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why only inspect everything with oil and filter changes only

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Janny, Feb 14, 2024.

  1. Janny

    Janny Junior Member

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    Based on full service records , oil changed every 5 k miles which has been about once a year . Has damaged already been done since it’s been yearly? I plan to change every 6 months as I don’t drive very much .
     
  2. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Changing at 5000 miles will be fine. It is very likely no damage has been done.
    No reason to panic...

     
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  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You're driving this car 5000 mi a year Don't plan on having it a long time Prius doesn't like that about as much as it doesn't like the rest of anything else sitting 5,000 mi a year is horrible You should just have a Yaris or a Corolla don't even worry about batteries and the other 7 mi to the gallon it's just not worth well maybe you'll find out here at some point but I don't know. You need to give that car to your son or somebody that's driving 3,000 miles a month if possible
     
  4. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

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    Very unlikely any damage from that, at all. Additionally, the myth that Priuses “don’t like” not being driven a lot is simply that: a myth. Nearly every Prius owner in this area (and there are quite a few) puts less than 5K on each year and many average 3K. (That myth is another of the Chicken Little claims).
    Relax and enjoy your car. The fact that the previous owner was that diligent in changing the oil is a good sign. Relax and don’t let the scare mongers frighten you.
    The Prius is not the dainty little car that is portrayed by them. :)
     
  5. Janny

    Janny Junior Member

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    Thanks so much for your post. I honestly know nothing about cars especially a hybrid. I always bought either a brand new Honda civic or Toyota Camry, As I don't drive much now (retired) I thought I buy a used car for leisure driving. I have an appointment for new tires at Costco and going to Prius shop for oil change. Owner of shop will drive the car around and let him know how it is. I hear noises but not the knocking sound...told it was normal sound but I don't know what normal sound is of hybrid .....

    again...thanks so much for your reply
     
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  6. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

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    The Car Care Nut videos and John Kelly of Weber University’s videos are a wealth of information. Well worth the effort and time to watch them. One last thought: keep in mind that the Prius has been around for over 20 years and yours has been around for 13 years (and has been driven less than 5000 miles a year on average). It seems to be doing fine. I guess someone never got around to telling it the myth! ;) I guess they also forgot to tell it how “dainty” it supposed to be.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    We’re lucky to do 5k kms yearly. And I'm settling into once-a-year oil changes, due to the low usage. Guess I better sell before it implodes. But who would want to buy such a lemon.
     
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  8. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Both the hybrid and 12v battery discharge. By not driving often, they will discharge more.
    The 12v battery will not be fully charged because it's not being charged long enough.
    There is alway a drain on it to keep the memory and computers awake to wait and search
    for the signal for the key fob, and alarm, radio chanels, etc.
    Computers don't like not having enough power to work, the can be damaged/over heat
    trying to drain more power.

    Putting a maintainer on it will keep it "topped off" will help. Less charce of getting those flashing lights
    because voltage is not high enough activate, or barely active the hybrid system.
    Or putting a 4 amp or less amg charger on it for 8-10 hours every month or two will help.

    The hybrid battery is idle when off, so there is no drain on it. But it will normally discharge
    while sitting idle. A lot slower though.

    400 miles a month is probably just barely enough to keep things just good enough.
     
  9. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

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    Interesting: Our 2022 averages 62 miles a week (pretty consistent with that) and often sits for 4 or 5 days at a time. With all the claims that the 12 volt battery would die, due to parasitic draw, I started monitoring it on a regular basis. Just tested it yesterday: CCA and Internal Resistance are nearly identical to what it was in the spring of 2022, and, after sitting for 3 days, the voltage read 12.52 volts dc. Hybrid battery tests don’t show any degradation.
    In discussions with fellow Prius owners in my area who also drive their cars very little even a few with Gen 2’s and early Gen 3’s NONE OF THEM have experienced any problems with their batteries! AND none of us keep our batteries on battery tenders.
    Nice to know that the “sky isn’t falling” here in North West Illinois with our temperature extremes from subzero temperatures to well over 100 degrees for days at a time!
    Don’t know what to say Chicken Little.
     
  10. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

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    :) Yep! Going by what some claim here, we should establish a monument honoring your Prius for being so unusual! ;)
     
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  11. Mr.Vanvandenburg

    Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member

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    Get an account at toyota.com, register your car, and you should be able to see the history of any services done at toyota dealers. Before spending money on things maybe not needed. You should be able to see everything from day one if the owners took it to a dealer.
     
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  12. Janny

    Janny Junior Member

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    Thanks. Will open account. I have full service records given to me. Unfortunately , work was done by car mechanic close by rather than Toyota. Also, was told that the EV mode doesn't work. I didn't think much of it as I don't even know how to use a hybrid( first hybrid car)....does it really matter that EV mode button doesn't work or is it a red flag? I am thinking about paying $100 for diagnosis .
     
  13. Janny

    Janny Junior Member

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    I was given a maintenance battery. New 12V battery installed within a month ago. Do I need maintainer on if I don't drive for 3 weeks? Car kept in garage in Los Angeles weather.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What happens when you push the EV button? Nothing? That would indicate a problem.

    If on the other hand a message pops-up, saying something about EV not being available, due to..., that's normal. EV mode is only allowed by the car if certain parameters are met. These include sufficient charge, and car warmed up.
     
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  15. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    You'll probably be fine. NO reason to panic.
    Don't read into things, just because people panic.
    Any 12v battery will drain. All cars have a lot of computers, the 12v battery is what
    keeps power to them to maintain all the setting. If any car just sits, the battery will
    slowly drain, eventuall to the point of death.

    The inverter does not charge the 12v at a high rate, so you'll need to drive it often, or
    for at least an hour or two. Or, put a charge on it. The 12v battery is the weakest point.
    But also the easiest to take care of.

    Just drive the car and enjoy it. Change the oil every 5000 miles and you'l be fine.

     
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  16. Janny

    Janny Junior Member

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    I pushed the button- it says EV mode not available, excessive speed.... However I don't think I was going fast. Right after stop sign, I pressed lightly on gas pedal and pushed EV Mode button.
     
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Anything not done at dealership unfortunately will not be noted. Still worth checking though, just keep in mind it’s not necessarily the whole story.
     
  18. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    After starting the car, press the EV button.
    Top left of the display you shoud see a green EV icon.

    Press and hold the brake pedal, put the car in D, release the parking brake...
    Move your foot from the brake pedal to the exellerator pedal, and extremely slowly
    and easily depress it, until you get to 9mph. If you go to 10, it will turn off

     
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  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It typically won’t work, with cold engine. But will pop up a notice.
     
  20. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

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    That’s COMPLETELY normal. The computer is looking at a lot of things to determine if it is a good idea to go into EV mode, speed (ie: does the speed need more power than the current hybrid battery charge can provide?), current hybrid battery charge, etc.
    The Prius (and your Prius specifically) is not an electric vehicle and was really not designed to run in EV mode much. The electric motors were designed to assist the regular gasoline engine (often referred to as the Internal Combustion Engine or ICE). No need to waste any money on having it checked out. I have had mine for 2 years and I have only managed to get it to go into EV mode a few times (less than the fingers on one hand).