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Take a look at my oil

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

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  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how much black? the oil's job is to lubricate the metal on metal parts, not to carry contamination around the engine. that's why you change it.
     
    #21 bisco, Mar 27, 2011
  2. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

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    #22 LulzChicken, Mar 27, 2011
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ya, that doesn't really look too bad.
     
    #23 bisco, Mar 27, 2011
  4. 2maples49

    2maples49 Junior Member

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    Hi LutzChicken,

    The oil looks OK, but if you only drive 8K a year and the max oil life is one year (I believe this to be true), your never going to make 10k changes. Since the way oil looks is only one indicator of oil condition, the cheapest and easiest indicator, but not the most accurate, I would not exceed the one year change interval regardless of mileage. The is also the advise of my friends at the local independent BMW and Mercedes garage.

    So, the oil looks good, but if it's been a year, change it anyway. You do a lot of short trips, probably not enough to warrant 5K changes, but certainly enough to warrant one year changes. To my mind, this is cheap insurance even if you only keep the car to 110K miles.

    P.S. Don't forget to change your gearbox lube at 30 to 60K.

    Happy spring, Dan
     
    #24 2maples49, Mar 28, 2011
  5. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

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    Thanks for your input Dan. I really appreciate it. My plan was to change it every year, or 10K - whichever comes first. Sometimes I'll probably drive over 10K in a year, but then I'll change it at the 10K mark. Not just within the 1 year time frame. I'll change it every year, or every 10K miles like I was planning on doing. I'll keep the gearbox in mind as well! Thanks once again.:rockon:
     
    #25 LulzChicken, Mar 28, 2011
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