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Take a look at my oil

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by LulzChicken, Mar 26, 2011.

  1. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

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    Hey there guys, could you tell me if it's time to change my oil based on the color? It seems very brown/dark to me.

    Past change history:
    2.5K
    5.0K

    Currently I am scheduled to have my oil changed around 15K miles, or in June. My ODO is around 13,200 miles. So, change it? Or leave it? Thanks!

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  2. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Leave it.

    What did the oil look like in the car you owned prior to the Prius before its oil change ?
     
  3. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

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    You know what? I actually don't have an answer to that question. I drove a 1998 Chevy Suburban for a while till the 2010 Prius came out and switched right to the Prius when the Cash for Clunkers program was announced. I just brought the Suburban to the shop and let them take care of the oil. Sounds bad of me to never have looked at it. I could bet it was probably much more black though!

    EDIT: Woot, my 400th post at the best forum I'm a member of!
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i go every 5000 and it never looks that dark in fact, it hardly seems to change in color. but, it's a gen II so maybe different? what oil are you using, dino?
     
  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I thought Gen 3 were 0 weight and synthetic oils..?

    Honestly, you are only 1800 miles from your next change, I wouldn't worry about it. The whole HSD system is designed to keep your engine running as efficiently as possible. Therefore it is my "theory" that the typical Prius gasoline engine, not being the only generator of momentum for the vehicle is typically on a day to day basis not as stressed as an ICE in an ICE only vehicle.

    With a synthetic Oil? You should be fine.
     
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  6. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

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    Hmmm.. Interesting. I think I'll just wait till June, or 1800 more miles. Can't do much harm. I just use whatever the dealership puts in there.
    :)
    You have a very good point. I think I'll wait. Thanks for clearing that upfor me!
     
  7. 2maples49

    2maples49 Junior Member

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    I worked at a Toyota dealer years ago. I've changed a lot of oil. I still change my own.

    First, even though your 2010 runs full synthetic, I think you were very wise to do the first two changes early, especially if you plan to keep your car for 200k or more.

    Second, color is only one indicator of an oils condition, but I think it is an important one because it is one indicator of contamination, oxidation, and "dirt" that is held in suspension by the oil.

    Your oil does not look bad. It's not even to the brown stage yet, much less the black stage. Unless your driving a diesel or a very old or worn engine, black almost always means change it, in my opinion.

    So you're fine unless it's been more than one year since the last change. The full synthetic used in the gen 3 can go one year or 10k miles unless your car falls under the "extreme use" conditions. Extreme use means short trips where the engine never gets warmed up or very dusty environments.

    New oils and new engines are much better than they used to be. So, keep checking the oil level, but don't worry about a dark yellow/brownish color.

    Happy motoring, Dan
     
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  8. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    I suppose the color looks fine to go another 1,800 miles (although that's not exactly a sure fire test), but why is it so far up the dip stick? Looks over-filled.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    perhaps the dealer is putting in a light brown oil.
     
  10. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

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    Just for comparison, I changed my oil in our V with 0W/20 at 5K, 11K, and just changed it again at a little over 17K miles. Right before the 17K change, my oil was not nearly as dark as yours. Our other Gen III Prius (package II) had an oil change (0W/20) at a little over 5K and is currently just under 12K miles. Again, the oil is not nearly as dark as yours shows in the photo. Both of our Prii have a little over a year of service. I don't know whether the color of the oil is a good indicator of the need for an oil change, but wanted to share my observations in case you or someone else finds them helpful. Perhaps someone will have experience or know whether oil color correlates with lab test results.
     
  11. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

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    Thanks for all of the helpful comments guys. I really appreciate you all taking the time to give me your advice. Maybe it is so dark due to me taking "short" trips? My daily commute is around..
    5 miles, park
    5 more miles, park
    then 10 more back home finally.

    Around 20 total each day. I don't think this would put me under the "extremely short trip" category, which they advise you to change your oil at 5K then. Should I be doing 5K changes with my short commute?
     
  12. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Dark ???:confused: I'd be extremely happy if the oil in my Subaru, or my long-departed Ford, looked that light at 3000 miles, let alone 8200 miles.
     
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  13. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

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    Doesn't look too dark to me, but what do I know? And the 10-mile trip should be plenty to get the engine warm, so I'd say you're not in the short-trip category. I'd reserve that for say <2 mile trips, and rarely or never going further.

    And it might be worth asking the dealer what oil they use, and making sure that it's 0W-20; the 10k interval is only specified with that weight. If they use the cheaper dino oil, you're supposed to change it every 5k. If they're smart enough to tell you to change every 10k though, I'd hope that they're smart enough to use the right oil...

    For what it's worth, I just changed my oil for the first time (used Mobil 1), and when I checked the oil level, it was basically impossible to see exactly how full it was, the oil is just too clear. Driving it for 10 miles or so did darken it a bit, so now I know there actually is some oil in my engine. ;)
     
  14. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    It looks fine to me, my oil is darker than that.
    Why is it way overfilled? Or did you just spread it over the dipstick like that?
     
  15. dinger_greg

    dinger_greg New Member

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    Looks good. I would not change it yet. You only have 1,800 miles left until you are time for a change.
     
  16. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    I'd leave it until 15k and then change it every 10k after that. I have over 7500 miles on mine and the oil seems lighter than that, but it could be the lighting making your appear darker. I plan on following factory rec's for oil changes - every 10k.
     
  17. rrolff

    rrolff Prius Surgeon

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    Mine was done at the dealer for 10k, 20k - just got it done at a local garage at 30K - oil was very very dark - I'll be getting it done now at 5K for a while...
     
  18. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

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    Thank you EVERYONE for your input. I think this is a little dark/brown for the mileage that I'm on. I am slightly concerned. I don't think it's a PROBLEM though. Here are a couple more pictures I took this afternoon. Can you guys tell anything else from them? Thanks!

    By the way, the reason why the oil was so high up on the dipstick in the first picture was my fault when pulling the dipstick out of the engine.

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    Thanks!
     
  19. 2maples49

    2maples49 Junior Member

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    Your oil is fine. You can get an oil analysis done if you want. See other threads. If you're not going to get an analysis done and you are going to worry, get it changed. It's cheap peace of mind.
     
  20. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the re-assuring peace of mind. :D I personally don't think it's that bad either. I do see a little black in it when it's on the paper towel. However, that's just the oil doing it's job. Right? I drive around 8K a year at MOST. I doubt this will affect the life of the car, since IDK if I'll have it past 100K miles.