Oil change adjustment for EV usage versus ICE usage

From everything I can see of what exactly the one-way clutch added to the P.Prime does, the engine does still turn over, or at least can crank over, in EV mode. So, I think we're still stuck with oil changes...

 

The engine doesn't turn in Ev mode.

Toyota's recommendation is 10,000 miles or 12 months for oil changes.

 

Inspect every 5K miles and oil change every 10K miles. That's in the handbook.

 

Out of warranty, going by HV miles only shouldn't be an issue. I wouldn't go over a year on a non-'synthetic' oil though.

 

I would not go over a year with synthetic oil and would not use non-synthetic at all. Would look for savings elsewhere.

 

Synthetic can go two years in a Volt. A blend should be good for that time.

 

This is a Prime thread and Toyota says one year.

 

You probably could go for a very long time. But it's pretty cheap insurance for what could otherwise be a very expensive repair.

 

When's the last time you heard of oil issues in an engine?
Modern oils are really good at their job. Their ability to lubricate doesn't grade with use. The oil needs changing because some additives get used up; mainly anti-seize ones that help prevent wear on startup, and acid neutralizers. The lower sulfur gasoline we are getting will mean the latter will last even longer in the crankcase.

 

The US yearly or 10K miles interval is pretty lax to begin with. Likely overkill with a PIP, but trivial expense anyway. Particularly if you DIY.

 

there's no scientific answer, everyone has an opinion. here's mine:
if you're keeping the car a long time, change it every year or 10k, whichever comes first. and use toyota recommended oil.
if you want to pay for oil testing, you may be able to go longer. i don't know if that leaves any savings.
if you only keep the car for 50 or 60,000 like me, don't bother changing it at all.
then there's the people who say, change the filter every 10k and the oil at 20k.

 

Why I never buy used, lol.

I know you wouldn't do that, but no doubt it's common.

 

I find it amusing that 'half' our posters do not trust Toyota and want to change their oil sooner than specified, while the other 'half' don't trust Toyota and want to leave it in longer.

It must be tough being an engineer at Toyota.

 

Someone who sees the irony of life. LOL!!

I'm in the cheap peace of mind group. While modern engines are probably better than they were a couple decades ago, I have seen some NASTY sludge take out the poorly designed Mitubishi built V-6 in my son's old Intrepid. Putting in clean oil and a fresh filter gives me an excuse, too, to give the engine bay a close look. I changed both every 5K on my Gen 2. I'll probably go to 10K on the PiP since I'm getting twice the mpg and running almost 50% in EV. Even if the engine spins in EV, it's not contaminating the oil or putting much pressure on it.

 

Well, Toyota changes the interval too, 'round the world.

 

yep, more marketing than science. also warranty.

 

It is longer in Europe.

The thing that ages oil the most is sulfur in the fuel. It reacts in the heat to form compounds that become acids when they mix with water(that's why moisture is bad in the oil). Europe has had lower sulfur limits in their petrol for years now, and thus why their cars can go longer between changes. Plus, their synthetic oils are truly group IV oils and not just high end group III ones.

My understanding is that Toyota's 10k mile or one year interval is the same for all their cars. Regardless of it being a PHEV, hybrid, 4 cylinder car, or V8 truck. I don't think any Toyota engineer has worked on oil life in their cars in years.

Other manufacturers have moved on from a set mile or time limit to oil monitor systems. These take into account the climate and the engine's operating parameters on when to call for an oil change.

If warranty is a concern, stick to Toyota's schedule. The only harm it could do is waste some money and oil. Otherwise, it is your car, do what you want.

 

I'm kinda surprised that Toyota doesn't have an oil change monitor. It seems like it would be extremely useful in a hybrid, particularly plug-in ones.

And for what it's worth, I just did a 5K oil change on my F-150, and the oil was looking much darker than the oil in the Prius at about 8.5K since the last change. It's the first car I've owned that uses synthetic oil, and I'm quite impressed so far.

 

How do ya figger?

The one-way clutch prevents it from turning backward, but doesn't prevent it from turning forward.