299,999+ Mile Club

Are you waiting for the transmission to break before you exchange the oil ?

 

Must be talking about inverter coolant. If you had to pick one fluid in the car to NOT change, it would be a tossup between that and brake fluid.

 

It's interesting to think about the maintenance you'd do to a Prius with 412k miles on it even if there were no problems or symptoms. (Way to go 2 fast 4 u!) Or the preventive maintenance you'd do if you intended to drive it that much.

I'd have all the fluids changed (a) when called for, or (b) every 100k miles or so. It's hard to tell when brake fluid goes or coolant deteriorates and it's relatively cheap to replace.

I'd also have the head bolts re-tightened to spec (I've seen a lot of problems in motorcycles and other small engines due to loosening/stretching of head bolts).

I'd add injector cleaner and change air filters regularly.

Wheel bearings, steering and suspension components need to be inspected and, if possible, re-lubricated. I changed the fork oil on my trail bikes every few thousand miles and, sometimes, the oil coming out was black after only a few thousand miles.

I don't know whether you need to worry about metal fatigue. But with today's unibody construction and the pounding cars take on poorly maintained roadways, I'd keep it in mind.

 

Wow, what happened? Duplicate post. Sorry.

 

Inverter coolant. Transmission oil was changed 3 times. While im here, saw a chevy volt at the dealer, while looking salesman saw my prius and said that the volt was better. I beg to differ even with the 7500 incentive. Cost 41500. In doing the math it doesnt seem to add up even with 40 miles of electric. 40 miles electric = now 3.50 gas based on prius. x 365 days = $1277.50 savings at 14600 miles. - the cost of electricity to charge for 8 hours a day, ??? $34000 - 25000 for prius total $9000. Conclusion u pay 9000 up front ( or finance ) to save 1277 - electricity bill ??? a year. I will stay with my prius.

 

Ahh -- sorry about the confusion, and I'm glad to hear you change the ATF.

Most people pay 10 - 13 cents/kwh in the US, and the Volt uses about 0.4 kwh a mile averaged over the year, so electric fuel costs 4 - 5 cents a mile. Fuel for the Prius in your hands is about 7 cents a mile based on $3.5 a gallon.

Average Volt EV miles a day is around 35, so an owner saves between 70 - 105 cents a day in fuel costs when the car is used, but spends 30 DOLLARS *day*, 365 days a year, to lease the car. After the 35 EV miles in the Volt it continues on at 35 MPG using premium fuel at 10.3 cents a mile, so after 70 miles a day the Volt is more expensive to fuel.

You also have to consider that the Volt may be in a junkyard in 100k miles, while your Prius barely notices those extra miles.

 

Hi from Ireland,

just want to say: can someone please flag ''2 fas 4 u'' to toyota for such a marvelous achievement.

 

So if my car lasts as many miles as 2fast4U's car my daughter is going to inherit the damn thing - I think I'll make it a present to her on my 80th birthday - in 34 years time! I just figured out that I have done about 275,000 miles in my life to date - in total. Currently we seem to do about 9,000 miles per year currently.

I wonder if I could get Toyota to extend the warranty on the battery that long?

 

I agree. Toyota should hire him as an independent high-mileage test pilot. They could put a data recorder on his car and get tons of useful information.

 

After W sent my 401k to Iraq, I had to go back to work. Since my '04 has the nav package, I took a job as a courier in Austin TX. The IRS lets you write off 50 cents per mile, so most of the $30K per year I was being paid was not taxable. The odometer became intermittent at 267 K miles, and I have not yet sent it to pEEf for repair, but soon will. He will also set it back to zero because it will never go past 299999. I have kept an Excel sheet of every drop of gas put in, and so far saved over $19K compared to 20 mpg, and at least $10K more from the IRS. I also have the original factory brakes, only about half used up. I know the Prius is good for the environment, but much more important to me is that it has paid for itself and then some.

 

So Chris, tell us about yourself and your Prius. How many miles do you average in a month, what kind of mileage do you get and how many miles do you now have (best estimate)? What kind of maintenance do you do? Anything extraordinary to report or suggest?

 

Thanks for the support. I called toyota about 6 months ago to let them know of my achievements, and they said they would put it on record, but at the moment they were not looking for any advertisements, and if something became available they would let me know. I believe it had something to do with the earthquake in Japan. Anyway thanks again for all the support. P.S. my goal as of now is 430000 on both original batteries. At 413000 keep u posted.

 

That doesn't sound like you. Make it 500,000.

 

Your usage pattern is the most battery friendly per mile possible.

How is your oil burning situation? This looks to be an issue on high mileage Prii. Does Royal Purple make any difference?

 

Took a little extra hit. at 5000 with oil change total 5 quarts. at 5000 with just filter change im using 2 quarts. so i would say im burning about 6 ounces per 600 miles. Im definately getting better gas mileage even with high winds hardly ever go below 49. The good thing about it is when i bought it, it came with the unlimited mileage warranty.

 

Im one who gets bored very easy, after a while i tend to look for better, and im fighting every day when I see a 2010 2011 prius. I guess what stops me is im waiting for the prius v wagon. So for now i guess 500000 here i come.

 

UPDATE: 14000 to go and counting. Had a small scare the other day. Twice before for about 5-10 minutes my speedometer screen went out. Had me on alert. which happened about 3-4 months ago. Yesterday stopped to get gas turned off car. Go to turn it on screen goes out, had to drive to jacksonville about an hour. no problem hoped it would come on made sure to keep up with traffic as to not get speeding ticket. Did not come on now im nervous. drove and hour got home still nothing. Was ready to drop off at dealer and see my fate, however it came on when i woke up. When I brought the car it came with unlimited mileage warranty, is this covered, has anybody had this happen, if so how much if not covered under warranty, and what part is it that goes bad, and could I do it myself.

 

Sounds like the combination meter going bad. One way to tell is if you have to hold the power button down for 3 seconds when it is blank to turn off the car.

 

I used to fly for Flight Express, never understood how the couriers could make a decent living when you accounted for the wear and tear on their vehicles, price of gas, etc.. Your the first one that I know of that uses a Prius. How the others get by, I have no idea...