforming itself into a hunk of scrap metal.
Don't run it out of oil. "A couple top-offs between 10k oil changes" isn't much.

 

correct.


shouldn't a 2007 be getting 5,000 mile changes?

 

Depends where you live and what oil you use. In UK 10,000 mile OCI has always been the recommendation from Toyota using synthetic oil in the gen2 and gen3

John

 

thanks john. the o/p (who has yet to respond) says he's in tennesey, but hey, this is the internet.

 

Has anyone actually had the engine quit because of low oil? I'd like to hear someones experience about this.

If the low oil causes the engine to stop because the ECU shut it down doesn't mean that it is fried. It should only need a refill of oil to get you going again.

The real problem is if the ECU doesn't shut down the engine then the engine is fried. That is because low oil = lots of increased friction and then the engine seizes up. Then it is fried!

You gotta love a Prius because it protects us from our dumb things we do.

P.S. make sure you have oil with you when you travel.

 

You have to check the oil level on all cars. That is no big deal. I have a 2014 Avalon. I check my oil about once a week. I add a little oil between 10,000 mile oil changes. No big job.

 

I agree with Okinawa. I don't see it as such a big deal. You need to check your tires for air from time to time. You need to stop and pump in petrol (gas) periodically. There aren't any cars on the road that you can just drive and do nothing else. Is looking at the dipstick once a month or so really that onerous?

 

When an engine is out of oil it will make it known before going bang. It'll make more and more noise, lose performance, struggle, knock, grind, clatter and even then it might still run. But at that point it's scrap, even if it does still propel the vehicle forward. Once you fill it with oil again it will really just burn it as the damage will have been done.

It's rare for an engine to just stop due to lack of oil - unless you ignore all the above symtoms - but run the car low on oil and it is junk. Top it back up with oil thinking you can save it and you won't - it'll just blow smoke as it burns the new oil at a phenominal rate.

 

Wasn't there a post recently where a Prius Owner had a problem with a repair shop that had changed the oil but NOT replaced the plug, and when the oil drained out and the OP noticed it, the shop defended themselves by telling the OP there couldn't be too much damage to the Prius Engine because it had an automatic "low oil" turn off capability?

To which most of us screamed....BS!

I think any rumors of The Prius somehow "knowing" when it's oil is low and having the capability to turn it's own engine off in defense should be squelched.

No.

The Prius does not have this ability.

Therefore it behooves owners to be aware of oil level and consumption and NOT drive with the false chimerical idea The Prius will protect you from any engine damage should the engine become too low on oil.

 

Here's an interesting read and some pics from Noah Hoffman, a World Cup cross country ski racer from Aspen. He'd had his '04's oil changed in September and in March it threw a rod through the block. Noah is a great guy but I'd bet he wasn't checking his oil much, if at all!

Scroll down to the last 3 pics and the accompanying text.

From Car to No Car - Noah HoffmanNoah Hoffman

 

Too bad he didn't consider the possibility of installing a used engine. That might have cost him ~$2.5K or so depending upon labor cost in his area. The used engine itself could be purchased for <$500.

 

wow a broken down 2004 is not even worth more than $100. I actually think the mechanic and the tow truck driver was in it together to lowball the deal.

 

Yes, you're definitely on the money with the "if at all" part.

I notice that he said in his blog:

Pretty certain that a much better answer would have been "but I had checked the oil just last week", if indeed that had ever actually happened (not likely).

If you were still unsure as to whether or not he ever checked the oil, the next paragraph says:

Oh say no more.

Oh well. That story does somewhat support the OP's position here. It illustrates why at least some people cannot own a car with even fairly mild oil consumption.

 

When we went to a new owners night, the service manager told the assembly their goal is to ensure you never have to pop the hood.