We the 98rs - For the 2 percenters

at 50k, (20k hv) i admit to rarely checking my oil. but when i have, it hasn't noticeably changed.

 

LOL! It shouldn't need enough for you to notice a change for sure with your intervals. Nothin' wrong with pampering at all. I change mine at about 5,000 miles with a new filter every time. In fact, when you think about how many times those valves and pistons cycle in 5-10k miles, it's incredible how little oil it takes to keep them slippery. Ain't technology amazing?

 

I always change mine every 5k also. Since I got my PIP I'm going 10k in that car. The oil was very clean at 5k still.

 

I'm giving serious thought to that also. I'll see what mine looks like when I change it. I noticed that Todd put 10k on the oil sticker on the windshield.

 

think how little the pip engine runs, but it's the same oci as lift back.

 

Yeah, I do think about that. IIRC, I'm at about 44% EV overall since I got the car.

You lost me with "oci," though. Wazzat?

 

Oil change interval. Those darn acronyms again...

 

DOH!! <face palm!>

 

I don't want to bang the drum too loudly, but PHEV drivers also have to regard age as well as mileage when they consider their oil change interval.

Here's how it works: (shamelessly copied from another site to save time)
Motor oil not only lubricates the engine, but also cools, cleans and protects it. But the oil itself can't do all of these jobs without some help. Nearly half a pint of various additives are added to the typical quart of oil to improve the oil's ability to resist heat, friction, oxidation and contamination.
Short trip driving is especially hard on oil because the engine never warms up enough to boil off the moisture that accumulates inside the crankcase. The moisture comes from combustion gases that blow by the piston rings (the older the engine, the greater the amount of blow by). Most of these gases are removed by the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system. But in a cold engine much of the moisture condenses and ends up in the oil. Water reacts with oil to form sludge and acids, and the result is accelerated engine wear.
The only way to get rid of the accumulated moisture, acids and sludge is to change both oil and filter. The filter only removes suspended solids such as dirt, carbon and metal particles -- not moisture, acids or sludge.

OK....so that's the petro-geek line.
This is one of the reasons that Toyota bothers to keep the ICE at normal operating temps during your morning commute. Pollution is the other. We deal with this in the Motorcycle community a lot since it's not at all uncommon for a fifteen year old Harley to have less than 10,000 miles on the odometer.

One of the good things about the modern Gucci oils is that they're more resistant to acidity and sludge - BUT.....the ICE in a PHEV is always cycling on and off which looks a lot like a bunch of very short trips.....especially now that the Prime has something close to a useful EV range and top speed.

NOT normal operation.
More like what a UPS van does - so yeah......you may only accumulate about 10,000 ICE miles during your first five years of ownership but I'd be careful about keeping the oil in the crankcase for more than about a half year......ESPECIALLY if you have the oil changed at a sleazy place that would be tempted to use bulk oil that's NOT formulated to last for more than 3 months.

Like....a dealership, for example.

Some people with low duty cycle vehicles will draw off a small sample and have it tested - especially boats and RVs that have very large oil capacities - but testing is a PITA and about half the price of just changing out the oil.



Your call.
OCI in the Owner's manual for the G3 does not mention periodicity since most passenger cars will rack up 10,000 miles in a year and as I mentioned earlier the top shelf oils will last longer (in time) than the bulk stuff......IF they are used.
I know what oil is in MY crankcase........because...........I'm the one that put it there.


Good Luck!!!

Some people will draw a sample

 

As in OCI on the ICE. That'll send me ballistic.

You and Ed, lol. Can we acknowledge at least, that something like Toyota 0W20, coming in a bulk container or a small bottle: could be exactly the same stuff? The only difference being you're not creating a mountain of used oil containers for recyclers to deal with, or to just get dumped?

I used the bottled for about 3 years, then got tired of dropping empties off at Mr. Lube, switched to the dealership's bulk. The invoice shows it as the same stuff, and I'm inclined to believe them. Over a buck a liter cheaper too.

 

Yes.
I'll even go as far as "usually IS" the same stuff....

However (comma!!!!!!!) MY Standard is higher than "usually is."
Here's the thing though.....
People who lift the hood even ONCE every few months and maybe even checks to see if the oil level is somewhere close to full usually do not have engines that "suddenly use oil" even if some dealer uses the wrong oil - accidentally or on purpose.

 

sorry.

 

Now look what you did. But I guess I helped a little, didn't I?

I get my oil changed in the sleaziest place I know -- my driveway. And since I put on about 15,000 a year, going 10k in under a year won't be a problem. But I'm still going to do this first one at 5k so I can see for myself how it looks. Then I'll decide.

Another thing to be aware of is taking a long trip can run you ICE miles way up in a hurry.

 

i wouldn't go by looks. maybe invest in a test.

 

I've never looked into oil testing. Just know that diesels get their oil tested. Any special place you have to go or send off to? I see lots of references to it, but haven't found any "how to's."

 

@bwilson4web seems to know of a good place.

 

Blackstone is probably the most popular test lab.

Blackstone Labs

Any Prius oil analysis I've seen has been pretty boring. They're not hard on oil, despite the start/stop nature making it seem like they might be. 5-10k mile intervals on a brand name synthetic and test results won't show anything of note.

If you really wanna geek out over oil, head on over to BITOG.

Bob Is The Oil Guy | The Internet's Number One Motor Oil Site

 

I use: R&G Laboratories, Inc. - Home

When you call, Cheryl or Charles, 866-854-1177, feel free to mention "Bob Wilson in Huntsville" since we have history going back over a decade. You'll want a basic oil analysis with 40/100C viscosity which is used to calculate the viscosity index.

Bob Wilson

 

Thanks for the tips, @m.wynn and @bwilson4web.

I have perused Bob is the Oil Guy, but it's been quite a while. Might make some good weekend reading.

 

Have to play devil's advocate on this one.
Good points for most automobile s and motorcycles. But... The Prius isn't like most cars. It has an exhaust heat recouperator that puts heat back into the engine which makes it look like a normal long trip if you're doing a long trip.

The Prime also has a heat pump which allows the system to heat the car without cooling the engine block as a side effect (if you're not on defrost).

Today's oils, especially synthetics usually are able to go a year without changing. All depends on how you drive and your climate. Back up your theory with an oil analyses. You can also find UOAs on Bobistheoilguy.

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