10K Service Interval: Do You Ever Check Your Oil Level?

HA HA HA !!!

Thanks Spidey.

 

I don't check it when I fill up but I check it after it has sat in the garage and the oil has had time to drain down and I do this around the same interval as a fill up. 32K, I don't know how old you are but the oil used to be checked at every fill up when full service gas stations were the norm. Granted, engines are much tighter now, but the Prius is often going twice the distance of a conventional car on each tank. My Gen III used about a quarter of an inch on the dipstick during a 6,000 mile trip. The only explanations I can possibly come up with is the fact that there was some driving at 80 MPH during that trip, or the hard acceleration crossing the Rockies. It has not used oil since then. I check the tires once a month, and usually have to adjust them one way or the other.

 

It takes less than 2 minutes to check the fluids and tire pressures before the pump shuts off. Wow I could have made a useless phone call or something else important. The diagnosis must be correct...I'm OCD......:rockon:.

 

You are asking the wrong guy...I am not the OCD/paranoid type you are looking for.

Over the prior oil change interval, I probably checked the oil 2-3 times max.

 

I wouldn't put conventional motor oil, or any oil available in 1981, into my Prius engine for even 10 miles.

My Prius' oil is cleaner at its stated full service interval than the oil in my 1980-era engines was at their 'severe service' (3k) interval. Now that you mention it, I haven't been using Fram filters since those engines either.

Right now, that is even more frequent than every fillup.

Wash the windows, update fuel log book and ScanGauge. Fluids and pressures are best done at home, morning cold, on a level parking pad, next to my own air supply. Most of the places I fill up have tilted parking pads.

 

You know, Fuzzy,

I didn't know that Toyota said it was ok to use their 0W20 synthetic oil for 10K miles between changes. As far as I could tell, that wasn't mentioned. So technically, I wasn't off base. Just not up to speed with the latest and greatest motor oil.

If I bought a 2010 Prius brand new, I probably wouldn't want to put mineral oil based motor oil in it either. I'd still be wary about the 10K interval on the synthetic given Toyota's history (see the last paragraph).

I did notice that Toyota does not recommend a 10K mile interval with 0W20 for the Tacoma or 4Runner four-bangers and says to stick with the 5K interval. Hmmmmm. Must be because they tow stuff, huh?

I generally take Toyota's recommendations with a grain of skepticism. Remember that sludging issue with some of their 90's engines that they swore up and down wasn't their problem? My 92 Camry suffered from it but thankfully died a premature death by collision. I think it was because the previous owner neglected to do oil changes at the proper intervals. I might be wrong.

 

Again, it's not just Toyota's recommendations. Based on everyone's UOAs, Toyota's previous recommendation of 5K mile synthetic oil changes was excessive and wasteful.

 

Your remarks are offensive. If you read owners manual for any car, you would see that is exactly the official recommendation. I don't check oil every fueling, but at least every month or two or so to figure out the rate of consumption in my cars, that was actually more than 0 in my prius and even more in my corolla.

Some people don't check oil and let their engines die of oil starvation. And that is relatively common (even if not in prius).

Now, what is the best adjective for people calling other people "tools"?

 

I will gladly accept my OCD method over your oil light method. As Seilerts explained this is why this light is called an "idiot" light

 

OCD? who me? and I thought no one would ever notice.

 

Thin air? Actually that is exactly where it goes.

My car: 1995 Saturn SL2. (I hope to be a Prius owner someday).

I have 200,000+ miles on my 17 year old car. It's had the piston rings replaced once already (owch) and probably is starting to need it again. I've previously lost one quart of oil every two fill ups of gas to 'thin air'.

When folks burn oil it goes into that blue smoke you sometimes see coming from someone's tail. Er - tail *pipe*.

I also have an oil dashboard warning light - but if it ever comes on then it is too late - the damage has been done.

Recommendation: check your own oil. It can be done in the privacy of your own garage if you prefer.

...E

 

First of all, my remark was in response to a poster who called people who don't check their oil tools and should be viewed in that context.

What page does it say in the Prius owners manual to check the oil at every fill up? I know 30 years ago full-service gas station attendants used to check the oil at every fill up, but that was before cars had oil gauge or idiot light.

Given the number of people who don't check their oil at all, modern engines dying of oil starvation are extremely rare and we've yet to hear it happen to the Prius on here.

 

lol... don't ask don't tell.

Well I checked my oil... I still have some. whew.

 

Check your facts Sir. This poster implied "you" were acting like a tool because you criticize others who monitor and maintain their vehicles more thoroughly than yourself....Period. Your first post on this thread used the words paranoid and OCD. Did you realize your 5th post ever on this forum used the same kind of language. I think we already know your socioeconomic status. So why don't you just go wax your beautiful car, count your money and go tell yourself how important you are while combing your perfect hair in the mirror, because nobody else really cares. Most of us here try to exchange ideas and opinions in an adult open minded fashion. Your security issues can better be handled elsewhere. So...:focus:

 

I am free to state my opinion that checking the oil at every fill up is a bit OCD and on the paranoid side. You're the one who brought "tool" into this thread, yet you're being rather defensive over the use of the term. So much for exchanging ideas and opinions in an adult manner.

 

I go over the "checking of the oil" with all my employees - since they drive my company cars --- most don't know how to do it and never check the oil in their personal cars .... forget checking the AF ... and the air pressure check is hopeless.

Now we have a schedule ... my older drivers have no problems checking everything.


I never get into my car without glancing at the tires -- but most people just get in and go

 

If you guys are checking your oil every fill up, you're wiping more oil off on the rag than my cars use in 10,000 miles.

REV

 

Wow.

Bragging rights over whose car consumes the least amount of motor oil and whose car holds the record for the most miles driven before changing oil?

What am I overlooking in this Magic Eye?


If dirt were dollars, we'd all be in the black.

 

While I am not what I consider OCD about it, I do check it on a four week basis, this is based on other cars I have had, as the Prius is still under a month old. I had old cars back in the day that would use a quart of oil in a couple of weeks. I would recommend checking the oil especially right after you get an oil change, the tech could have not tightened up something properly causing you to lose oil over a period. It only takes a second to check , it is your engine , don't put all your faith in a lightbulb on the dash, engines are expensive and probably won't be covered under warranty by running out of oil.