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7,500 Mile Oil Change. The way to go?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by 09Prius2, Sep 18, 2016.

  1. 09Prius2

    09Prius2 Member

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    So I bought my Prius in May. The dealer told me they had changed the oil, and it did appear new. I drove it minimally for about a month after that, then had it changed at the dealer before adding any significant mileage.

    The following week I drove from FL to Canadia and back, putting on 3000 miles in one week. It burned a quart and I topped it off. The oil still appeared new.

    The maintenance light came on at 5k. The oil still looked good so I kept going.

    Now its been almost 4 months, approaching 7.5k miles. The oil appears golden/light brown, and I've added about 2 quarts over this time period, however it has an odor to it. I believe that this is the point its become contaminated with fuel etc.

    For these reasons, I believe the 7,500 mile oil change may be the correct interval based on high mileage useage.

    Agree or disagree?
     
  2. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    If its full synthetic, then I would say run it a bit longer than normal. This last oil change, I went something like 6500 miles before I took it in for a change and the oil still looked fine.

    If its non-synthetic, I wouldn't risk it.
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That number seems reasonable. You've got moderate oil consumption, enough that it's sorta changing the oil for you, AND you're staying on top of it: checking and topping up regularly. Much better than the "uh, my check engine light is on" stories.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her? not sure look and smell test works with oil.
     
  5. Felt

    Felt Senior Member

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    I believe that Toyota says you can go 10,000 miles. I take the car to the dealer to change the oil and ask them to indicate 7,500 miles on the reminder they put on the windshield. I find it annoying that the speedometer is set for 5,000 miles when Toyota recommends 10,000. I asked the dealer and they cannot change the setting.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    gen 2 was 5,000, (depending on where you live) but if you switch to synthetic, idk.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    All the mileage intervals are noted by Toyota to be "or months", ie: 5000 miles or 6 months, 10000 miles or 12 months.

    FWIW, Toyota Canada says 8000 km's or 6 months for 3rd gen, which I follow.
     
  8. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Maybe the engineers believe 5K mile oil changes are better, but Marketing won out with 10K mile changes ;)
     
  9. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    10K OCI (Oil Change Interval) is when using 100% synthetic oil.
     
  10. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Your car, do what you want.....sooner is always better.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it might also depend on the oil brand. is it bulk, or bottled?:cool:
     
  12. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    We are in agreement: your car, your money.
    You may even agree: do what you want, or don't want to do, b/c it is ultimately your car/money.

    Sooner is better, but a likely faster and unnecessary expenditure of money and resources. You don't believe the old 3months/3K miles OCI? You can always change spark plugs well before 120K or 150K miles (if CARB state).

    Many people before us, have done UOA (Used Oil Analysis) with conventional and synthetic. Even auto and oil manufactures have done UOA, to come out with the longer OCI.
     
    #12 exstudent, Sep 18, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2016
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I don't see any mention of different interval for non-synthetic in my 2010 Owner's Manual. Actually there is no mention of synthetic oil in the manual.

    I'm not sure exactly what the highlighted paragraph means; and I doubt if you used 5W20 for two oil changes anything untowards would happen. Keep in mind Toyota spec's different oil weights around the world.

    upload_2016-9-18_13-8-10.png
     
  14. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    That is true. Some will be better than others for sure, based on UOA (Used Oil Analysis).

    But for the longer 10K duration, synthetic is required. I am sure everyone will agree that any true synthetic (bottle or bulk) will be better than a conventional oil (bottle or bulk). When comparing synthetic brands, yes, UOAs will show differences. When comparing conventional oil brands, UOAs amongst this group will show differences.
     
    #14 exstudent, Sep 18, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2016
  15. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Sadly, manuals are poorly written and they don't give us true temperature ranges for various oils. I guess they want to dumb it down for North America and just say one oil weight (0W-20), and a second oil weight (5W-20) as a back-up if the preferred weight is not available.

    The 10K mile OCI is inferred to be using synthetic, especially since the manual states 0W-20 oil is the preferred weight.

    This should put any doubt to rest.
    Longo Toyota Service Center Serving El Monte, CA, New, Used Cars - Oil Change
    Toyota oil.jpg

    Click the link for a picture of the one quart bottle of Toyota 0W-20 motor oil from Amazon.
     
    #15 exstudent, Sep 18, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2016
  16. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Here is a page from a 2012 UK Prius owners manual that actually shows a table of oils and their operating temperatures.
    Owner's Manual | Toyota UK
     

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  17. 09Prius2

    09Prius2 Member

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    I changed it today, for the first time myself. Wow was that easy. So easy, that I turned it into an 8 step, 3 beer process:

    Step 1: Drive right front tire up and onto the curb. Set parking brake.

    Step 2: Reach under car and remove filter, let drain.

    Step 3: Consume beer #1.

    Step 4: Prime new filter and replace. Remove drain plug and let drain.

    Step 5: Consume beer #2.

    Step 6: Replace plug and double check plug and filter for tightness. Almost done.

    Step 7: Consume beer #3.

    Step 8: Add 3 quarts new oil to crankcase, pour old waste oil into empty new containers. Done.

    The ocean breeze coming off the beach didn't help but it was in my favor. It blew some oil out of the drain pan, but at least it wasn't on my side blowing into my face. I suppose that asphalt is made with oil anyways, apparently it soaked up the ounce or two I lost almost immediately.

    I used cheap oil this time, but my experiment for next time will be with one quart mobil 1 high mileage, combined with 2 quarts conventional mobil high mileage, and whatever cheap oil to prime the filter, now that I realized the capacity is actually 3.5 quarts. In my oil research I found that mobil makes toyota genuine motor oil to toyota specs, and of course mobil 1 is already widely used, and specified for other manufacturers as well. I used to think it didn't matter, but I found alot of information online about cheap oil, in regards to being thinned out and lacking additives.

    The car has 165k by the way. I've got just about everything up to par now, except for the P1121 code, which I don't know if I will bother to fix since it doesn't seem necessary.
     
  18. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    LifeTime trans fluid! Another Marketing idea, but we all know the trans fluid should be changed at 30K miles.
    Car companies that sell in the USA have to meet CAFE standards and promote being green, So as long as the cars make it through the warranty period and at least 100K miles without issues all is good. 0W-20 oil is promoted to meet CAFE standards, at the cost of additional wear with 10K mile oil changes.
     
    #18 orenji, Sep 19, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2016
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  19. Dino33ca

    Dino33ca Member

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    It took me about three hours... It's a fairly simple procedure, a couple of bolts and a few hoses... What made it not so simple is having to work in a very tight space. It was a feat of patience and persevering, You have to either have small very strong hands or the perfect long nose pliers... But it's quite satisfying when you get it done, no more annoying warning light on the dash! It's also a great time to change your coolant...
     
  20. 09Prius2

    09Prius2 Member

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    Yeah, I've been thinking about it. Just don't feel its necessary, especially in FL. Its not the water pump, after all.