The Engine is Louder After Oil Change?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by dabluesman, Jun 11, 2026 at 8:26 AM.

  1. dabluesman

    dabluesman Junior Member

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    I had the dealership do an oil change at the first 5000 mile service, they argued about it not being needed but I told them to do it anyway so they supposedly did. However afterwards I noticed the engine sounded noticeably louder. Well last week I had my 10,000 mile service with an oil change and afterwards I noticed the engine is back to being quieter like it was before that first oil change. So now I am wondering what happened during that first oil change that made the engine louder and did driving it like that for 5000 miles potentially cause any issues?
     
  2. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Sorry; worrying about it isn't going to do anything - any damage done, has been done. You should've done something 5K miles ago. I believe you have a 5 year 60K mile warranty powertrain. Arguing about how they damaged your engine between 5K-10K oil changes will simply make you sound like a nut job......o_O:(:censored: Someone that'll drive their new car making strange noises for 5K+ miles?

    Check your receipts. What oil weights did they use on those oil changes?
     
  3. dabluesman

    dabluesman Junior Member

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    I'm not "worrying" about it, I am "wondering" about it. Also, I'm not arguing about anything. The car wasn't making strange noises, the ICE just sounded louder not strange. I don't appreciate you putting words in my mouth or changing the context of what I was saying.

    I partially recall a post months (or a year) ago where someone mentioned the ICE sounding louder after an oil change due to something about the filter or air in the system, so I am curious about the details of that or other's similar experiences.

    The receipts both show 0W16, however there is a gasket mentioned on the 5000 mile receipt that I do not see on the 10,000 receipt.
     
  4. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    TL ; DR
    ^ That.

    So....
    I do not and HAVE NOT allowed a dealership to change the oil in any of the last 8 vehicles that I have owned.
    But?
    I get it.
    Many people do not, or can not change their own oil.
    Heck...I'm surprised that some of our '52 laboratories of Democracy' actually ALLOW people do DIY their oil changes without licensing renewable certification and insurance.
    However...
    (Comma!!!)
    It's still your car.
    You can STILL take ownership of the ownership experience.
    What was the oil level before and after the 5k 'service?'
    What is it now?
    Did you mark the filter in any way?? - yeah, it's harder on a Prius to be sure but doable.
    What other 5k checks were supposed to be done - and WERE THEY?
    I can think of many things that would cause the noise - including nothing at all - but a few more breadcrumbs might rule out some of the more obvious ones:
    Wrong oil used. (**)
    Oil cap improperly replaced.
    Insufficient sump volume.
    Superfluous sump volume.
    The fact that the dealership might HAVE ACTUALLY DONE a 5k check that included a tire rotation that increased road noise that presents as engine noise. Again - not likely but possible!


    Personally?
    I would put the giveacrap switch in the "do not" position and get on with my life.
    There IS value in maintaining a 'closed hood' maintenance philosophy.
    Heck.....I sometimes wish I could afford to do it myself!!!
    (Meaning NOT do it myself! ;) )

    JUST Remember that one of those benefits is NOT listening to every creak, rattle and groan in your engine compartment like a new first time parent cracking the door to the nursery every hour or so to see of the baby is still breathing.

    Buying a new car every 6 years (or 100,000 miles) and having it "dealer maintained" is a very VERY convenient way to own a car - and it makes all kinds of sense in some 'life coachy' sort of way....I s'pose.
    UNLESS......
    You're going to be keeping the car for more than it's design service life of about 10 years or 250,000 miles.
    You are retired or have a realistically funded retirement plan.
    You have already made launch plans with funding for your kids - or you just don't like them very much.
    You are extraordinarily wealthy or a person of only average means.
    You are extraordinarily healthy or very unhealthy.
    You DEPEND on your car for various reasons instead of just using it for 'personal transportation.'

    BEST OF LUCK with the car!


    (**) From the Googles: SAE 0W-8 oil is factory-specified for the 5th generation Toyota Prius (2023–2026 models) equipped with the M20A-FXS engine. However, regional discrepancy exists: Toyota's North American manuals initially recommended 0W-16 for these years, while the Japanese and other global markets have specified 0W-8 since day one
     
    #4 ETC(SS), Jun 11, 2026 at 9:47 AM
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2026 at 9:58 AM
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Did you check oil level on the dipstick after that first oil change?
     
  6. dabluesman

    dabluesman Junior Member

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    Yes, it looked fine.
     
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  7. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    I'm pretty sure you have a spin-on filter. A misplaced O-ring on a cartridge filter or misaligned center tube is what your describing above and an ineffective oil filtering system - in that configuration. Again; I'm pretty sure you've got a spin-on oil filter NOT a canister/cartridge style.