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oil change first one 3000 or 5000

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by itsme, Mar 20, 2007.

  1. itsme

    itsme New Member

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    the odo just turned 1000 today and I noticed on the windsheild sticker it says to have oil change at 3000 miles or in may owners book shows 5000 miles which one should be followed every 3 or 5 K miles this will be the first one so does it need to be changed sooner? does it have break in oil that needs to be removed and replaced?
    thanks for all the info on this site been great
     
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    There is no need to do it before 5000 miles. That said, many of us did an early first oil change just to get a theoretical jump on any of the early metalic fragments that a new engine might produce.

    Base it upon your comfort level, I don't think there's any science showing a benefit of an early first change, but it gave me a little peace of mind and that has some value.
     
  3. itsme

    itsme New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(regenme @ Mar 20 2007, 12:05 PM) [snapback]409039[/snapback]</div>

    Thanks for the response, next question is, did service dept. stamp the 5000 mile page? or do / did you go back in 2k miles for the tire rotation etc.. then get stamp I just dont want any reason for a warranty type problem not to be covered.

    again thanks
     
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(regenme @ Mar 20 2007, 02:39 PM) [snapback]409116[/snapback]</div>
    LOL, that was 3 1/2 years and 55k miles ago...no idea! I think I went back at like 6000 miles, then at 10k miles and then every 5k after that.
     
  5. judymcfarland

    judymcfarland Queen of Moral Indignation

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    Since I don't put a lot of miles on the car, I'm going to opt for every 4 months or so - "Fiona" has just under 3K miles in a week less than 4 months & will have her first service the end of this week. So I'm a little more conservative than I would strictly have to be.
    The dealer where a friend bought her Prius told her to have the oil changed at 1500 miles to protect her warranty. I couldn't find anything like that written anywhere, but she did it anyway (although not at the dealer who told her that B) )
     
  6. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    To protect yourself under the warranty, have the service in the Passport done according to schedule, which means an oil and oil filter change at least every 5000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes sooner. If you change your oil and filter earlier, you won't damage your Prius, you'll just waste your money. You may be contributing to pollution a bit more, since you will use more oil over the life of your car, but it won't be significant at an individual level.

    If you have the Toyota dealer do it, they should stamp your passport at the appropriate interval. If you have someone else do it, or do it yourself, keep receipts to show you bought the needed supplies (oil, filter, gasket) and note in the Passport who did it, the date, and the milage. It's a good idea to keep receipts even if the dealer does it.

    This kind of a warranty is usually interpreted liberally; if you can show reasonable proof that you had the service performed at the approximately correct interval, you have nothing to worry about.

    Another thing to remember, unlike a conventional car, the Prius engine only runs part of the time. 5000 miles on a Prius is a lot fewer hours on the engine than 5000 miles in a car where the engine runs all the time.
     
  7. itsme

    itsme New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Grandma Judy @ Mar 20 2007, 02:57 PM) [snapback]409157[/snapback]</div>
    I will follow the manual every 5000 miles and to think about it the gas motor does not run as much as a conventional car motor.

    thanks
     
  8. dmckinstry

    dmckinstry New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(regenme @ Mar 20 2007, 07:21 PM) [snapback]409320[/snapback]</div>
    The dealer where I bought the car said every 5000 miles, and the dealer where I have it serviced also says every 5000 miles. But that doesn't matter. They still put the little decal on the windshield that says the next service is in 3000 miles or 3 months.

    Dave M.
     
  9. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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  10. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Mar 20 2007, 10:31 PM) [snapback]409359[/snapback]</div>
    I asked my dealer about the expiration dates on their coupons. I was told they are honored anyway. (I would call first to verify.)

    My independant mechanic distributes coupons with expiration dates. It's his regular price--just a marketing gimmick.
     
  11. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dmckinstry @ Mar 20 2007, 09:39 PM) [snapback]409328[/snapback]</div>
    That's just to increase sales. Same reason those toothpaste commercials show people curling that toothpaste on the brush with the swirl, so people think they need to use a lot each time, and increase consumption.


