Cost Of 5K Ongoing Oil Changes @ Toyota Prius Dealer?

Be sure and check wth your dealer. I was promised a $10.00 life oil change as well, but, I found out later, this DOES NOT include the recommended 0W20, but the 5W20. They went on to say the 5W20 may adversly affect my mileage. Also, they were not sure how it would impact the warranty. I hope your dealer is better!

LoL!

Just got mine done on Saturday, the cost was $27 and that was just to rotate the tires, everything else was free for the first 5,000 miles.

The dealer whom I purchased my Prius at charges $59.99 for a synthetic oil change. Considering $10 per quart plus $10 for a filter priced at retail, it seems about right.

FYI--the Toyota branded 0W20 synthetic is something like $6.66/quart (list price at the dealer), vs. ~$3.50 for conventional oil, so my dealer charged me ~$15 for synthetic upcharge, plus $30 oil/filter special, or $45 total.

First oil change yesterday @4300 miles. Bought 5 quarts Mobil 1 0w20 and filter at AdvancedAuto months ago. $30.23 incl tax, and a $10 rebate which was received. Toyota Dealer charged $15.03 for the change plus 19 point inspection and gasket (I didn't want tire rotation, will do that later DIY). The service Writer said a LOT of customers bring in their own oil saving about 1/2 the cost.

So $35 net for the change - excellent. I watched the tech from a distance outside, and he spent 40 min on the job and did a superb job. 1/2 leftover quart in the car.

Sounds like a a good deal.
The dealers in our area get 85 for the 5000mi checks and 210 for the 15,000 mi checks. I don't like thinking about the 30,000 mi check it is -----. Most of the items they check are also checked under the yearly state safety and emission control inspections.
Reality is that when driven in the garage (they call it a road test), and a visual check while the oil is draining, what a rip-off price.
I wonder what kind of difficulities one gets with warrenty work if we decline the checks and only have oil changes and the like done at the dealer. If you do no want the full blown checks they make you sign a statement that owner declines maintenance checks. All the dealers within about 70 miles are about the same. Takes alot of the joy out of ownership.

When it's time for the 15k mi check, I plan to consult my manual and just ask the dealer to only those things specifically called for(excluding things like replacing the cabin filter that I can easily do). There are a few threads that show a dealership can define it's own 15k check which includes things (a) not applicable to the Prius or (b) not required by Toyota. The big lesson I learned here was never to ask for a mileage based service interval as its often over sold and over priced. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...70-what-services-you-need-what-you-don-t.html

Check your warranty book. Tell them that all the service you want is what's specified by Toyota as per the book. If they still give you a hard time, call Toyota and complain. Don't let them bully you.

Just had the 5,000 mile maintenance done at the dealer this morning. They charged $11.19/qt for the 0W20 synthetic oil. The total bill was $116, $62 in parts and $54 LABOR. MOST EXPENSVE OIL CHANGE I EVER PAID FOR. I checked the dip stick after the car sat for a few hours, right at the full mark. The oil is as clear as water. First time I ever saw that!
Bob

Mt View,
I have the same thing on my receipt "CHECK BELTS". i was going to call them and inquire in the morning.
Bob

I didn't find it embarrassing or cheap at all - to bring my own 0W20 oil into the dealer for the change. I was comforted when the Service Writer confirmed many customers do just that - and nothing wrong at all. He felt Toyota oil was very overpriced anyway. And you can be (pretty well) sure the correct oil IS used in your Prius.

So I plan to purchase my 5 quarts and filter well before my OC is due, and simply have the dealer do the dirty work - for $15, money well spent in my book. I'll rotate the tires. Fun job and gives me a chance to casually check in and around the wheel areas.

my dealer here in phila cost 35 bucks for an oil change 5 for the filter 75 cents for the gasket and 3.50 a quart for the oil.

Quick question. When I bought the car it "came with" a certificate for the first two oil changes, etc.

Since the manual specifically says 0W-20, the dealer has to use that right, despite its costs? Can the dealer bully me into using 10W-30?

