1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

URGENT About to buy 2010 Prius IV with 73k miles original owner, Advice on problems and price?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by TheGrayt1, Oct 18, 2020.

  1. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,690
    6,379
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Well, now that you've got the car I guess it's time to figure out service and care.

    Don't take it to a Toyota dealer, they will eat you alive. It's a bad idea to take any 10+ year old car back to the dealer anyway- they've largely forgotten it (or are too new to have learned it) in favor of the newest models. Their rates are higher and the management is motivated to rate your car as a rolling wreck so that you'll be pressured to trade it in.

    Now is a good time to locate a hybrid-friendly neighborhood garage. Hopefully you won't need them for a while, but always good to have it worked out in advance.

    Congrats!
     
    dig4dirt likes this.
  2. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    No worries. Once you get regular knocks and prep to clean the manifold and egr, you’ll know where to find the occ thread.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i would call it 'a very good idea'.

    we don't know what causes oil burning and blown head gaskets in some cars and not others. it may be driving style, maintenance, tolerances, or something else.
    no one can predict if your car will be a problem or not. you have to decide whether it is worth the trouble or risk.
     
    Attila Fekete and Evoking like this.
  4. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    CONGRATS! (y)

    Just use some common sense and treat those areas with care. Give the whole bay a good spray, soak with the cleaner for a bit (scrub the worst areas) and spray off. Leave the hood up and let air dry. Next liberally spray with a good plastic care product (my personal recommendation is 303 Aerospace Protectant which is expensive but amazing), let soak in for a long time (even overnight) and the wipe off. Good for about a year and the next time will be MUCH easier.

    Results on a 22 year old motorcycle with the above method:

    61868442142__2AD42161-ABAB-4CE6-8739-C2A40809C444.jpeg

    GOOD LUCK!
     
    dig4dirt likes this.
  5. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Your assumptions are inaccurate. 0W-40 offers a wide range of driving temperatures. 0W-20 offers less. Have you heard of CAFE standards. If not look it up. There is a reason almost every manufacturer in USA is using 0W-20 oil and it’s not to provide maximum protection of your engine.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I would not use spray. Dust, vacuum, damp cloth. Remove the intake air snorkel and air filter box will help.

    There ARE sensitive electronics and connectors. At least two members have toasted very expensive AC compressors, just spraying away.
     
  7. Evoking

    Evoking Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2020
    91
    16
    0
    Location:
    Pomona
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Thanks bisco for your help I really appreciate it I’m going to order one right now and everything I’ll need.
     
    bisco likes this.
  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Wait, you mean you haven’t seen the nutsaboutbolt engine bay cleaning video?
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    You be gettin poo pooed like me when I tell them I full lower grill block during summer seasons also.
     
    hill likes this.
  10. Attila Fekete

    Attila Fekete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2019
    164
    58
    0
    Location:
    Budapest, Hungary
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Could someone show me manual suggesting 0w-50 oil for Canada?
    CAFE standard is quite irrelevant in Europe, but all manufacturer try to reduce consumption, I agree. And oil is part of that.
    But still, using a 0w-20 oil will give you better lubrication at 104 Fahrenheit than a 0w-40.
     
  11. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Orenji is suggesting that a thicker oil will be fine to run on safely given the car is in the ideal circumstances and or climate, it might even be beneficial to do so.

    I’m surprised no one mentioned 5w or 10w will be safe for hotter climate. Mine is 5w and car is garaged so it’s never below 40f for cold starts, but with ZDDP in the 1,200 ppm in my oil, the oil is more of 10w.
     
    #31 Grit, Oct 19, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2020
    orenji likes this.
  12. Attila Fekete

    Attila Fekete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2019
    164
    58
    0
    Location:
    Budapest, Hungary
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    II
    That’s fine, but I wouldn’t say just use 0w-40 instead of 0w-20 generally.
    For example I use the car for short trips - less than 4 miles, I have no garage. I will definitely won’t change to thicker oil.
    So what is the benefit of using 0w-40?
     
  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    At 104f, barely any difference because both oil are rated at 0w under low temp engine start ups.
     
    orenji likes this.
  14. Attila Fekete

    Attila Fekete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2019
    164
    58
    0
    Location:
    Budapest, Hungary
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Fir me the 71 vs 44.8 cSt is a significant difference. Mobil1 10w-40 oil has 107 cSt.
    Even the 5W-30 has cSt 70 at 104 F.
    SAE viscosity grades can cover quite wide ranges.
     
  15. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    It’s been discussed many times and others have posted their countries owners manuals showing the higher weigh oils being recommended by Toyota. Search Priuschat and you will find your answers. Or continue to run 0W-20, it’s not my car.
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Canada's 0W20, at least for 3rd gen. 4th they're saying 0W16? :rolleyes:
     
  17. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
  18. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    As you can see in the above post for Prius in Australia that thicker oil is used. With the advantages of. 0 weight oil like 0W-40 you won’t have cold climate engine starting issue and have the extra protection of the 40 weight.
     
  19. Attila Fekete

    Attila Fekete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2019
    164
    58
    0
    Location:
    Budapest, Hungary
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Australia is not Canada. They don’t really have winter.
    So what is the advantage of using 0w-40 oil - by the way, I don’t see it listed above.
    I still don’t see it proved that 0w-40 is better everywhere to be used.
     
  20. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    OW Is the weight of the oil when cold. Nothing will flow better then a 0W oil. The 2nd number is the thickness of the oil weight when hot. The thicker the oil the more protection you will have. OW-40 is one of the best all round oil weight you can buy. BTW only 0W-40 Mobil 1 is a true synthetic oil within the Mobil 1 line.

    The above booklet show 40 and 50 weight oil for the Prius as well as the temperature chart for selecting oil based on your regional temperatures.