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2 Years of ownership and 60k later!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by LucasArg, Aug 31, 2018.

  1. LucasArg

    LucasArg New Member

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    2013 Prius
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    Hello everyone!

    Back in August of 2016 I bought an used 2013 Prius Three with 41000 miles. Two years later and 60k miles I am happy to report that the car has served me well.Today I did my 100k service and nothing out of the ordinary came up.

    The main reason why I am posting this is to help other future/current prius owners...

    I drove 60k in two years because my job requires me to travel to different locations year around (I work maintenance for a railroad company) Most of my miles are highway probably a good 90%.

    Stats...

    Tires: KUHMO Solus TA31 (40 PSI front and 38 PSI back)
    Tires were rotated every 5k. They started at 9/32 (@41k) and currently they are at 6/32 (@100k)
    Not the best tires for snow/winter but they do just fine for highway driving. They came new when I bought the car used. Please feel free to post suggestion on what tires I should get next.

    Fuel:
    I stick to TOP Tier Gas. Mainly Shell/Exxon etc (They also usually have the cleanest facilities in my travels). My rule is that a at least once a month I fill with premium gas (Otherwise I stick to 87) because of the better cleaning "detergents". To me the cost is very indifferent from 87 to 91/93. Most gas around my area is 2.6x for 87 and 91/93 is usually 3.0x. Most I can ever fill in the tank is 9-10 gallons of gas. That being said (2.69x10= $26.9) vs (3.09x10=$30.9) Please keep in mind that these calculations are if you are completely or almost empty.

    On my current Trip A I have 1903 miles with a MPG Avg. of 46.7. Most of my Hwy driving I go 75 MPH.

    Maintenance:
    I follow the Toyota Maintenance to the T. I have keep every receipt and paper work ever given to me. I always took the car to a Toyota dealership.

    Total cost of maintenance since ownership: $830 = 415/year @ 30k miles a year. (This includes every service done at a Toyota dealership with the exception of cabin/engine filter)

    When It comes cabin/engine filter I get them from Amazon. OEM for engine. Easy DYI!

    The 100k service was the most expensive service...@ $302 final cost. This included transmission drain/refill $130, radiator coolant drain/refill $90 and the oil change/tire rotation $60.

    Mods:
    H11:Morimoto Elite HID System @ 5500k from the retrofit source
    FloorLiner from WeatherTech (just the front)

    Carmate Toyota Prius Cup Holder Tray Black (from Amazon)

    Future plans:
    We plan to trade/sell the Prius when the 2018 Camry gen is 3 years old used. I love the idea of Camry comfort and 50 mpg (hybrid LE)

    I hope that this helps any out there who is looking to buy a prius or wants perspective on someone who drives ALOT.

    Thank you!
     
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  2. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    We have similar with both of ours -- one issue was fuel pump after 100k. We get amazing tire wear as well. The Gen 3's MPG starts to drop off after 65mph. I ave an employee who regularly got 60mpg with both of ours == he was an older driver and typically drove at 65 -- flat roads in good shape.
     
  3. PokerMunkee

    PokerMunkee Junior Member

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    Add the EGR cleaning to your 100k tune up!

    I'm at 94k and averaging 46 too. Great car !
     
  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Here’s a picture of a 100 k mile egr cooler for reference:

    A2A1337D-64BD-4B46-BC43-2DAD7AB47570.jpeg
    And here’s the after picture which involved 10 minutes and a pressure washer:

    AAEA93D7-CD01-40DE-ABED-E82D64A46C8C.jpeg

    Good to go(y).
     
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  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    I get better mileage at 55mph than 65mph, there's also a table that will break down MPG average per MPH driven. Do a search for that table, never mind.
     
  6. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    Should have said -- really drops off after 65. The OP talked about highway at 75MPH ... you are in the power st that point and it's really not much of a hybrid at that point ..... this starts around 65mph
     
  7. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    I drive about 30K a year, my commute is far, about 120 miles round-trip. Most of it is highway miles driven at 70 MPH, except for passing through Hartford CT which drops the speed to 50. Despite having 17 inch Prius style wheels on, still getting around 50 MPG. :)
     
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  8. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Now you need gunk and oven cleaner to get the stuff on the sides....:)
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome to priuschat!
     
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  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Meh, it’s just gonna get dirty again;).
     
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  11. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Very true! Still trying to find time to clean my original EGR Cooler. :whistle:. I have a pressure washer, is this the better way to go?:unsure:
     
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  12. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Yes;).

    Try 10 minutes at 1700 psi and it’ll look like the pic above:).

    Good luck (y).
     
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  13. Bay Stater

    Bay Stater Senior Member

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    Thanks @Raytheeagle!
     
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  14. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Depends on how clean you want it. Oven cleaner did a great job for me. Then I used gunk to finish it off.
    And I used the my pressure washer to rinse the Gunk cleaner out.
    Only took about 45 minutes to clean everything.
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Consider cleaning the complete EGR circuit, and the intake manifold, and installing an oil catch can. Watch @NutzAboutBolts videos, pinned at top of 3rd gen maintenance sub-forum.

    For the EGR cooler, what worked for me was Oxi-Clean solution, made with hot tap water and as close to saturated as you can make it: stopper one end, pour the solution in, let it bubble for about an hour, pour out, rinse out, repeat, about 5~6 times. Very effective, ended up like-new clean.
     
  16. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    Since this has morphed into an EGR thread.....

    How often mileage does the EGR need cleaning?

    Is this on the Toyota maintenance schedule or something people here have figured out?
     
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  17. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I did our 2010’s at 120 and 173 k miles.

    After the initial round, then the follow up round, I’ll be doing this every 50k miles or so which for us is every 2 years. Our 2010 also burns a quart of oil every 5 k miles or so, which also plays into the equation for our 2010. Each situation will be different and have different circumstances ;).

    Nothing in the maintenance schedule on this egr circuit cleaning:(.

    But that’s how I’ll be proceeding (y).
     
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Toyota has acknowledged there's a possibity it'll clog, but there's no mention of EGR in the maintenance schedule. I got this from Toyota Canada. It was really thanks but no thanks though: I was not going to sit around waiting for a code, and don't trust them to do a good job. There is really no need to replace any parts; you just need to take some time and patience, clean what you have.

    In particular in the following, the statement "the majority of vehicles will not experience this condition" grates. I would say the opposite is true, that carbon build-up is normal and inevitable:

    IMG_9305.JPG
     
    #18 Mendel Leisk, Sep 2, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2018
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  19. LucasArg

    LucasArg New Member

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    Thanks to everyone about the EGR tips. I checked out the videos and they don’t seem too hard for a DIY. I will probably do the catch can for sure. Specially in the NutzAboutBolts video the catch can was nice and clean install.

    As of this moment my Prius has not been burning oil. I read plenty of threads about 2010 burning oil for sure. Maybe they update the engine in 2013 and up? Or at least after 2010 MY.

    Catch can link


    Also I am thinking of switching tires at 120k.
    Between the Michelin Energy Savers A/S and the Defenders A/S...Any opinions about either?

    Thanks!
     
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  20. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    Sorry if this has been answered before. But in the US, do we have an extended warranty (and secondary warranty) on the EGR?
     
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