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2010 Prius Owners - High Mileage and No Oil Issues

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by orenji, Aug 12, 2016.

  1. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    There have been several threads on the 2010 Prius with high mileage that are using oil. I thought it would be interesting to hear from 2010 and 2011 owners who have close to 100,000 miles or more and don't have issues of oil usage.

    Please list you mileage?
    Please list if you change your oil at 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles?
    Please list if you use 0W-20 weight oil or something else?
    Please list if you have the dealer change your oil or someone else?
    Do you use Toyota Oil?
    Do you drive mostly city or freeway?
    If freeway what is your average speed?

     
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  2. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Those are all good questions. Some more:
    Brand and model oil(s) used, if not Toyota 0W-20?
    Highest speed at which the car has been driven for extended periods?
    Much driving up mountains at speed?
    Model year of Prius (No need to limit entries to 2010s, in my opinion, because owners of other years have complained of the same issue.)
    Lots of trips too short to fully warm up the engine, or not?
    Typical mpg ?

    Thanks. I don't qualify to answer, because mine has only about 63K now.
     
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  3. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    2012 PiP
    105k miles
    OCI every 10k
    0w20
    Used dealer up to 70k and then DIY
    Used cheapest stuff you can buy on Amazon, last 3 changes were Mag 1, Pennzoil, and Mobil 1. Actually got good stuff last time due to coupons available. Mostly used Wix and Fram filters, again whatever is cheapest.
    80% freeway at around 75 mph with elevation of 1300 ft
    Mpg is averaging 60 at 20% lifetime EV ratio.

    No oil consumption last change, noticed a pint or so before that. I attribute it to summer months versus winter months. I had expectations to be using a quart every 10k miles by this point so I am impressed thus far.
     
    #3 mmmodem, Aug 12, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2016
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  4. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    I'll start since I know my Prius don't burn oil because I recently checked it at 114k miles and its still between the full and low mark with 4 quarts of oil. :)

    Please list you mileage?
    117k miles on the Odometer right now.

    Please list if you change your oil at 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles?
    I change my oil every 10k miles or sometimes 11k depends if its hot outside or not. :(

    Please list if you use 0W-20 weight oil or something else?
    I use Toyota 0W-20 oil only

    Please list if you have the dealer change your oil or someone else?
    I changed the oil myself.

    Do you use Toyota Oil?
    Yes

    Do you drive mostly city or freeway?
    Both, but mostly highway for work.

    If freeway what is your average speed?
    70mph, shh...

    Much driving up mountains at speed?
    sometimes... maybe 3 times a week.

    Model year of Prius (No need to limit entries to 2010s, in my opinion, because owners of other years have complained of the same issue.)
    2012 Toyota Prius IV

    Lots of trips too short to fully warm up the engine, or not?
    no

    Typical mpg ?
    528 for a full tank the last time I filled it up.
    so 44mpg since the tank is 11.9 gallons
     
    #4 NutzAboutBolts, Aug 12, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2016
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  5. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Please list you mileage? - 126k
    Please list if you change your oil at 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles? - 5k since new
    Please list if you use 0W-20 weight oil or something else? - 0w20, but believe 30 is fine and even 40 in hot climes
    Please list if you have the dealer change your oil or someone else? - do all work myself aside from recall
    Do you use Toyota Oil? - yes, TGMO fanboy with this car but any name brand syn should be fine
    Do you drive mostly city or freeway? - mix
    If freeway what is your average speed? - 72-ish mph, Adirondack Northway I87 in NY

    Brand and model oil(s) used, if not Toyota 0W-20? - n/a
    Highest speed at which the car has been driven for extended periods? - 78-ish mph
    Much driving up mountains at speed? - yes, in winter months up to several times per week
    Model year of Prius - 2010
    Lots of trips too short to fully warm up the engine, or not? - yes, car short trips the entire work week
    Typical mpg ? - mid-40's winter, mid -50's summer

    I've managed an all Toyota family fleet since 1993 and am convinced the 4 and 6 cylinder engines do better on short OCI's with high quality oil. 5k synthetics and 3k dino, NO dino in syn spec engines and usually syn in dino spec engines. The ring coking and sludge issues some of these engines have been documented to have can be better managed with fresh oil/filters, IMO.

    Also, to add a point to @dorunron 's note of disappointment (post #10 Excessive Oil Consumption on 2010 Prius | PriusChat) with oil burning and EGR clogging in the Gen 3, we've had several reports of likely head gasket failure here on PC, too. I'm guessing as time passes these will become more frequent. In addition to factory coolant change intervals, I drain and refill the coolant bottle at each oil change. Simple to do while you're underneath, drain 1/2 gallon and refill bottle, no bleed needed. Credit @edthefox5 for this idea which he uses (dumps the entire radiator, I believe) on his Gen2. My plan is at least 200k miles on this 2010 and a head gasket failure would really piss me off.
     
    #5 m.wynn, Aug 12, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2016
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  6. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Please list you mileage? 117,800
    Please list if you change your oil at 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles? 5,000 miles
    Please list if you use 0W-20 weight oil or something else? 0W-20
    Please list if you have the dealer change your oil or someone else? I change my oil
    Do you use Toyota Oil? Yes
    Do you drive mostly city or freeway? Freeway until I retired 5 months ago.
    If freeway what is your average speed? 60 mph
    Average mpg ? 48 mpg
    Fastest highway speed ? 80 mph
    Mountain driving? Twice a year
    Lots of short trips? A few now that I am retired.

    No oil burning to date.
     
    #6 jdcollins5, Aug 12, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2016
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    this thread is a great idea! can you add a poll?
     
