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Tires underinflated and oil over filled on new prius...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by sorka, Sep 21, 2008.

  1. sorka

    sorka Active Member

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    Just got back from the dealer yesterday in our new 2009 Silver Pine Mica Touring #6. Averaged 48 MPG over the first 100 miles, but I was trying.

    I check the tire pressure this morning and the the fronts were 31 and the rears were 29. I have 4 gauges including a snap-on and they're all within 1/2 psi of each other.

    Figuring there were probably other things they didn't check during the PDS, I checked the engine oil(parked on a flat level surface in my garage), and the dipstick shows 1/3 of an inch over the max fill point. This is an easy fix with my marine pump, but is it really necessary? I know on some cars, if the level is high enough, the crankshaft is sitting in the oil and it increases resistance quite a bit.

    Aren't these items they're supposed to check in the PDS?
     
    #1 sorka, Sep 21, 2008
  2. Celtic Blue

    Celtic Blue New Member

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    When you finish setting your tire pressure where you want it, re-initialize the tire pressure monitoring system.

    I'm becoming convinced that Toyota overfills the oil on all new Prius. Toyota miscalculated the fill quantity by about 1/4 quart for dry fill, oil change, and oil & filter change and have not adjusted for the miscalculation. To your question: I doubt that you need to remove the extra oil. I did not and instead waited until the dealer's first 1,000 mile "free" oil change to correct the error. I stipulated 3.5 qts. on the refill, provided the oil (synthetic), and let them know I would check before leaving the dealership. They did just as instructed and the oil level was about 1/4" below the full mark when I left.
     
    #2 Celtic Blue, Sep 21, 2008
  3. nooaah

    nooaah New Member

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    Well, I checked my tire pressure again and the dealer apparently left me with 32/30. I inflated them to 40/38 yesterday (42/40 scares me for some reason). Hopefully I'll see a modest gain on my next tank.
     
    #3 nooaah, Sep 21, 2008
  4. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    The tp will help but it is cool enough to have the top grill blocked all day & the bottom blocked at least in the AM. For the record, the bottoms definitely come out at 90F, usually out in the 80s.
     
    #4 JimN, Sep 21, 2008
  5. sorka

    sorka Active Member

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    I ended up putting 41/39 in. I had to remove 1/2 qt of oil to get below the full line. I suspect those that say mileage improves after 5K miles of breakin area really experiencing the correct oil level after the first oil change.
     
    #5 sorka, Sep 21, 2008
  6. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi Sorka,

    No, its not only oil overfills. My Prius was right on the max mark when it was delivered to me, and it consistantly improved mileage gradually through-out the first 5000 miles. Its mostly the tire break in , I think. Because at 5K miles, I replaced the integrities with Michelin Hydroedges, and dropped from 52 to 46 mpg. In a few months, the car was back over 52 mpg.

    A 1/3 inch overfill is outrageous however. It states plainly that the mark is a MAXIMUM level.
     
    #6 donee, Sep 28, 2008
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