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Hit 130k-Dealer asks me to do maintenance-Rip off or good?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by NotWiseEnough, Mar 19, 2019.

  1. NotWiseEnough

    NotWiseEnough Junior Member

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    I logged 35k miles in last six months (no more that much travel, back to 15k/annual) and hit 131k now.

    Dealer did 95k maintenance and I think they did some oil flush, inspected stuff.

    Last week on oil change at 130k, the lady at front desk told me that I didn't do maintenance on below which is due and cost to them
    1. Fuel Spark plug - $185
    2. Hybrid coolant (is there such thing? is she talking about invert-er coolant?) - $172
    3. Tune up - $260

    I thought the inverter coolant change is 150k?
    Spark plug - how often do we need to change? Do you guys change based on time interval/miles or symptoms?

    Should i do all these? are they necessary?
     
  2. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Spark plugs I change them every 120k miles.
    For the coolant, I think she’s talking about the inverter coolant. I change them out at 120k miles but I think the manual say 150k, according to @Mendel Leisk lol.

    As for the tune up, I’m not sure what that entails, unless it’s fuel induction cleaning and then drop in some bottle cleaners, which isn’t worth it. All this service can be done by yourself if you are a DIY, if not, go to an independent shop and ask around to price match.
     
    Mendel Leisk, Slider2732 and Pluggo like this.
  3. NotWiseEnough

    NotWiseEnough Junior Member

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    Thanks! I usually skip their tune ups. Ask my local mechanic shop person to check for wear n tear stuff when I do go to him.

    Is it a good idea to do Spark plug and inverter coolant change together?
    Is there any other maintenance i should be doing along with these?
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    a maintenance schedule came with your car. follow it. if you don't have one, search on line, they are free.
    don't trust a dealer to do the right thing, they are hit or miss
     
  5. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    At 120k I do spark plugs and both coolants, I do them early usually. There’s plenty of maintenance to do, they’re on our YouTube channel.
     
  6. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    There are two separate coolant systems: engine coolant and inverter coolant. You'll see two reservoirs under the hood, each filled with pink coolant. Drain and refill the transaxle. Flush the brake fluid.
     
  7. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    When I went back for recall, the service "adviser" advised me that the mechanic had advised her that the air filter needed to be changed and that injectors needed to be cleaned. The air filter was changed at last service. I wanna see what happens when I go back this time. ;) I'm gonna put a $5 in the bottom of the air cleaner with a "if you find it, you can have it" note, then see if they even catch the Gen4 engine.
     
  8. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Injectors don’t need cleaning if you’re running quality gas...
     
  9. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Put a paper with a note that says if you find this, come see me and I'll give you $5.
    That way, you will know he actually checked the filter.
     
  10. FnRedPrius

    FnRedPrius Active Member

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    Naaah, I was gonna get the adviser to walk me back to look at it.
     
  11. johnHRP

    johnHRP Active Member

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    I agree with NutzAboutBoltz. We all need to replace air filter, mass air flow sensor, and cabin filter regularly. At least once every 2 years in dusty area. That's the only tune up you can do for less than 20 minutes. Only need a Phillips screw driver. Everything else is not necessary unless you have some pinging/rattling noise from detonation at mild load. A typical problems when we have carbon build up on piston top. Pouring $10 Redline SI-1 or Gumout Complete system cleaner or Techron may help but using top tier fuel is the best way.
    In my case, I believe it was ethanol issue on my older 2006 Prius, it runs slightly lean with E10 fuel (10% ethanol cause 4% dropped of fuel air ratio) at certain ignition timing, I heard rice on aluminum foil noise at light load. It works better with premium fuel since it resist knock at higher timing with lean mixture. 3rd gen Prius has no problem with it since it was produced after E10 gasoline was mandatory and Toyota adjust air fuel ratio accordingly.
     
  12. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    What if he walks up to you and says “where’s my $5 dollars?” and you have no cash on hand?