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I've cut-and-pasted posting #1 and #2 together, and italicized, for convenience if someone wants to quote both in one go:

    +++++++++++++++++++++

    Please list you mileage?
    Please list if you change your oil at 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles?
    Please list if you use 0W-20 weight oil or something else?
    Please list if you have the dealer change your oil or someone else?
    Do you use Toyota Oil?
    Do you drive mostly city or freeway?
    If freeway what is your average speed?

    Brand and model oil(s) used, if not Toyota 0W-20?
    Highest speed at which the car has been driven for extended periods?
    Much driving up mountains at speed?
    Model year of Prius (No need to limit entries to 2010s, in my opinion, because owners of other years have complained of the same issue.)
    Lots of trips too short to fully warm up the engine, or not?
    Typical mpg ?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++

    My responses:

    Please list you mileage? <62,000 km (38,750 miles). Yeah I know, peanuts.
    Please list if you change your oil at 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles? <5,000 km on average, around 3000 miles
    Please list if you use 0W-20 weight oil or something else? <0W-20
    Please list if you have the dealer change your oil or someone else? <DIY
    Do you use Toyota Oil? <Yes
    Do you drive mostly city or freeway? <Mix of city and secondary highway, near-zero freeway
    If freeway what is your average speed? <Secondary highway speed 80 km (50 mph)

    Brand and model oil(s) used, if not Toyota 0W-20? <N/A
    Highest speed at which the car has been driven for extended periods? <100 kmh (65 mph'ish)
    Much driving up mountains at speed? <very infrequently, up a local speed hill, if family twists my arm
    Model year of Prius (No need to limit entries to 2010s, in my opinion, because owners of other years have complained of the same issue.) <2010 (build date Aug, 2009)
    Lots of trips too short to fully warm up the engine, or not? < not really, and we use a block heater, almost always
    Typical mpg ? <current lifetime average 4.9 liters per 100 km (49 mpg)

    As far as I can see, no oil being used between (3000 mile) oil changes, so far...
     
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  9. Danger

    Danger Member

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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Please list you mileage? 113,500
    Please list if you change your oil at 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles? 9,500 miles
    Please list if you use 0W-20 weight oil or something else? 0W-20
    Please list if you have the dealer change your oil or someone else? I change my oil
    Do you use Toyota Oil? No/ Mobil 1 full synthetic eco bottle (green cap)
    Do you drive mostly city or freeway? Freeway
    If freeway what is your average speed? 75 mph
    Average mpg ? 48 mpg
    Fastest highway speed ? 80 mph
    Mountain driving? None
    Lots of short trips? None
     
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  10. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Good idea, but this post is only about vehicles that don't use oil, so not sure a poll is needed, it's more about what oil is being used and what the frequency of oil changes are, to see if there is a common thread as to why some cars use oil and others don't.
     
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed. it would be nice to know the numbers though, and you know peeps who burn oil will chime in.:cool:
     
  12. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    That wouldn't be so bad. We need to survey both burners and non-burners to find the "common thread" that makes the difference, if it exists.

    So far, I don't see much that this self-selected group has in common besides a high percentage of DIY oil-changers and better-than-average awareness of maintenance issues.
     
    #12 CR94, Aug 14, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2016
  13. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    If you read the other threads on the oil burners you will have what you are looking for, I am more interested in knowing how many 2010 are not burning oil and if the dealer is changing the oil or DIY owners (Bulk oil vs. Bottle oil) Bulk oil is not always the same quality as bottle oil, I always ask for Toyota bottle oil when I go to the dealer and I watch to see that they are pouring from the bottle, I also change my oil a 5,000 miles.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Ours has had DIY oil change with Toyota bottled oil, up till the latest (last April) where I used Toyota bulk. The latter appeared the same when poured into a graduate, and I've noticed nothing untoward.

    My motivations in switching to bulk are both to avoid oil-contaminated bottles, and save a bit too.
     
  15. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Bulk is much more risky then bottled oil, dealers may not be using Toyota oil, and the bulk oil can vary from barrel to barrel with less of the needed additive packages then needed.
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Dealership tells me it's Toyota 0W20, same stuff that's in the bottle. I'm a glass half full type. :)
     
  17. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    I am glad you have trust in your dealer, as I do with mine, but mistakes do happen, and they could fill it with non-synthetic oil, wrong grade, or not at all! At least when you ask for bottle oil, as I do I can watch from afar that they are pouring it in! Bottle oil will be more consistant in quality.
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah I'm doing my own oil changes with this bulk oil, not done at dealership. My main concern: there's too much plastic headed for recycling, or just as likely, into landfills. And spent motor oil bottles are a double whammy, contaminated with motor oil. :(

    I see the bulk oil in a graduate, it looks the same as the bottled.
     
  19. drkashner

    drkashner Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Model:
    IV
    Please list you mileage?
    92k miles on the Odometer right now.

    Please list if you change your oil at 5,000 miles or 10,000 miles?
    I change my oil every 10k miles
    Please list if you use 0W-20 weight oil or something else?
    I use 0W-20 oil only

    Please list if you have the dealer change your oil or someone else?
    I change the oil myself, or have Toyota do it if I don't feel like changing it or it needs it when I take it for state inspection.

    Do you use Toyota Oil?
    Mobil 1 when DYI, Toyota when they do it.

    Do you drive mostly city or freeway?
    Mostly freeway

    If freeway what is your average speed?
    55-65

    Much driving up mountains at speed?
    No

    Model year of Prius (No need to limit entries to 2010s, in my opinion, because owners of other years have complained of the same issue.)
    2010 Toyota Prius IV

    Lots of trips too short to fully warm up the engine, or not?
    no

    Typical mpg ?
    47 winter, 50 rest of year
     
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  20. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    I don't have any oil use yet, but after some research I have decided to switch to a 0W-30 weight oil, Toyota does not have this weight of oil, so I am using Mobil 1.
     
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