I got my first oil change about a month ago at the dealer. After reading all the things going on, and also my dealer has had a sometimes poor reputation in the area, I was a little leary. But I figure i'd give'em a shot. The original sales process was quite pleasant (except for the extended warranty push, but I was expecting that, and kindly refused... Thank you PriusChat .

I went in a week after purchase to get the backup beep turned off. No charge, no problem. And I asked how much was an oil change. They said $29. I reminded them about the 0w20, and the service writer repeated $29. Ok...

Three months later, my car hit around 2500 miles, I brought it in for an initial oil change. They gave me some kind of instant coupon and wanted to charge me $19.95. I asked if that was for the synthetic 0w20. They said their 0w20 was not synthetic, but if I wanted a special blend, it would be $39. I'm not sure what you could blend things with to maintain a 0w20, so I just declined. I said "Let's stick with mfg recommendations for now".

When it was finished, I noticed the computer writeup said 5w30 on it. I questioned them on it, and they said that "It always says that, but the mechanics know what to use in their cars". I was pretty suspicious, but had to get to a client.

I was originally resigned to spending around $70 for a 0w20 change. So I figured that I would just get an official oil analysis, to either "calm my fears" or "use as ammo againt the dealer". (I was a chem major in an earlier life, so the analysis results would be cool2me .

I drew about 3oz of oil out the dipstick before I took it in for the change, and again last week (1000mi after the change. It took a while for the analysis lab to send me the specimen bottle). Side-by-side, I can not tell the two oil draws apart. They had the same color and apparent visual watery viscosity... even when put in the freezer overnight (thicker, but still pretty identical to my untrained eye). Maybe i'll video and post it here later.

Over the 1000 miles that I put on the new oil, my mileage dropped about 2mpg (to about 48.5mpg)... but I figure that is really due to the drop in temperature, and the amount of rain we've had in that period. The car drives the same.

I got the email results back today:

"RICH: The viscosity of this oil read in the 0W/20 to low 5W/30 range. We aren't sure how many miles are on the engine but as this is a 2010 Prius we're assuming they are pretty low. That would likely explain the high copper and silicon that we found, both of which are probably due to the engine going through break-in.

Both should improve with subsequent oil changes if that's the source. Universal averages for the 1.5L are based on an oil run of ~7,000 miles. We see that you haven't yet changed this oil and we see no reason to do so now. No problems were found."

The word "range" sorta muddied my enthusiasm. But I am satisfied. Mostly enforced because of my visual comparison of freezer-cold oil. Other things in the world to be more concerned about...

I trust my dealer's service.
But i'll keep all oil-change receipts, just in case.

Sorry for the long winded post.

Rich

P.S.
Oh yeah, I'm sure somebody's gonna ask.
Dealer is Chicago "City Grossinger" in a new huge facility.
Oil-Analysis performed by Blackstone Labs.

Then they're not using 0W20 synthetic oil, or selling you the oil at a loss. I suspect the former.

Had my 10,000 mile oil change today. I provided the oil. The dealer charged $18.61 for the labor, filter, and "shop supplies."

I can live with that.

All depends on what else was in the oil. For example, last fall I put in Mobil 1 0W-20 for my FJ Cruiser, as a "winter" oil. Have always had great results with the same oil in my 2004 Prius

The lab results came back with some fairly alarming numbers: very high nitration, depleted TBN, and the oil thickened to a 30 range

If everything else is ok, then keep using the oil. Otherwise, consider a different oil

Was this at the dealer in Leesburg, I am in the Leesburg area will be due for a oil change soon. was not impressed with leesburgs' parts department.

Bartn

I have been talking to different toyota dealers in my travels, some say 0w-20 is too thin for hot weather or high speed driving. The owners manual talks about the possible need for thicker oil for high speeds, but does not elude to what is considered high speeds. If you try to avoid the rip-off of 5000 mile checks the dealers try to sell a lub, tire rotation and brake inspection. They get about $12 for the lub, they say they lub the fuel door cable, parkning brake cable, and door, hood, hatch hinges and latches. The 5000,15000 and 30000 etc checks are a big money makers for the dealers.

It is all about the money.

Barn