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Not even 5k or 6 months... oil change or top off to hold over?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Toyotally04, Apr 9, 2022.

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  1. Toyotally04

    Toyotally04 Member

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    @199,500+ miles

    I've been doing oil change at 5,000 miles / 6 months. I'm less than 1,500 miles to 5,000; and almost 10 days to exactly 6 months.

    I checked my engine oil after driving almost 200 miles today. Apparently, I'm low on engine oil (engine was still hot, though).

    I'm a bit busy this week: plumbing, family medical, etc.

    Do you guys think I can top off and hold off oil change for a week?
     
    #1 Toyotally04, Apr 9, 2022
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You're suppose to top off when low. Not wait for an oil change.

    Some engines will burn oil and be low at 2000 miles after an oil change, you would top off at that point.
     
    #2 JC91006, Apr 9, 2022
  3. BuyJapanese

    BuyJapanese Member

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    How low? Start checking your oil more often I think…but if you’ll be changing oil in a week, don’t waste oil topping off unless you’re below the bottom marker. And if you do top off, don’t try to get it all the way full, just a bit above the bottom mark.
     
    #3 BuyJapanese, Apr 9, 2022
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I just slam in fresh oil/filter every 6 months (when convenient, sometime in April and October), and ignore the (extremely low, in my case) miles.
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Apr 9, 2022
  5. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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    Must be a "young'un" asking this question...

    Back in the olden days, when gasoline stations had attendants that checked your oil, tire pressure and cleaned your windows, it was expected that every few weeks your car might need a bit of topping off and said attendant would pour in a pint or so. It was (and still is) a fact that engines burn oil.

    Alas, while modern engines have been improved and burn little of any oil (at least until they age and then they start acting like a 75-year-old man with incontinence), gas station attendants have gone the way of the dodo bird -- except in Oregon.

    So, as already said, if you are swamped for time, pour in about 8 ounces and call it good until you have time to change the oil.

    Oh, I forgot, gas stations also used to give away steak knives, drinking glasses and hold bingo/raffle sort of games....Shell's Mr. President Coin Game
     
    #5 Stevewoods, Apr 9, 2022
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  6. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    You and me grew up around the same time period! I remember the Shell game.......Also, I still pencil in Pat Paulson for president!!
     
    #6 Montgomery, Apr 9, 2022
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  7. Toyotally04

    Toyotally04 Member

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    Well, I wiped the stick with a scotty towel and placed it back in, pulled it out, and I can't see any oil. The towel was black with a little watery fade.

    On another note, I got an oil filter (Bosch 3311) and there was no seal on the component. And then I was trying to find Castrol Edge High Mileage 5w-10, which most auto parts store didn't carry; but the hardware stores did carry a few and those items were cheaper ($38 vs $28). But instead having used that product for the past year or so, I've chosen Castrol GTX High Mileage (because that's what Castrol's webiste motor oil selector recommended, and the other one as an alternative.)
     
    #7 Toyotally04, Apr 9, 2022
  8. Toyotally04

    Toyotally04 Member

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    Back in the 80s, ABC had Disney Sunday prime time specials for kids... I remember this one episode where this kid travels back in time to the 1920s and the gas station was selling gas fuel for 19 cents. The kid thought it must've been a mistake, so he added an extra "1" in front of the decimal; and the gas owner chased him out of into the street.
     
    #8 Toyotally04, Apr 9, 2022
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  9. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Add some more to bring it above the low mark, before driving it again.
     
    #9 fuzzy1, Apr 9, 2022
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  10. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    Pretty soon he’ll have to add two 1’s before the 19¢ In California
    Thanks, Joe
     
    #10 Another, Apr 10, 2022
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