I'm nervous about the 10,000 oil change interval!

If you don't feel comfortable with changing it at 10k miles, then change it more often. Problem solved, no harm done except for some money wasted.

 

Don't waste your time or your money!
3000 miles is the old days with Dino oil!
synthetic oil is better, cars are better more efficient.
Do your first at 3000 miles if it make you feel better.
some here have done it at 1000? I did mine at 5000 then
15,25,35,on ...It's nice changing oil once per year

 

Exactly.

No harm comes from changing your oil if you do it correctly. If it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling, you are more than welcome to change it every morning.

But 10K miles is a conservative figure for today's oil, even the low-mid range quality oils that they sell here in the US. If you find some high grade stuff, you can easily go many thousands of miles more.

 

10,000 mile oil changes have been standard here in Europe for decades. In fact over here Toyota is classed as quite a low service interval at 10,000 miles with some manufacturers allowing 12,500, 15,000 and some even 20,000 mile oil change intervals! Apparantly so long as the correct synthetic oil is used there shouldn't be any problems under normal use.

If you live in a dusty desert then change it earlier or change it at 5,000 miles if it keeps you happy.

 

every 3000 miles is old protocol. oil should be changed no less than 7500 miles. any sooner would be a waste. i log 40-50k miles per year on my vehicles. with mobil 1 synthetic extended, i change oil every 15k miles. it's a proven strategy for me as my vehicles run like new even with 150k plus miles.
i do not profess to be a petroleum chemical engineer, please read with filters

 

My advice to you is. It's not necessary to do the old school method of oil changes for your new Prius. The first 5,000 mile service there checking fluids, where and tear,tire rotation, and what ever else they check. The 10,000 mile service there doing everything they did for the 5,000 mile service and the first oil change for the car. You've got to remember the engine doesn't run the entire time the Prius in on. Also the engine isn't running other components in a regular car. It's driving the car and recharging the battery. My motto is that if Toyota's service centers say change the synthetic oil every 10,000 miles. That gospel. They would know. They build the car. Changing it soon is a waste of your money and time.

 

I came from the "old school" just like you when it comes to changing oil. I have changed mine at 5k intervals since new and have 25k miles now. Once Toyota changed to the 10k interval, I have continued to change mine myself at the 5k intervals and let the dealer change it at the 10k. I will continue this through the 30k interval and then continue doing it myself.

After reading several used oil analysis reports on this site from the synthetic 0W20 oil use, I am probably going to bump my interval up to 7.5k. One of the main reasons is just to get under the car and inspect everything else on a more frequent interval.

You are not alone with being nervous with the 10k interval. There are numerous others on here that have expressed the same concern. So, if it makes you nervous, change it more frequently.

 

Congratulations! You are the 10,000th person to post this question. Your prize is the ability to do a search. You'll find that there are many opinions (some strong) on this subject.

That aside, I've been driving cars with synthetic oil for a long time, and they've all had 10K mile intervals (except the Prius, which started with a 5K mile interval, and was later changed by Toyota to 10K miles). I always have the first oil/filter service done at 2K miles (to flush out the break in gunk), then at 5K mile intervals thereafter. So I spend an additional ~$50/year for an additional oil/filter service beyond what's recommended. No big deal.

Prior to synthetic oil, I also used the 3K mile interval (even though 5K was recommended).

 

If it makes you feel better, do your 1st oil change at 5K, then every 10K thereafter (15K, 25K, 35K, etc.). That way, you get to avoid the pricey 30K maintenance "special."

 

The best way to determine what interval to use is to have a Used Oil Analysis (UOA) performed on your used oil.

 

This is my first car to use synthetic. I'm only upset that I can't get 20,000 mile between oil changes! I suppose I could, but I couldn't document proper Toyota maintenance in the event of an engine failure. In a clean air environment, where a vehicle is driven 10-30 miles a day, I can't think of any reason beyond emotion why this Prius can't go 20K between oil changes.

 

In Canada, with (as far as I know) identical 3rd gen Prius, with 0W20 weight oil spec., the interval is still 8000 km (5000 miles) or 6 months, whichever comes first.

Just my opinion: I don't see that as "wasting" my money/time. That seems a conservative interval, but not excessively so. I'd rather err on that side, than increase the risk of having engine problems down the road. Maybe no difference, but 6 months or 5000 miles doesn't seem crazy, and it's my vehicle.

I will be doing my own oil changes, and am currently around 5000 km, so haven't done one yet. It will very likely be the 6 month interval that governs. If you're doing your own there's zero aggro: no one telling you what you can or cannot do.

If you're going through a dealership service department: ask them to follow the old 6mo/5000mi guideline if you like. If they start debating first try declaring it "severe service" or whatever the wording is in the Toyota literature. If they still give you a hard time, maybe look for another dealer, or independent garage. Or look into doing it yourself.

Food for thought: why is Toyota stretching the interval? In who's interest?

 

It used to be worse. Changing synthetic oil every 5K miles just to keep the warranty intact.

 

I changed at 9000+, then at not quite 20000. Next at 30000. The 9000 mile oil looked the best of any oil I have ever changed, and I, too, grew up with 3000 mile dino intervals. Now, the second change oil looked like it was time to change, but that had some mountain driving on it, which would in my mind use the ICE more like a non-hybrid. Compared to the old 10-40 and even 5-30 dino, this 0-20 syn is a totally different product. Very slippery stuff. Less friction. I do not test my oil, but watch the results posted by others.

This engine does not run all the time. That plus synthetic makes it reasonable to me that 10,000 is ok.

I want to avoid wasting my oil just like any other resource for both financial and environmental reasons. I suggest you change tranny fluid every 30,000 and let the oil run 8000-10000 unless you meet severe conditions, then 5000 oil. The transaxle works its tail off and the data indicate it's best not to treat it as a lifetime fluid, even though Toyota does not assign a life to it. I fully expect 250,000 miles (and probably much more) on this engine with 10000 mile interval (5000 when in severe conditions).

I may trade up to a PHV when readily available, but I maintain the car as though I will own it for 10-15 years, which I tend to do.

 

You are to check the fluid, whatever that means. They never say to change it. But there are threads here in which folks report lab tests after 10, 25, 30, 50 M miles. Read them and make your own decision. I will do my initial change when work slows down in April at ~22000. Then again at roughly 30,000 interval, subject to what updates I see here.

 

I have read the Toyota Shop manual on that subject. Their "Check" the transmission oil is only an oil level check.