    Adding some fuel to the fire, here's a story today from AP:
    Full story at http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070321/autos_oil.html?.v=2
     
  12. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    An early first oil change might get some gunk out of the engine, that you don't want there. The Prius used oil analyses tell the tale; see spreadsheets previously posted here.

    If later you wish to extend your oil change interval to 12k miles or thereabouts, synthetic oil is all that we know that is up to the task. The Prius used oil analyses tell the tale.

    If you wish to extend it even further, you are on your own. Personally would recommend getting a used oil analysis. It could add a lot to what we already know about Prius vs. engine oil.
     
  13. brighamwj

    brighamwj Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Mar 20 2007, 08:23 PM) [snapback]409270[/snapback]</div>
    Good point. Also, If you want to do it yourself you can use the slightly larger 1.5L filter made for the Scion XB which is slightly taller, easier to remove and would theoretically give more surface area of media to trap particulate. I would assume the metallic particulate matter to be minimal due to the tolerances in our engines.
     
  14. LongRun

    LongRun New Member

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    The dealers around here draw their oil from a big barrel. They are pretty sloppy and I don't want any of they crud in my car. I do it myself.
     
  15. amtrak115

    amtrak115 New Member

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    i did my first oil change at 4100...(I was getting ready to take a 2500 mile trip and wanted to get the oil changed before the trip....When my car hit 9100, the "check engine light" came on...didn't know what it was for...so I took it in...it was time for my oil change....they (service) reset the milage counter for oil changes somewhere and when 5K was up....the light came on.....

    So off to Toyota I went....(On my 2006, the dealer through in a "maintenance package" which includes discount coupons for oil changes, tire rotation, etc. so that why I go to them for oil changes...and besides they offer after dinner service for oil changes/tire rotations...(from 6:30 to 9:00 pm..) it's real convient..

    later
     
  16. faith2walk

    faith2walk Upgraded again

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(regenme @ Mar 20 2007, 02:05 PM) [snapback]409039[/snapback]</div>
    I did my first one at 3000, just like efusco mentioned because of early engine wear (break-in time). But I do my own maintenance and I use 5w-20 full synthetic. I change the filter ever 7500 miles and oil every 15000 miles. I drive 8k+ miles per month, and the car uses little to no oil at all...still comes out really clear.
     
  17. LongRun

    LongRun New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(faith2walk @ Mar 31 2007, 04:30 AM) [snapback]415414[/snapback]</div>
    What brand of 5w-20 are you using?
     
  18. skruse

    skruse Senior Member

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    After having tried to work with the dealer for my 2005, and now working with my 2007, I find great satisfaction (and substantial savings) in changing my own oil and filter. I buy Mobil 1 by the case and filters four at a time and keep them on hand.

    I rationalize to myself that the Prius does even better at 5,000 mi oil change intervals, because the ICE "only runs one-half the time." At least it doesn't run all the time or "only runs when I need it." It is great to realize at stops (stop sign, stop light, etc.) the Prius does not idle.

    Other reasons to change your own oil: it is simple and opening the hood and doing a visual examination allows you to notice things that might otherwise go unnoticed. You can ensure the used oil is properly recycled.
     
  19. faith2walk

    faith2walk Upgraded again

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LongRun @ Mar 31 2007, 01:27 PM) [snapback]415503[/snapback]</div>
    My uncle is a professional stock/race car mechanic and driver and recommended Castol synthec although there are a few others that get pretty close, he said it kept it's viscosity better. The only oil he mentioned to stay away from was Penzoil...said it had the worst record for loss of viscosity.

    I currently have taken his advice and have not had a problem...but have never tested this to be true.
     
  20. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Hi Faith, your Pennzoil concerns are duly noted. Especially as I have just obtained Pennzoil synthetic 0W20 'especially for hybrids'. I will run this stuff for about 12k miles and have it analyzed, and continue to infill the Priuschat used engine oil analysis spreadsheet.

    Yes I know that 0W20 is not Prius-recommended, but this viscosity has not spiked wear metals in the past. I'm not worried.